Oconaluftee
14 creative works found
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Mingus Mill Qualla Boundary A half-mile north of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center is Mingus Mill. Built in 1886, this historic grist mill uses a water-powered turbine instead of a water wheel to power all of the machinery in the building. Located at its original site, Mingus Mill stands as a tribute to the test of time. Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily mid-March through mid-November. Also, open Thanksgiving weekend. Highlights: Water flows down a millrace to the mill. A working cast iron turbine. A miller demonstrates the process of grinding corn into cornmeal. Cornmeal and other mill-related items are available for purchase at the mill.
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The Enloe-Floyd Barn is located at The Mountain Farm Museum on U.S. 441 adjacent to the National Park’s Oconaluftee Visitor Center, two miles north of Cherokee. The site is open year-round The barn is the only museum building original to the site. It was part of the Joseph Enloe farm. The Enloe house, built in the 1880s, stood on the site now occupied by the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. In 1917 the Enloes sold their farm to the Floyds, a neighboring family. When the museum opened, the barn was initially left on its original site, about 30 yards from the present-day Visitor Center. It was moved to its current location within the museum complex in 1960. Fifty feet wide and 60 feet long with a “shotgun” opening down the middle, the structure has several stalls and storage areas on each side of the long “hallway.” Upstairs there is a vast hayloft large enough to store a 2,500 square foot suburban home. Thought to be a “Drover’s barn” it is similar to the cantilevered barn in having a large, overhanging, frame loft for hay storage In this case, the loft is supported by log piers. This structure is much bigger than most barns, for it served as a “cattle hotel”, a place where farmers could stable their herds for a night as they drove them off the mountains to market
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At The Mountain Farm Museum,most of the structures were built in the late 19th century and were moved here in the 1950s. The Davis-Queen House offers a rare chance to view a log house built from chestnut wood before the chestnut blight decimated the American Chestnut in our forests during the 1930s and early 1940s. The museum is adjacent to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center,On the NC side of Hwy.441 in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The Davis/Queen house was originally located on Thomas Divide north of Bryson City along Indian Creek. Beginning about 1900, it was built by John E. Davis over a period of a couple years. The house was constructed from American chestnut trees. About 1917 the Davis’ sold their farm to a neighboring family, Joe Thad Queens, who owned the house at the time the land was purchased for inclusion in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It has been described as “the finest example of the large log house in the park.” Davis was a master craftsman who built the house with the aid of his two boys. He “matched” the log walls by splitting a tree in half and using the resulting timbers on opposite sides of the structure. In addition to other duties, his sons, ages 8 and 4, respectively, collected stones for the chimney using a sled and oxen. It is the only log house in the Smokies with a decorative shingle pattern underneath the eaves. Poplar and Chestnut were usually used for the logs in the cabin due how they resist rot and decay.Oak was usually used for the shakes as it split, stright and thin, easier.
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A Sepia Version of a previous image Most of the structures were built in the late 19th century and were moved here in the 1950s. The Davis-Queen House offers a rare chance to view a log house built from chestnut wood before the chestnut blight decimated the American Chestnut in our forests during the 1930s and early 1940s. The museum is adjacent to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center,On the NC side of Hwy.441 in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The Davis/Queen house was originally located on Thomas Divide north of Bryson City along Indian Creek. Beginning about 1900, it was built by John E. Davis over a period of a couple years. The house was constructed from American chestnut trees. About 1917 the Davis’ sold their farm to a neighboring family, Joe Thad Queens, who owned the house at the time the land was purchased for inclusion in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It has been described as “the finest example of the large log house in the park.” Davis was a master craftsman who built the house with the aid of his two boys. He “matched” the log walls by splitting a tree in half and using the resulting timbers on opposite sides of the structure. In addition to other duties, his sons, ages 8 and 4, respectively, collected stones for the chimney using a sled and oxen. It is the only log house in the Smokies with a decorative shingle / pattern underneath the eaves.
