On May 23, 2011, George and I took a day-trip to the Smokies. We went through Cades Cove and then rode across Parson's Branch Road. You probably remember my June blogs talking about our 'crazy' trip on that rough road. IF you missed any of those posts, you can go to my sidebar, scroll down to labels and click on CADES COVE 2011.
Today, I will show you another cabin we visited that day near the Cades Cove Loop Road --entitled the Henry Whitehead Cabin... Above is a picture of the cabin, found in the Chestnut Flats area of Cades Cove. Below are more.
Note the brick chimney in the 'newer' cabin. That brick chimney was unheard of in this area at the time. This structure might be called the ultimate log cabin, or sometimes called a 'transition house' due to its near-perfect construction from logs sawed straight and flat at a nearby mill. Soon the mill-sawed lumber would replace log cabins with frame construction. By the way though, this is the only cabin built like this still standing today in the Smokies.
SO---what about the little cabin in back, you ask??????? Well---when Aunt Tildy's first husband left her (shame on him)---her brothers quickly built this cabin for Tildy to live in. . I love seeing the old stone-rubble chimney. Miss Tildy lived in that little cabin until Henry courted and married her----and then built her Smoky Mountain Dream Home!!!
By the way, some trivia for you (which I'm sure you want to know): Aunt Tildy's son from her FIRST marriage became one of the prominent producers of moonshine in Cades Cove during the Prohibition.... (Just knew you wanted to know that!!!!)
Have a great day, and mark your calendars now: Don't miss my blog on Friday this week... It's a favorite of mine....
Hugs,
57 comments:
I love the Smoky Mountains! Wish I was there right now.
The cabin is wonderful but I especially love the lush greenery all around it! Looks like it was a gorgeous day to be in the mountains. It is cute that the front part was Tildy's DREAM home. Wishing you and George a good day.
More than just Aunt Tildy had better luck with the second husband, huh Betsy?!;-) I certainly did.
Loved the cabins and I think it's neat that it's still standing since it's the only one of its kind left there. I too hate the graffiti. :(
We may head down through the Smokies in Aug.--any suggestions?
As I read this story, I thought of my grandmother whose maiden name was Whitehead.
Beautiful story.
I enjoyed those old homes when i was going through there.I helped a friend rebuild one he had purchased and in later years added on to.
You have some of the best and “cleanest” photos of the area that I have seen. On our own visit to Cades Cove, I was unable to take any decent pictures without hordes of people running through. Great post and enjoyable to read!
John
relaxedrush.blogspot.com
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Those old cabins are lovely to look at,but I am glad we do not have to live like that anymore.Having grown up without running water and using only an outhouse,I really appreciate the modern conveniences.The butterfly is beautiful.
love this structure (or structures!) it is really in good condition (even for the graffiti!)
Patti and I both just love to see old cabins and look inside. There is just something about them that gives me a peaceful feeling inside. I think part of it is that even though life was hard back when the cabin was in use life was also more simple.
This post almost makes me want to reconsider our vacation plans! Maybe next year we'll go see Cades's Cove. Ah, so many places to see in this big, beautiful country of ours. Its great that you live close enough for day trips to these areas.
I loved seeing the old cabin. Hope Aunt Tildy got a good man the second time around. He was a good builder at least!
Great photos, as always, Betsy! I've enjoyed catching up with your posts about your wonderful western journey. It's beautiful out there. But I'll have to say---I'll always love my Appalachians the best. Tom and I still haven't made it to Cade's Cove, but we hope to sometime this fall. Your pictures have made me want to go.
What a great story about those folks and how those cabins were constructed! Your photos convey the old times so well. How do you manage to get photos without other visitors in them? I love people, but always miss an interesting shot because I don't want to intrude on people's privacy. Maybe you visit when it's quiet?
Okay, when can I move in? That cabin is so what I want to live in. Hope you are staying cool in this horrible heatwave. Have a blessed day my friend.
I have a PLAN! i love this log cabin and would like to move it to Bryce Canyon, put some electric and a flushable potty inside, add a microwave and fridge and coffee pot and live there. now is there anyone out there to finance my plan???
OOPS, i meant to say, minus the moonshine part
Absolutely LOVE to see the inside of these OLD places, but, you're right, how can anyone do that to such a place... I can't imagine it... My momma raised me better than that!!!
The only one still standing in the Smokies? They're both awesome & I love the history these places hold...
Ok, but where did Tildy live when her 1st husband was still around? Didn't they have a home then? Did he run off w/ the cabin? LoL! Just kidding, Betsy! =)
I love that last shot... they're old, but they're still so very beautiful - I get giddy about these old places, I just love them! =)
Wonderful post, Betsy
The first thing I noticed was the two chimneys and how they are different! But that first picture of the inside, oh how claustrophobic and dreary!! No windows, it would feel like being buried alive!! LOVE the swarm of butterflies!! Wonder what they were finding?
Thanks again Betsy for taking me back to see again the place I love. A dear friend & I had a picnic on the porch of this home. No one bothered us, just waved. I lost her later that yr. Was so sad. She had never seen the Cove before. I'm glad I could show her this lovely place.
Great post, Betsy! The Butterfly is a Red-Spotted Purple. I see these on the driveway, porch, etc., but never on the flowers!
