Amazing old cabin here, that has definitely seen better days! There was a Hannah cemetery nearby and other buildings further down the trail I didn’t make it to. Next time! Channel Donations: www.paypal.me/rwrightphotography Follow me on my old farm: ru-vid.com/show-UC56vh2L-M0czmoTRLhSMaxg eBay Shop: ebay.com/usr/sidestep-adventures-official Join The Official Sidestep Adventures Fan Group: facebook.com/groups/561758371276581/?ref=share_group_link Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/SidestepAdventures Mail: Sidestep Adventures PO BOX 206 Waverly Hall, Georgia 31831
@@cowgirlvillarreal Agreed with you on that one. 1903 my house in Western Pa was built in. The timber is a real 2×12 and has the rough saw marks in it. On a sandstone foundation.
Came for the cabin that looks eerily like the one in the Evil Dead films and stayed for the surprisingly entertaining tour. Well done and I appreciate the respect you obviously have for these old settlements!
Horace Kephart tells us in "Our Southern Highlanders" that Scotch-Irish settlers in Appalachia left their cabins drafty on purpose. They considered moving air healthy and a sealed off living space as something for the weak or infirm! Therefore they used little to no chinking. Kephart lived among the Scotch-Irish settlers of Western NC/Eastern TN for over a decade, not far from this site, so I believe he can be taken at his word. He also describes the Scotch-Irish as basically immune to cold, going about in sub freezing temperatures with little clothes and less discomfort. Hearty folks no doubt.
I live in Oregon, but my grandparents lived in a similar cabin although it was bigger, having been added onto over the years. The style with the roof coming down to make the porch roof is the same. Grandparents raised 4 kids in that cabin. There was no running water, just a pump by the back door. Outhouse, wood cookstove. They had the old wooden phone box. By the time I came around there was a bathroom and electricity. But oh my, the memories. It would be over a 100 years old now. Thanks for sharing.
@@stevemccarty6384 I am 70 and I remember having an outhouse when I was little. At least I remember my Dad adding a bathroom to our house when I was 3 or 4. Different world now, everyone wants at least TWO bathrooms!
Similar story here. I grew up dirt poor but loved in an Appalachian clapboard cabin in Perry County Eastern Kentucky. We had the wood stove, well pump and the whole nine yards and we didn't have hot running water until around 1980 or so. Taking a schitt in November was pretty rough and I was stung in the taint once by an outhouse wasp. Mom , Dad and three boys in a 3 room house. Our memories in those hills were awesome too and if I could go back I would. Damn.... I can almost smell that wild blackberry cobbler.
@@stevemccarty6384 I traveled to Finland a few years back and encountered the best outhouse I'd ever seen. Two holer, decorated with a little stand with flowers, rugs on the floor, pictures on the wall and very very clean.
A great example of how the settlers had live/ survive. People complain today and have no idea of what so many people went through back then. Thank you Robert for bringing us another great video.
@Dick Turpin People complain today because they are pussies. The people living in that cabin were probably too busy to complain, had no one to even complain to, and were likely thankful each and every day for what they had.
😌☕️Complaining is Why We All Have Improved Living Conditions and Continued Complaining will Iron Out All the Snags that Still Need Improvement🙂So Heres to Complaining🥂Better Tomorrow’s🥳2023 Bring It On🎉🙏🦋☮️❤️🌟🌎
Most of these cabins were made of chestnut trees. That wood lasts forever being rot resistant. Sadly due to the blight all the trees were wiped out completely in the early 1920’s 30’s. Most all Appalachian homes were built with these trees
Reminds me of my gma's "shack" when I was young..she did not have an upstairs..she did have a cistern at the back door..and an outhouse yards from her backdoor :) I sure love cabins like this..just so many memories and you can only imagine the family that lived there and how their life was.
My wife's grandmother old log cabin was built exactly like that cabin. It was build around 1848 to 1850. The original owners were named Bates. My wife's grandmother came to Arkansas in a covered wagon about 1890, and her family name was Jimerson. They lived in the old cabin until about 1930. They fireplace was made of clay and stick construction. They covered the logs the same way but papered over the interior with old newspaper and catalogs. I was able to see dates from 1890 to 1930 on some of the exposed papers.
This is a recreation by hobbyists, probably from the 1960s when this style became pop culture. The lack of cribbing and the swirl planing marks on the floorboards are a dead giveaway. Nobody ever "lived" here. It was a fun little hang out spot for some good ol' boys to make fun of the hippies circa 1968.
