Tilda's Story

 

          

                                       Matilda Davidson Chandler Stewart

                                           August 5, 1863-January 8, 1942
 
 

                                                Clay County in Kentucky

                                   

                                  

                                                 April 12,1961 - May 25 1865                                                        

                                                                Civil War

Matilda Davidson was born in Clay County, Kentucky on August 5, 1863. Her parents were Robert Davidson and Nancy Hays Davidson. The census indicates that both of her parents could read and write. Matilda joined two brothers, Silas and James. The family farmed and the Manchester Post Office was their post office.

Now, Matilda was born during the Civil War. Kentucky was a state caught in the middle of the North and the South. It would become a part of the Union, but loyalties of people in the region could be divided and families were often torn apart. 

This division would remain long after the war ended as anger aroused during the war continued on as feuds. This led to Manchester in Clay County becoming known worldwide as the violence capitol of the United States.

Now Clay County had grown up around the salt industry. Both armies needed salt, the Rebels had less access to salt than the Union soldiers, so they were in more need of it. The Union was determined to keep the salt from the rebels. 

Many skirmishes would take place in Kentucky and the area where Matilda's family lived. Both Rebels and Union soldiers would vie for the area and would ravage the land in search of salt, food, horses, mules, and any thing they could confiscate for their soldiers. Families probably kept lookouts so they could lead their animals up into the hills to preserve their food supplies and work animals from confiscation.

Even as the war raged, the lives of the area residents continued on. Another daughter Alabama, who they called Bamer, was born in 1864. 

The following year, on April 15, 1865, just a few days after the war ended but not before he signed the Emancipation Proclamation, President Abraham Lincoln would be assassinated. In December of that year, the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery was ratified.

                          1865; The House after passing the proposition for the 13th Amendment

On a more local note, the University of Kentucky was established in 1865. It began as a part of Kentucky University and was known as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky.

 

  

                    1865; The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky established, 

                                              later known as University of Kentucky

In 1866, the first trans-Atlantic telegraph cable would be established allowing information to pass from continent to continent in minutes rather than days. Matilda would gain another sibling, William, in September of 1866. In 1868, Heinz would begin production of ketchup which would become very popular, but I doubt that Matilda's family would have it in their home.

1868
 

The 1870 census finds the family still in Clay County. The family is shown farming on Big Creek in Clay County, Kentucky. Another brother, Alfred, would join the family in 1871. 

In 1873, a gentleman named Levi Strauss would patent his denim pants which would become known as jeans. This sturdy denim wear would become very popular among farmers and miners. 

1873

In 1875, a Louisville tradition, the Kentucky Derby would be initiated. This began to be celebrated across the state during Derby Days. I doubt that Matilda's family could break from their daily struggles to participate, but many Kentuckians would.

The family did probably take breaks from the monotony of daily tasks at times. Occasionally, there would be community gatherings for house or barn raisings, quilting bees, molasses cook-offs......Drinking, music, dancing and revelry, in general, might accompany these events. Other gatherings would offer some friendly competitions in marksmanship, hunting, fishing and show off other skills. Welcome fun was made out of everyday chores.

In 1876, Matilda's oldest brother Silas would marry Margaret Eversole and begin his own family. In 1880, Matilda's family is still farming in Clay County. Children James, Tilda, Bamer, William and Alfred still live with Robert and Nancy.

During the years of Matilda's childhood, children as young as four were expected to contribute to the family by performing chores. Preserving the family was truly a family affair. Children might still have time to play tag or Red Rover, and baseball was becoming popular, but playing was for after the chores were done.

Corn was a staple crop in Kentucky, where the land was better served to growing corn rather than wheat. Matilda's diet was probably long on corn products; corn, corn bread, mush....and many adults partook of corn liquor and Kentucky bourbon made from corn. Animals raised by the family would also consume silage and corn.

Pork was a favorite meat and would contribute to the family's diet. The family's garden would be supplemented by fruits, nuts, wild greens, and other edibles foraged from the family's environs. The family's meat supply would be supplemented by fishing and hunting the game; elk, deer, wild turkeys... plentiful in the region. The family probably had little money, but they likely did not go hungry.