Both cabins are just wonderful...the front one is very well built...no wonder it's lasted so long! Thanks for the inside shots! And the personal info. about Aunt Tildy...makes it so much more interesting!
It's amazing when you post pics of Cades Cove. It's been over 15 years ago since I have been there but I've compared some of my old photos to the ones you post and I am so glad they've preserved these old structures just as they used to be. That is a beautiful place for sure.
Blessings to you
Marilyn
I bet Aunt Tildy was a happer camper in her new dream home. I love those old places and you just bring them to life Betsy. Thanks for sharing.
I grew up in Roanoke County but two counties south, Franklin County, was (and maybe still is) one of the largest producers of "moonshine" in the south!! I've never tried the stuff! = )
Love seeing the old cabin and hearing a happy ending to Aunt Tildy's story. I agree with the senselessness of graffiti.
Beautiful butterfly but I don't know the name.
Best,
Bonnie
I think I could just live in that cabin - it's just beautiful. Of course I'd have to have a bathroom, and electricity, and washer and dryer and......and that would change everything, wouldn't it. Diane
As always I enjoyed all your photos!
BTW - our FJ is a Toyato FJ Cruiser.
Aunt Tildy had quite a story (including a moonshine running son)! It's such a shame about the graffiti.
Dont you just wish you could travel back in time - when folk lived in these cabins?
Lovely post and pics Betsy.
I loved the story about Aunt Tildy. She found a great man the second time around who provided for her with grace and style.
I love those old cabins in the smoky mountains! There is something about them that makes me want to sit out on the porch with the folks and talk to them about the things they enjoyed (and/or endured) during those years.
Enjoyed your visit to Cades Cove -I went there once years ago - did you see the school house in the same area - amazing!!
Beautiful butterflies, lucky you spotted them, Betsy.. nice shots of the insidand all I can say is thank-goodness I didn't live back then!
hugs,
Pam
Well shame on the bum of a first husband but lucky Tildy. Henry was a keeper.
Nice story and an object lesson on how families took care of each other.
What a great story.....well told.
I just love these cabins. Looks like they just drug one up to sit behind the other.
You got some great shots of the cabin, Betsy. We look at those cabins today and think how neat it would be to have one like that, but we don't think about the hard life of those who called them home.
Thanks for taking me back to this great place once again. Many years ago I was here, but had forgotten so much.
You and Aunt Tildy have something in common with having great luck on the second time.
I do love Cades Cove so I enjoy your visits. You took pictures, when I went, I didn't. Thank you for the revisit.
That corn crib does look like it would be a good spot for snakes to hide in! Neat pictures and history, Betsy! :-)
It makes a person wonder what the evening conversation was around that fireplace. Cades Cove looks very interesting, well any mountain area intrigues me but I have always wanted to see the Smokies and the Appalacians. Someday? For now, I go there in my walks with you.
Your butterflies Are the Red Spotted Purples from the White Admiral family. Dorothy beat me to the punch. Aren't they gorgeous?
BlessYourWellTraveledHearts
Those butterflies are so beautiful! I thought the corn crib was a dog house! LOL!
Love the old cabins, especially that old stone chimney and fireplace.
Nice little tidbits of history there.
Thanks for sharing.
If those walls could talk, oh the stories they would tell. Beautiful pictures.
Fascinating story! I love the stone chimney of the old home and the front porch of the dream home and the gorgeous trees and butterflies. Aunt Tildy did very well!
I wish it were my cabin! But every time I see the little cabins that were homes for large families, I wonder how they managed in so small of a space....
Interesting story about Aunty Tildy, her no-account husband and moonshiner son.
I like the old cabin with the stone fireplace, but the newer model was probably a bit cozier.
It's so nice to take a little stroll with you. The cabins are lovely and the setting is beautiful. As you know by now, we don't have such lush foilage out west. I've really enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing, once again. You make a great tour guide.
Well Aunt Tildy's first husband must have been a real catch if he ran off and left her with no roof over her head. Good thing she had some brothers.
I love to see these old cabins, the construction always fascinates me.
What an interesting post to share with us on the cabin and its history! I love the character and colors of the whole house as we don't have such historical houses in Asia. Thank you so much!
I love finding things like that. And isn't it funny how we like the grafitti of the 'olden days' but nowadays not so much. Maybe Kirsty Buchanan caught this post and saw her name. :)
That cabin is quite primitive...but surely it was posh for it's time. Love the butterflies!
Very interesting to see all the cabin details. Red Spotted Purple Admirals...the butterflies.
love this lovely pictorial tour, those e smokey mountains are really great!
love those great shots of cabins.
hugs
bettyxx
I love these photos Betsy...I always think about how cold those cabins must have been...I guess they were tougher people than we are!!!
Enjoyed revisiting with your photo-spread! We sure live in a beautiful part of God's World!
The inside of the cabin looks quite solid and secure against the elements.
Very, very neat! Those butterflies, whatever kind they are, are certainly beautiful. And why is it that people feel the need to mark things up?
Henry would be my Great Great Grandfather :) I have to visit this place one day
Henry would be my Great Great Grandpa :) I have to visit the cabins one day
Hi Jessica, That is SO neat that Henry Whitehead is your Great Great Grandfather.... You MUST visit that cabin sometime...
Thanks for stopping by...
Hugs,
Betsy
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