My husband's grandparents lived in a log/lumber cabin in the Missouri Ozarks. One of their children took it over and we talked to their daughter about it. She said that the foundation was left open and that when the winter winds came, it was "as cold as blue blazes." She was happy to leave that cabin. Thank you for sharing this cabin with us. I wonder what agreement the National Park Service made with the owners of this cabin. I'm glad it was left untouched.
A piece of 1960's history by some fans of western movies. There are dead giveaways in the construction and state. This is not even from the early 1900s, this is a 1960s hobby build.
@@hansblitz7770 The Hannah Cabin was built in 1864 by John Jackson Hannah, son of one of the original settlers to the Big Cataloochee area, Evan Hannah. John settled in the Little Cataloochee area because all of the land in Big Cataloochee was taken. After he died his son lived in it until he sold it to the state government in what is now part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is an original 1864 cabin. I have visited there many times, all of Cataloochee, during my 13 years living in the Maggie Valley NC area.
The skillfully made dovetails at the corners are what have been holding this whole thing together for all these years. My mom was bornin a similar cabin almost a century ago.
Thank you, Robert. I can't travel at the moment so you just gave me a good field trip. I hope the NPS gets more preservation work going on the Hanna cabin.
Love that this video came across my page. John Hannah was my g-g-g-g-grandpa on my mothers side. Scotch-Irish descent. The cabin was passed to his son Jim when he passed away. I believe Jims wife’s name was Melissa. Thanks for covering this, Haven’t had the chance to see it myself, Only family pictures.
Life was easier then no bills or debt and enjoy the rewards of your effort no govt to dictate your actions or take you money. If you made a mistake you learned and did better you were in charge of your destiny and servant to God and nature. Maybe the garden of Eden years later great grandpa been around a long time
I wonder if they haven't done the needed restoration work for lack of funds or not having a skilled artisan to do the work. It would be a shame to let it fully collapse, and 'as is' it appears to be a hazard.
The cabin is beautiful. Thank you. Guess on the F/P -- from the condition of the bricks, which were laid with great care, and the changes in the hearth - guessing they may have come into some salvaged or unused brick and replaced an old stone fireplace. Just a guess. That cabin is so beautiful. We forget how hard life was just a few short years ago. Thank you for taking us with you. Be careful !
Thank you for working on your vacation to supply us with these videos! There is a log barn on our old farm in southeastern Kentucky, built in 1866 of similar construction. The steps to the upper level always were precarious. Can you imagine having to go up and down the stairs at night, even as an agile child? I guess a chamber pot would be in order if you could afford it and find one in 1864. Very nice tour, you are the master!
I'm surprised it looks like it is then again at least it had a brick fireplace to keep warm they can't be many log cabins left it's a pity they can't keep the up keep for future generations very interesting Robert all the best Andrew south wales uk 👍 👌 😀 🇬🇧
Something to really think about, as to how rough life was back years ago. Makes you really appreciate life as we know it today with all our Modern Convenience. I'm with you Robert on hoping they do take the time to preserve this piece of History. Thank you for sharing this.
Makes me oftentimes long for that life knowing it was hard. But they did it! They worked together, kept the family together, appreciated everything! They really had the best of this country back then. Bless them forever.
Back in the day they only left the gaps during the summer they would use mosses and such to plug the holes as well as overlapping board it really comes down to where you family was from and how much knowledge was being passed down mine have always been builders and farmers very strong people not just physically there's no real way to describe how they did things except they had some snap to em my vocabulary does t quite cover it but I assure you a lot of these places were quite warm with a fire in the place and the walls sealed and covered also the floors need work but overall a beautiful old wood cabin
Many people did live long lives. Go to the cemeteries and there are lots of 18th and 19th Century people that lived 80, 90, even a hundred years.... but so many unlucky people died as babies, children or young adults of disease that it brings the average way down.
The cabin is surprisingly clean inside and out. It does not look as though birds or critters have taken up residence. The Park service must keep it sept out. and visit often enough to discourage wildlife. The slope it precariousy rests on looks like it is being washed away slowly. The cabin actually looks quite spacious for a family. , with a sleeping loft also. but as you say,it must have been very hard to heat in the winter. BRRR. My Great grandparents raised 11 children in a one room house made of sod, a ‘soddy” on the ND prarie, until they built a farmhouse. Earlier generations must have been a lot tougher and resilient than we are today, or none of us would BE here. i sure hope that the park service at least patches the roof, and soon.. The cabin has survived so long, it would be a shame to let it go. Thank you for taking us on another adventure.