Now somewhere along the way, Matilda met a young man by the name of Joseph Chandler. Joseph's family had also lived in Clay County when the 1870 census was taken. Joseph's family also farmed and they shared the Manchester post office with the Davidson family. The families probably ran into each other during trips to the post office, the store, church services, community gatherings...

Meanwhile, nationwide, the 1870s saw the advent of the telephone. The telegraph had arrived in Kentucky back in the 1840s, but the telephone would further improve communication. Matilda and Joseph's community would probably not experience the telephone on any widespread scale for years to come. Mail was still the most widely used means of communication and would remain so for some time.

                                                          Advent of telephone, 1870s
 
The 1880 census, taken in August of 1880 shows Joseph's family residing in neighboring Owsley County on Cow Creek. But somewhere along the way, Joseph and Matilda did meet and they must have struck up some kind of friendship because shortly after that August census was taken, the two were married in Clay County on September 28, 1880.

The 1880s, saw big changes not only for Matilda, but for the world. Railroads had come into Kentucky early due to the need for transportation for Kentucky coal, but the railroad industry continued to grow nationwide. 

                                    

                                                 High Bridge in Kentucky opened 1879

By 1854, Louisville was on the nation's rail system and as the railroad grew and more people and goods were transported via rail, a better system for scheduling was needed. During these early days, time was based on a high noon system. As travel became more widespread and speedy, a better system was needed to make the scheduling of rail travel into different areas efficient. The time zone system was established in 1883 to address this need. It was well received and would soon be accepted world wide. 

                                         

                                                               Time zones established 1883

In that same year of 1883, Thomas Edison would light up the Southern Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky with his recently invented incandescent light bulbs. Matilda's family would probably depend on candles and oil lamps for quite some time, but just the news of the night being illuminated by those lights must have inspired awe.

  

                        1883, Edison lights up the night at the Southern Exposition.

I have found little info on Joseph and Matilda's life together. All I am certain of is that they had a daughter born on April 18, 1885. They named her Nancy Ann Chandler and she was born in Clay County, Kentucky. The marriage did not last and both Joseph and Matilda would go on to remarry. Joseph would marry Nancy Jane McIntosh and have a family with her. They would stay in Clay County and would have Carrie, Dave, Brock and Johnny together. Joseph would die on April 23, 1912 from tuberculosis of the bowels.

 

       Joseph Chandler with 2cd wife Nancy Jane McIntosh, and their daughter Carrie.

Matilda would marry James Boss Stewart in 1886. They would remain in Clay County. During the early days of their marriage, the nation would become fascinated with a feud which took place between the Kentucky McCoys and the West Virginia Hatfields. Folks would eagerly await the next edition of the local newspaper giving details. 

                                 Matilda Davidson Chandler Stewart and James Boss Stewart

 

In 1888, the local news would be filled with different news, the Kentucky state treasurer would abscond with with the equivalent of $6 million in today's currency. This led the state of Kentucky to limit the terms for all state officers.

 The Kentucky state government would once again know scandal at the turn of the century. A contentious race for Governor between an incumbent and William Goebel would end with Goebel winning the election, but he would be shot before taking office. The assassin's bullet would not immediately kill Goebel. He would live long enough to be sworn in, but would die before the office could efficiently change hands. The transition would leave the government temporarily in a shambles.

By 1889, Matilda's daughter Nancy Ann would be joined by a half-sister Alabama. Unfortunately, over 99% of the 1890 US census was destroyed by fire and flooding. I can only guess that the family would remain in Clay County. 

In 1892, the first professional football game ever played in the United States would be played. This probably didn't even cause a blip on the radar of Matilda's family.

In 1893, Matilda's family would continue to grow with Sylvania being born. 

The Louisville Slugger would come to be in 1894, bringing industry and fame of a different sort to Louisville, Kentucky. 

Meanwhile, Matilda and Boss' family would grow with the birth of Maggie in 1895. 

               Matilda Davidson Chandler Stewart front left with unknown family.

Plessy vs Ferguson would establish separate but equal facilities for blacks and whites in 1896. Berea College had been the first coeducational and integrated college in the South. Plessy v Ferguson and Kentucky's Day law passed in 1904, would force the local Berea College to build separate facilities in order to continue the education of their black students.