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A sepia version of a previous image The Enloe-Floyd Barn is located at The Mountain Farm Museum on U.S. 441 adjacent to the national park’s Oconaluftee Visitor Center, two miles north of Cherokee. The site is open year-round The barn is the only museum building original to the site. It was part of the Joseph Enloe farm. The Enloe house, built in the 1880s, stood on the site now occupied by the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. In 1917 the Enloes sold their farm to the Floyds, a neighboring family. When the museum opened, the barn was initially left on its original site, about 30 yards from the present-day Visitor Center. It was moved to its current location within the museum complex in 1960. Fifty feet wide and 60 feet long with a “shotgun” opening down the middle, the structure has several stalls and storage areas on each side of the long “hallway.” Upstairs there is a vast hayloft large enough to store a 2,500 square foot suburban home. Thought to be a “Drover’s barn” it is similar to the cantilevered barn in having a large, overhanging, frame loft for hay storage In this case, the loft is supported by log piers. This structure is much bigger than most barns, for it served as a “cattle hotel”, a place where farmers could stable their herds for a night as they drove them off the mountains to market
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Even though most pioneer cabins didn’t have gutters this may seem like a new idea. In 1066 the Norman invasion instigated a massive rebuilding of English towns and churches. Grand buildings have stone roofs and parapets, which lead to gutters and gargoyles to throw the water clear. These early settlers had probably seen gutters of one sort or nother by the time they got here but most evidently didn’t feel the need for them. The gutter here is on The Queen-Davis House,GSMNP. Built by John E. Davis who was a master craftsman who built the house with the aid of his two boys. Noah Ogle had used a similar type troth to run water from a spring to his back porch. These were a group of people that used what they had around them to make places to live and tools to work with. The food they had was buy trading their crafts or hunting/growing. They by far weren’t a unlearned class of people but very able to adapt to what ever change life threw at them.
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An English corruption of the Cherokee Egwanulti that means “Along The River”. This ancient valley is viewed from the Newfound Gap Road, U.S.441 GSMNP, just south of the gap on the North Carolina side. The overlook is on the right side if coming from Tennessee. The Oconaluftee River flows thru the valley and the road to Cherokee NC runs along side a lot of it. The original name of the river has been lost and this one adopted. The overlook site below what is known as the Thomas Divide. The valley cuts through Thomas Ridge on the right, and Richland Mountain on the left. Stunning views can be seen here year round….best viewed large
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Early Appalachian life must have been filled with golden mornings. Wonder how often they would pause from their chores, and just drink in the glorious light filtering through the fog. Stopped and gave thanks to God for his blessings and felt at awe with his creation. Wonder how often they knew they had found their pot of gold. Not in a monetary sense, but in the riches of life. They struggled from day to day but how often did they rejoice at what they were blessed with. The coolness of the mist upon their face. The warmth of the sun as it forged its way through the fog. The sounds of nature as she too is awakening to greet the morn. Wonder how rich they may have felt seeing the warm glow softly lighting the fruits of their labor. You too can feel this. You too can feel awakened and renewed with the dawn, if only willing to experience it. Visit and help preserve that which we are blessed with.……Image taken at the Mountain Farm Museum, GSMNP
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Such a bittersweet site. The beautiful fall colors down the valley can be breathtaking. Gone though is the smoke rising from the villages along the river. Gone are those who once occupied the valley floor along what now is called the Oconaluftee River. Gone are the people that lived here for hundreds if not thousands of years. In about 1540 the first Europeans are thought to have encountered these people the Cherokee. Later in the 1600’s Europeans started venturing into their lands and settling. Many adopted Cherokee ways and fit into the Cherokees life of harmony with nature and personal freedom. They adapted and lived off the land,traded and married with the Cherokee. Then came larger and larger influx of immigrates. Treaties were signed and broken for 200 years. Finally under President Andrew Jackson, Congress passed the Indian Removal Act in 1830. In 1838 began a forced removal of the Cherokee from their lands to Oklahoma. Some 16-17,000 started out on the brutal marched from Georgia, about a forth died along the way. This forced removal later became known as the “Trail Of Tears”. They were some though, who were able to hold out. They hid in the mountains and valleys of the Smokies, or returned later from the Oklahoma Territory. Their children’s, children still live at the end of the valley today in what is called the Qualla Boundary. They are the Eastern Band of Cherokee. If you are around Cherokee NC, their way of life has been preserved at the Oconaluftee Indian Village…. This ancient valley is viewed from the Newfound Gap Road, U.S.441 GSMNP, just south of the gap on the North Carolina side. The overlook is on the right side if coming from Tennessee….best viewed large