Very interesting i love old cabins and too hear how life was like back then, made me just feel guilty for thinking it was chilly in our house today. My mother in law grew up in a cabin in Kentucky and said she had a hard and sometimes strict but very loving childhood. Love her stories of swimming back then in clear water creeks, exploring the forest and running around barefoot watching for snakes. I did find out and it’s really true, that they grew up down the holler from Loretta Lynn. My mother in law didn’t play with her because she was older, but her younger brother walked to school with Loretta for a few years. ❤
I absolutely love these old settler cabins that are still hanging on out in the National Forests. They are such an incredible window into the rustic soul of old Appalachia. We have to document these places while we still can because they will not last forever 💯👍
It really is. When I see these relics it’s always hard to comprehend that that was home and those people were just as alive as you and me - living life. Such a different life though.
Modern humans in Western culture are spoiled for the most part. We live in homes to large and drive cars with to much technology and eat too excessively !
Almost have to believe some level of care is taking place on the old cabin. Does one leave it as is and let nature reclaim it, or perform minimal preservation to prolong its life? Sounds like your hike was not easy, moving it to a historical location is probably not an option. Definitely a cool find.
i enjoy theTownsends channel, too. they made that life , lived around the fireplace, look quite cozy and delicious meals cooked on the hearth, reviving a lost skill.I think that a bed warming pan filled with coals would have been essential for survival in winter. IMO. once you get under the blankets you don’t want to get up or you will lose your warm spot. lol. My Dtr in law amazed us during a very cold campng trip..she found a big rock, wrapped it in foil and put it in the fire to heat then put it in her sleeping bag to keep her feet warm..
That old cabin reminded me of some the cabins we would find backpacking in the Cascades. The first time I saw one I thought why pitch a tent, lets sleep in there. But all the critters in the woods had the same idea. Pitched a tent everafter. My little house from the 60's was built with giant, crooked wood beams. cinderblocks and 4x4's holding up the porch. It's not that old but it is rustic. I wish I had a fireplace though instead of a wood stove that doesn't work...but still better than a house in the city!
Hey it’s amazing how some of these things still stand. Trying my hardest to keep this place up. First 1865, addition 1909! Many other structures. Doesn’t your mind feel better the moment you get there! Great video!
definitely looks like it might be possible to put a foot through some of the floorboards, or decking boards. I had my fingers crossed that you'd make it back downstairs in one piece.
Robert, It's good to see an adventure away from the Cemeteries, for a change. Those boards are amazing, there is no lumber that big around the Smokies anymore, I'm surprised the place hasn't been restored and put on the State or National records. That could be cozy if it were restored, oh well, it is what it it:) Cheers, Rik
Thank you for taking your time to show what it used to be once in life. I am from the Caribbean but we were brought up in similar conditions, No running water lines, no clothes washers, no bathrooms, only outside makeshift, when it rained no one sleeps because we must put pots and pans over the beds to collect the water. Barely a 40 watt light bulb, wash dishes outside the house over a board...etc. our outside light was the moon. Nowadays we have it all. No matter how low income we may be, I consider ourselves being rich comparing to our ancestors. Guess what! I will NEVER change those days for today's modern life. Back then we were as happy as happy could be. Families shared time in every way. There were NO virtual communications, only in person communication. I thank the Lord for us being born in that era.
Good to have you back Robert and interesting to see you see you so bundled up, My question is how did they get all those bricks up there in that difficult terrain.
Loved this video Robert 👍. It's so interesting to see this cabin and how it was built. Its still standing! I always imagine the people that lived there and what their life was like.
Any chance there was a lean-to on the back, accounting for the lack of chinking & presence of that row of post holes across the top?---Knowing nothing about the Great Smoky Mountains except a name in the history books, this trip is invaluable. So glad you were there.
The Cabin in itself in still in amazing shape for the time that it was actually built, and for the size, was a pretty good space, with a good size in the upstairs attic space, for the kids to sleep , if there was any. Like even back then, they used every bit of space, with the little cubby door under the stairs for storage. Such a shame that Government came along and removed all the families from the homes they built, and form the family cemeteries, so that all that they worked so hard for, the government just came and took form them, as if they were not important. sigh. really appreciate your time on documenting all this and sharing with all of us.