                                               Berea College; a beacon for civil rights
 

The Spanish American War would occur in 1898 between the births of Boyd in 1897 and Mary Lee in 1900. This war would establish the United States as a world power.

                                      Teddy Roosevelt leading Rough Riders up San Juan Hill

                                            Spanish American War; 4/21/1898-12/10/1898

The 1900 census shows the family farming in Bull Skin, Clay County, Kentucky. Nancy Ann would marry Joseph Nolen in August of 1900 and would move nearby to raise her own family. 

                                                 Joseph and Nancy Ann Chandler Nolen

                                              Nancy Ann Chandler Nolen and Joseph Nolen

Sister Alabama also left not long after the 1900 census was taken to begin her own family.

 

          Alabama Stewart Nolen and Sherman Nolen, from 6/17/2010 Manchester Enterprise

As the family was decreasing in size through the marriage of children, Matilda and Boss would see their own family continue to grow. Additions to the family include Burchell in 1903. 

The Ford Motor Company would be established in Dearborn, Michigan in June of that same year; and Wilbur and Orville Wright would make the news with their historical first flight that same year. I can just imagine the awe, perhaps even disbelief the family may have had at this news! 

                                Ford Motor Plant, Dearborn, Michigan; established 1903

                                                                            1903

                                                                             

Matilda and Boss would have Martha in 1906, the same year the first radio broadcast was made. 

12/24/1906; first radio broadcast in USA

A daughter, Bitha was born in 1907 and son Estill was born in 1910.

The 1910 census shows the family farming in Onieda, Clay County, Kentucky. The family consists of Boss and Matilda, Sylvania, Maggie, Boyd, Mary Lee, Burchell, Martha and Estill. Bitha is not accounted for on this census, so I do not know where she was. I just know that she is accounted for on the 1920 census.

The world would receive the tragic news of the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. Matilda's family may have been unaware of the launching of the mighty ship, but I imagine that they were awestruck by the sinking of an unsinkable ship and, even more so, by the loss of over 1500 lives. For a woman who had been born in Clay county and resided most of her life in that same area, I imagine that Matilda was awed by the fact that folks could actually take such a trip in the first place.

                                                     

                                                              Titanic sinks, 1912

The year 1913 would bring news of the construction of the Lincoln Highway, the country's first transcontinental highway. The highway proved popular and businesses began springing up along it. More roads were being built leading to the increasing use of automobiles. Matilda's family would probably not own one, but they would have family members who one day would.

                                             The Lincoln Highway; dedicated in 1913
 
1914-1918 would have the world involved in the Great War. Beginning in 1917, this would include the United States. Boss and Matilda would have friends and family involved in this war. I am sure they worried and prayed for their country and their loved ones just as folks all across the country did. 

                                Soldiers acting to preserve our nation's ideals abroad.

                                                             WW1; 7/28/1914-11/11/1918

In 1917, during the war, Woodrow Wilson would establish the National Parks Service. This would ensure that some of the beauty of our country would forever be preserved for future generations. Even as our soldiers were sacrificing to preserve our country and the world, the home front did in some way also act to preserve it.

                                                                Established 1917

                                            Preserving our nation on the home front.

The Spanish flu epidemic would strike the world in 1918 before WWl ended. Just as the war was claiming the lives of so many, this epidemic would claim over 650,000 American lives alone. Few families were untouched by this devastating disease. 

                                                             1918 Spanish flu ward 

1919 would show that Congress had been busy. Congress passed both , the 18th Amendment, Prohibition, and the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote.

The 1920 United States census shows Mary Lee, Burchell, Tobitha and Estill living with Boss and Matilda in Clay County, as well as a granddaughter Thelma. I believe that Thelma is Mary Lee and Albert Nolan's daughter. By 1920, children Sylvania, Maggie and Boyd have moved away to begin their own families.

On a national scene, the Scopes Monkey Trial would make the news in 1925. The results of this trial would reinforce the separation of church and State seen in the Constitution. 