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Honey was an important item for the early settlers of the mountains. It could be a food source, used as sweetener, or bartered in trade. Bees being close by also helped the pollination of the crops and fruit trees. The early Appalachian pioneers apiary consisted from hives mostly made from the black gum tree. Hence the name beegums, instead of hives…… These trees worked great because they were mostly holler when they were older. They would be cut to desired size, and then further hollowed out with a long chisel. Holes would be bored across from each other, usually four. Then sticks placed thru the holes to either side. This gave the honeycombs some stabilization. A hole would be cut near the bottom for the bees to enter. The top was leveled and a flat board placed on top. Then a slanted board for roofing to keep the rain out or a shed built over it. They would be set up on a platform off the ground……. Honeybees are thought to have been imported during the colonial period from England. The Native Americans seeing honeybees knew that more settlers were encroaching to their lands. They were in tuned with nature and noticed a difference immediately….. Besides the honey, the beeswax would also be used for candles and waterproofing……These beegums are located at the Mountain Farm Museum on the Cherokee side of the Great Smoky Mountains The finding and collection of bees is a whole other story
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Newfound Gap Road is the portion of US 441 that runs through the Great Smoky Mountain NP. Going between Gatlinburg in Tennessee and Cherokee in NC. It is named for the gap going across the mountain that was found around the late 1800’s. Since it was new they called it New Gap, it had also been called Right Hand Gap….They are 2 tunnels and a 360 degree loop along the road. It mostly follows the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River on the Tn side. They are many pull offs with spectacular views. Hiking trails and fishing offer a more outdoor experience along the way. The Appalachian Trail cross it around Newfound Gap….This view here is just across the mountain from Newfound Gap. It is from the Ocanaluftee Valley Overlook…..They are also picnic areas on either side of the mountain, and historic building on the NC side. The reason you are not charged for visiting the Smokies is because of this road. It was a main road between Tennessee and North Carolina at one time. Part of acquiring the land for the park rested on there not being a charge to cross between the states.
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Having chickens provided a food source for the early settlers. Besides the chicken itself, they provided eggs to supplement the settlers diet. Mostly the chickens just ran loose. One of the kids chores would be to locate the nest and gather the eggs. Sometimes evergreen trees were planted close to the house for a roosting tree. For those fortunate enough they built a hen house. This made the gathering of eggs a simpler task and shelter for the chickens. The hen house here at the Mountain Farm Museum was relocated from the Indian Camp Creek are of the smokies near Cosby, Tennessee. The Mountain Farm Museum is located at the Cherokee NC entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain NP. http://www.redbubble.com/people/suddath/art/1982024-2-golden-morn-ii
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The Enloe-Floyd Barn is located at The Mountain Farm Museum on U.S. 441 adjacent to the national park’s Oconaluftee Visitor Center, two miles north of Cherokee. The site is open year-round The barn is the only museum building original to the site. It was part of the Joseph Enloe farm. The Enloe house, built in the 1880s, stood on the site now occupied by the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. In 1917 the Enloes sold their farm to the Floyds, a neighboring family. When the museum opened, the barn was initially left on its original site, about 30 yards from the present-day Visitor Center. It was moved to its current location within the museum complex in 1960. Fifty feet wide and 60 feet long with a “shotgun” opening down the middle, the structure has several stalls and storage areas on each side of the long “hallway.” Upstairs there is a vast hayloft large enough to store a 2,500 square foot suburban home. Thought to be a “Drover’s barn” it is similar to the cantilevered barn in having a large, overhanging, frame loft for hay storage In this case, the loft is supported by log piers. This structure is much bigger than most barns, for it served as a “cattle hotel”, a place where farmers could stable their herds for a night as they drove them off the mountains to market /
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