                                                                                1925

On a more local note in that same year, Mary Breckinridge would establish the Frontier Nursing Service in Wendover, Kentucky. Mary established this as a means to educate nurse midwives in providing safer assistance in childbirth for local families. The Frontier Nurses were too late to assist Matilda in the births of her children, but they would be there for future generations. 

                                                                                1925

The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928 would prove to be a very noteworthy medical advance. Penicillin would save the lives of many soldiers injured in WWll.

                                       Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928

1929 would bring the stock market collapse which led to the Great Depression. Many Americans would lose investments and many more would lose their employment. People all across the country were in dire straits. Mining and logging had been strong industries in Kentucky. The folks employed by these industries were more negatively affected than the folks who lived off of the land. This led to an increase in tension between miners and the mining companies in particular, which in turn led to strikes and violence.

                                   Outside New York Stock Exchange after crash of 1929

As if the Great Depression weren't enough, the Dust Bowl would happen out west. Drought and years of improper farming practices on the fertile ground, along with hot, dry winds would allow the once fertile soil to be blown up until the earth was fallow and the lungs of area residents were polluted by the wind blown dust. Families lost their livelihoods and their ability to feed their families, as well as their health in many cases.

                                                                 Dust Bowl; 1930-1936

1930 shows Boss and Tilda living on Red Bird Road in Clay County. They live alone now. But daughter Maggie and her family don't live far away. Son Burchell and his family also live nearby. Matilda's daughter Nancy Ann's family also lived in Clay county at this time. So children and grandchildren are not far away. Matilda and her family were probably not as affected as many by the depression. They could still raise food on their land, and they could also forage in the woods, hunt and fish.

1931 would bring the completion of the Empire State Building in New York City. It would become the tallest building in the world. The completion of the Empire State Building seemed to become a symbol of hope to the American people and that most likely included Matilda's family. It became a symbol that our country would rise out of the Great Depression that had gripped it and once again flourish.

1931; Empire State Building completed, rising like a phoenix from the ashes of the Depression

1932 would bring the news that Amelia Earhart had become the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Charles Lindberg had made the first solo nonstop trans Atlantic flight in 1927. Earhart made news again in 1937 when her plane disappeared during an attempt to make a solo trans Pacific flight. Her disappearance still remains a mystery.

                           1832; Amelia Earhart after first solo trans Atlantic flight by a woman.

In 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt began implementing his New Deal. The New Deal was designed to provide employment for the many Americans who were struggling from the loss of their employment due to the Depression. The Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration provided needed income for thousands of Americans. Matilda's family most likely benefited from these programs in some way.

1937 would provide a bit of fascination for the residents of Kentucky, particularly around the Louisville area. Fort Knox had been built just outside of Louisville and it became the nation's depository for its gold stores. Wagonloads of gold traversed across the state from across the country to be deposited for safe keeping in the impenetrable Fort Knox. Matilda's family probably heard the news, but they probably continued on in their daily lives, unfazed as all of that gold poured into their state.

                                                        1937; Fort Knox established.

The 1940 census shows Boss and Tilda still farming on Red Bird Road. They now have a widowed 16 year old granddaughter, Reva Frost, living with them. I believe that this Reva is the daughter of Mary Lee and Albert Nolan. 

Matilda's granddaughter remembers her as being a little woman who always wore lace up shoes and long skirts.. She was a nice woman and she and Boss pretty much stayed to themselves. Boss was said to be a little rough around the edges, but he would often ride his mule around to check on how their children were doing.

                 Matilda Davidson Chandler Stewart and 2nd husband James Boss Stewart
 
On December the 7th, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Matilda's family would undoubtedly hear the news on the radio or read it in the paper. FDR declared war on Japan and the United States became an ally in WWll, the most destructive conflict in recorded history.

 

                                              12/7/1941; Japanese attack Pearl Harbor

Soon after this momentous occasion, sometime before Christmas, Matilda Davidson Chandler Stewart would become ill with the flu. She would be attended by a physician on Dec 24, 1941 and would last be seen by the physician on Jan 5, 1942. Matilda would die on Jan 8, 1942 from pneumonia as a result of the flu. James Boss Stewart would die on Bear Creek in Clay County, Kentucky three years later on September 20, 1945. He would also die from pneumonia. Son Boyd Stewart was the informant on the death certificates for both of his parents.

                                                    Matilda Davidson Chandler Stewart

So this is a story about my great-great grandma Matilda Davidson Chandler Stewart. She was born during the Civil War, she lived during the Spanish-American War, she lived during WWl and she died just after the start of WWll. She lived when the world was experiencing wondrous things for the first time; the first telegraph, the first telephone, the first automobile, the first flight! She lived in this world as the events of the world were taking place. I cannot be certain of the extent that national and world events impacted Matilda's rather isolated life. I am certain that they did impact her in some way. Just as certain as I am of that, I am certain that Matilda shook off the events of the world and soldiered on through the events of her own life in a gracious and loving way. Tilda did this until she succumbed to pneumonia brought on by the flu at the age of 78. She died within the same county she had been born in.

  Matilda Davidson Chandler Stewart's grave in Martin-Davidson Cemetery in Clay County

Shared to Find A Grave by Scott Hensley

My Favorite Place

My favorite place to visit is the Appalachian mountains and I was blessed to be able to visit part of them, the Smokies, last week! 

The mountains are my battery recharger, my haven, my church! They are where the chaos in my mind is pushed back and serenity fills the void. They are where I feel closest to the Creator Who created them and all else, including me. They fill me with awe and gratitude for the wondrous gift of being able to visit them. They steal my breath as they fill my eyes with tears of joy.

We left for the Smokies on Saturday, October fifth. My husband drove separately and went with us, staying until Tuesday morning before having to return home. 

I drove with Mom and Dad. Roxanna, Jeremy, Jooniebug, and Cyrus came. Alexandria, with her pooch Portie,  and Cameron could all be there. We were all there except for my niece Sydney and her husband Casey. 

Sydney is due to give birth next month and did not want to stray that far from home. We surely missed them and they were thought of often.  But, there will be a next time, and with a baby Haywood!

Mom, Dad, and I arrived at the cabin last. The cabin was inconvenient to stores and such, but the drive to get there was truly breathtaking. We drove through the beautiful Wears Valley with its lovely stretches of flat farmland and the ever present and beautiful mountains in the near distance.

  

We took curving switchback after curving switchback through old forests catching sights of the majestic mountains through breaks in those trees. 

The cabin was snuggled by trees all around. Those trees grew tall, competing with their neighbors for the sunshine above the canopy. We didn’t see Mountain views  from the cabin, but the sights seen on the drive to reach it were truly glorious, and we nestled peacefully in our cabin within the embrace of those trees!

 

 

 

By the time Mom, Dad, and I got to our cabin, a bear sighting had already occurred! Mohammad was sitting outside when a bear was seen about five feet away from him.  The kids saw it before he did and called him inside.

 

                               The black bear welcoming committee.

Alex, Mom, and I saw Momma bear and her two adolescents coming down the bank beside the road as we were driving home from the Christmas Village. Roxanna, Jeremy, and Jooniebug saw another bear, once again, outside the cabin. Alex aborted a Portie poop stroll because she heard heavy footfalls in the leaves nearby. Roxanna did the same after seeing a bear during a Portie poop walk. I tell you what, while bears surely $#i+ in the woods,  Portie surely had trouble doing the same! 

  

  

 

We saw more bears this trip than during any of our prior mountain trips, maybe even more than all of them combined! We saw a few turkeys, squirrels, and ground squirrels too.

On Sunday, we pretty much relaxed at the cabin most of the day. In the afternoon, we did venture out to visit the Mountain Brothers General Store in Wears Valley. It had a little bit of everything even an old wringer washer used to hold an assortment of rubber duckies for purchase in its tub. There was a huge coffee grinder, and I mean huge! An old wagon was used as a display for a bit of this and that decor.

 

                                                  Relaxing a bit.

 

                 Fore to back; Alex Hajjafar holding Cyrus McCommon, 

                                 Donald Smith, Loretta Nolen Smith

 

                               Visiting the Mountain Brothers General Store.

 

 

 

                                     Cyrus snuck a bite of Mommy’s ice cream!

The myriad assortment of items to purchase and the creaking of the old wooden floors reminded me of going, as a child, to the general store with Dad and Grandpa during visits to Grandpa and Grandma’s on Anglin Branch. 

 

  

We saw some lovely pottery at a separate part of the store. There were some lovely pieces and several beautiful cups were purchased. 

 

                              

                             The lovely Wears Valley surrounding the store.

On Monday, we ventured out to the Moon Pie General Store. They have several things but we go for the books and the moon pies. I bought a poke full of my favorite candy, Bit-o-honey. They display the loose candy in big barrels on the floor and it is sold by the pound. Of course, we left the store with more than a few books and moon pies too!

 

After the Moon Pie General Store, we all went to the Old Mill. We were out of that wonderful, old-fashioned stone ground cornmeal and had to make a meal run. We all enjoyed a delicious

dinner while we were there. 

 

 

I think the Old Mill has become our favorite place to eat while in the Smokies. The food is good and the portions are large. Some of us had enough leftover to take home for another meal. 

 

                             Cameron Hajjafar with Cyrus McCommon

          Left to right: Loretta Nolen Smith holding Cyrus McCommon, 

                                                      Alex Hajjafar

With our cornmeal in the trunk and full tummies, we divided and conquered. Dad, Mohammad and Cam went to Workshop Tools at the Island. The rest of us went to Christmas Village across the strip. Christmas Village always has such pretty displays and tempting items to buy. Of course, we could not completely resist those temptations and purchases were made.

  

                                            The Christmas Village

April Smith Hajjafar;  I was reminded of AC/DC’s Big Balls!

 

                                Alexandria Hajjafar and Loretta Nolen Smith

                          

                                                        Alex Hajjafar

Jeremy McCommon, Harper “Jooniebug” McCommon, and Roxanna Hajjafar      McCommon holding Cyrus McCommon

Roxanna Hajjafar McCommon holding Cyrus McCommon; 

Harper “Jooniebug” McCommon, Jeremy McCommon

 

After we had divided and conquered, we met back up in the cabin. We chilled awhile, ate supper and then nestled in our beds in our cabin in the woods.

 

 

            Cyrus McCommon hitching a ride on Dayee Cameron Hajjafar

                     Cyrus petted Cammy like he pets Portie Pooch.

 

                Grannyma April Smith Hajjafar holding Cyrus McCommon

              Baba Mohammad Hajjafar holding Cyrus McCommon

 

              Harper Jooniebug McCommon holding Cyrus McCommon

                              Jeremy McCommon in background

                     Cyrus McCommon, Harper Jooniebug McCommon, 

                                          and Jeremy McCommon

Pepaw Donald Smith, Dayee Cameron Hajjafar, and Cyrus McCommon

Mohammad left for home on Tuesday. He had a couple of jobs that he needed to check on. The rest of us enjoyed a slow day in the cabin. Roxanna, Jeremy and the kids went on an adventure and hiked to Laurel Falls. They also played putt putt.

                          

                             Chilling in cabin prior to adventures.

  

                           Jeremy McCommon holding Cyrus McCommon.

 

                    Cameron Hajjafar, Donald Smith, and Porter “Portie Pooch”

      Jeremy McCommon, Cyrus McCommon, and Pepaw Donald Smith

                Roxanna Hajjafar McCommon holding Cyrus McCommon

Cameron Hajjafar and Roxanna Hajjafar McCommon holding Cyrus McCommon

                 Pepaw Donald Smith holding Donald Cyrus McCommon

                Roxanna Hajjafar McCommon holding Cyrus McCommon

                                                   Cyrus McCommon

                                          

                                          Harper “Jooniebug” McCommon

 Harper “Jooniebug” McCommon

 

                                                             Laurel Falls

 

 

                   Roxanna Hajjafar McCommon holding Cyrus McCommon

 

                                     Jooniebug McCommon playing putt putt.

On Wednesday, we had a breakfast of buttermilk biscuits, pork chops, pork chop gravy, eggs, and fried apples.  We just didn’t manage to have it ready until dinner time. It was still delicious, even more so because everyone was good and hungry! 

The roux is a’bubbling.

The apples are a’sizzling.

Ancestor meal ready to enjoy! 

I can never enjoy such an ancestor meal without imagining all of the family members who have enjoyed similar meals throughout the generations! 

We also had another ancestor meal of white beans, fried taters, salmon patties, slaw and cornbread while in the mountains. It was delicious too. 

After “breakfast”, Roxanna, Jeremy and Jooniebug went to Anakeesta. The rest of us stayed home and relaxed. Of course, we were keeping an eye on Cyrus for the day, so relaxing might not be the best description of what we did. Regardless, both the Anakeesta adventurers and those who stayed at the cabin had a great day. 

                                          Adventures with Cyrus.

  

                                       First sink bath; good clean fun!

                                           Adventures at Anakeesta. 

       

                                  

 

                                                                    

          

       

  

                                 

Thursday, the day before we left for home, was truly amazing.  We scrambled up a quick breakfast before leaving. Mom and Dad put leftover biscuits in their coffee and enjoyed a coffee/biscuit soakee. Mom and Dad stayed at the cabin to rest before returning home and to enjoy some peace and quiet.We are a noisy bunch, and I am sure that quiet descends when we leave a place!

 

The rest of us loaded up to go to my favorite place to visit, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. Roxanna and her family went in their van, and Alex drove her car with Cam and I as passengers.

 

I am a “sigher” and I must have been sighing a lot during our drive through the Roaring Fork. Alex asked me what was wrong and I said, “Nothing, why?”

She said, “you are really sighing a lot” and I told her it was because I was just awed at the beauty all around. She thought that people only sighed when something was wrong. I guess that she hasn’t heard of a sigh of contentment and didn’t know  that “breath-taking” can be a very literal word!

So, I got to visit my Roaring Fork again. The kids can’t understand why I love the Roaring Fork so much and say that I have already seen it before. They don’t seem to understand that it is never the same. Even if it was exactly the same, I have aged and I have changed so I might experience the same sights in a different way! 

Besides, when I return to the Roaring Fork, it is reassuring to know that we are both still here. The serenity of the Roaring Fork has not been swallowed up by the chaos of Gatlinburg. I have not yet been swallowed up by six feet of earth. We are both still here!

I especially like to visit the Noah “Bud” Ogle homeplace at the very beginning before the one way loop starts. I just love that place. It always makes me think of my own past family members living in similar surroundings.

                                      The Noah “Bud” Ogle homeplace. 

  

A huge tree had fallen over very near the parking area. It was leaning on another tree, causing it to lean under the pressure. 

Seeing that cabin in those surroundings always fills me with nothing short of gob-smacking awe. The cabin is surrounded by HUGE rocks all around. I know that the Ogle family probably had several acres, and surely some of them were arable, but looking around the home and outbuildings made me wonder how they could have survived on such rocky land.

Of course, mountain folks are both tenacious and ingenious! The Ogle family cleared a spot for their cabin near the creek. They used the trees cleared to build that cabin, to build outbuildings, to make shingles, to make furniture, wagons, troughs, chutes to carry water... 

     

               

                        

They used those rocks to support the cabin’s foundation, to form steps to the front and rear porches, to make the fireplace and chimney, as a weight for a drag, and who knows what other ingenious uses they devised for those rocks. 

                     

                    

       

                              

                              

 

 

They used a nearby spring up under a bank to supply drinking water. In the past, they had even rigged up a chute system to send water from the spring, downhill through the chute into a wooden trough on the back porch. 

                                 

The nearby creek also provided water for the livestock, water for washing clothes, water for the garden…

 

I imagine when the Ogles first laid eyes on their homesite, they saw opportunities rather than obstacles that I notice. Because of their vision, today I can visit one of my favorite places. 

The cabin did seem to have sustained some damage recently. A tarp covered one end of the porch, and one of the two rooms joined by the dogtrot was closed off with caution tape. I imagine that the recent storms had caused the damage. 

A huge tree near the parking area had blown over from the roots and was leaning on another tree. That tree was bending under its pressure. We moved our cars to different parking spots after a gentleman pointed it out. We could have remained there unscathed, but moved just in case. 

I am sure that the Park Service will have the Ogle cabin up to speed soon. I just pray that all of the folks devastated by the recent storm will recover as best as possible. So many lives will forever be changed by the storm. May God fill them with love and peace. 

We stopped by the Roaring Fork stream at a pullover and Jooniebug had a great time crossing forth and back over the water. She climbed from rock to rock and seemed to be part mountain goat. She thoroughly enjoyed her rock climbing and was loath to leave.

 

 

    

 

  

 

 

We stopped by the little Ely’s Mill Store before leaving the Roaring Fork. It is a little store but it is an interesting place to visit with lots of intriguing things to see.

Outside the store, there are several bee hives. There is a beautiful wooden gate adorned with an old oil can, horseshoes, tools, and myriad other items. 

   

                                 

       

                    

                       

    

                                  

After we left the serenity of the Roaring Fork, Roxanna and her family went back to the cabin. Alex, Cam, and I continued on to the chaos of Gatlinburg. We visited a few shops. Alex and I went window-shopping at the Ol’ Smoky Moonshine place and then met Cam at the Rhythm Section. Alex and Cam went into Aunt Mahalia’s Candies and bought some sweets for Grandma and Papaw. 

 

                                      Seen on the strip in Gatlinburg.

On the walk back to the car, I had a huge cherry snow cone. I had really been wanting a snow cone. That cone was HUGE but I finished it and might near foundered on it! 

After Gatlinburg, Roxanna drove Mom and Dad, Jeremy drove the kids, and we all met at the Apple Barn for apples and dinner. Alex always gets a frozen apple cider there. She also bought some fried apple pies for folks to share. Dad and I bought a couple bushels of apples; one bushel of Crimson Crisps and one bushel of Cameos. We will be working apples to freeze this week!

 

                                 

  

 

   

  

  

After dinner, we returned for our last night at the cabin. We got as much packing as possible done and then went to bed.

Just a few minutes after getting into bed, Jooniebug comes running into the bedroom exclaiming that the Northern Lights were out. She showed me her daddy’s phone and sure enough, you could see the starry night sky painted by the Lights. 

  

  

I jumped up, grabbed my phone and went outside as I have always wanted to see the Northern Lights! Unfortunately, I could not see them with the naked eye, but the phone recorded them on the camera. Their beauty was captured in photos! 

I guess our Northern Lights that night were sort of akin to God. Even if He cannot be seen by our naked eyes, He is there but can be seen through all of His wondrous creations. 

So our last day in the mountains was truly awesome. It started with the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, and it ended with seeing the Aurora Borealis, at least in pictures!

We checked out of the cabin the next morning. Cam left early and took Portie home with him. Alex was meeting friends in the mountains for an annual Halloween scary movie marathon and was staying a couple more nights. 

  

We all, except for Cam, stopped at the Hillbilly Restaurant for breakfast. It was an interesting place. An old truck was in the center of the restaurant. It had an old moonshine still in the bed but you couldn’t see much of it. Dollar bills were clipped to the body of the truck with the places where visitors had come from written on them. The food was good and our waitress was the best I have ever had! 

    

                                

   

                                   

   

 

  

  

  

  

After our meal, Roxanna, Jeremy, Jooniebug, and Cyrus headed home. Alex, Dad, Mom, and I met at the Smoky Mountain Knife Works. We always like to stop by there. It has so many different things to see. 

   

Pretty old car parked outside Smoky Mountain Knife Works SMKW.

                                  

    

A few years back, I even met Johann Yeti at the SMKW while he was in town visiting his cousin Squatch . He and I had a Smoky Mountain Knife Works Adventure. This year, I met his cousin Squatch, but we were getting ready to leave and we couldn’t have an adventure. I did meet some of his young’uns and took a few photos with him. 

After the SMKW, we crossed the road so Dad could check out the Workshop Tools shop there for a reacher. He couldn’t find what he wanted so we all left. Mom, Dad, and I headed for home. Alex headed to the other cabin for the movie marathon.

Mom, Dad, and I did run into several traffic jams which added about an hour and a half to our drive home. It was a very tiring drive but it could not diminish the wonderful vacation we were returning from. We had glorious weather the entire time and we checked off all items on our “To Do” list. 

We have all arrived home safely except for Alex who will travel home either tonight or in the morning.

Thanks God for the opportunity to visit my mountains and thanks God for a wonderful vacation!