There our boy. My late husband's great grandfather came from shooting creek n.c. And farmed the land. He died in 1880 and the son in law took the land over along with 3 of the children. Life was hard
Nice. I regretted moving out from the Front Range and a very dense old mining district with years of exploration right out my door (Marysville Mining District) a near half-thousand miles SE to remote Powder River County. But a no-brainer as renting a renovated 1880s cabin w/foot thick log walls. Unworked for 60 years but (despite all personal items removed and "not much left") has the original barn, sheds and workshops up to the 70s packed with the same tools used to carve out this place. From 1890s hand seeders to horsedrawn plows and range of machinery abandoned in place. Add the old dumps and ohboy, making my own museum (nobody will see) in half the barn, recovering what I can and preserving it all. Am hack historian; used to work for state historical society and still trying to absorb it all. Chance to grow crops, too. Wonderful to see these old places still out there. PS: due to, I believe, a coal boom that never happened, an eastern energy company bought up a lot of local farms and touring these abandoned entire ranches is always humbling. Good job. Babble over.
Best version of this song. Takes me back about 60 years to those mountains of North Georgia. Have y’all ever heard someone sing a song and say “I wish I could have met them “. This is that someone I would like to have met.
When you first showed the cabin, I thought it was livable. So amazingly well kept. I hope they fix the roof. And hey, Robert, when you look through some Foxfire books, there is info on cabin building, if memory serves me, and some people did chink on the outside. So its possible it had some at one time. Loved this video!
Yeah, it would have had some kind of chinking. It gets cold in the Smokies / Blue Ridge. Years ago (40), I dated a girl who worked on one of the Foxfire books at Nacoochee School / Rabun Gap in the early 70s.
There's more to this cabin than meets the eye. It's on Little Cataloochee, rather than the big valley, which was, itself, extremely remote before the Park Service bought it and moved out the residents, but Dude Hannah was directly connected to Nance Dude, a grandmother from nearby Jonathan Valley who did decades in prison for the crime of abandoning her granddaughter to die of exposure in a rocked-up little crevice on a small mountain overlooking US 19 on the way up to Maggie Valley. Full story in "The Legend of Nance Dude," by Maurice Stanley.
I grew up in rural Tennessee and we would sometimes visit and stay the night at my great grandmothers home on Short Mountain TN. It looked very similar to this home and I hated spending the night there. No indoor plumbing, not even an outhouse (just find a spot and squat), even in the middle of a blizzard! Had to haul drinking water from stream not too far away. My great gran never had electricity and lived alone as long as I knew her. She also dipped snuff which is suppose to be unhealthy so that may what killed her at the age of 101.
I’m distantly related to the Hannahs. One of my great great grandfather’s daughters (or my great aunt) married Mark Hannah, the first park ranger for GSMNP. His father built the Hannah Cabin. The history of Little and Big Cataloochee is very near and dear to me, so it’s wonderful to see people getting out and seeing things like this.
@@C.Church My grandfather’s maternal grandfather was Will Messer. US govt. bought his property for 30k, which even back then he believed to be highway robbery.
This old wooden cabin is AWESOME. I really liked looking at the front of it. To see how it was made to level with the ground. You can see the large opening at one end n amazingly those stacked rocks being level with the other end. It’s also amazing that it’s still standing. Think of the many winters it’s been through. I fell in love with this cabin n wish all the logs could talk. To tell the history of those who lived there. Your so right to think even when first built it still would of been cold inside. A bit curious as how tall the ceiling was on the first floor. I could go on n on about this awesome wooden cabin as I’m so fascinated by it but I won’t bore you with all my crazy thoughts n questions. Thanks Robert for sharing this to all of us. By the way. Since your in N.C. did you happen to go see Aaron? I’m just happy you got away on a mini vacation before Christmas. Have a Merry Christmas Robert with your family n friends. This cabin deserves lots of gold 🌟’s. ♥️😊👍👍🌟🎄
My grandmother had a large farm with a 2 story farmhouse built by my g-g-grandfather in the early 1800s. I loved it so much! Completely heated by fireplaces, wood stoves and cooking on a wood kitchen stove! I would love to go back in time! Some of my best childhood memories were made on that farm. I’m in NC. ❤️
My great grandmother and her husband were married the day before and I have a photo of them together in front of their covered wagon. They got to Oregon and stayed about a year but then decided to continue to Washington and settled in Port Angeles, Washington. I have a photo of her standing in the middle of the 101 Highway. She was in no danger because the Highway was a 2-lane dirt road! My family built several of the homes up on Pine Hill. On the outskirts of PA, you’ll see Fey Rd off of the 101. My grandma’s sister Lorena and her husband Michael Fey built that road. Sorry to be so long-winded. I love family history!
It would be nice to have seen this when it was first constructed. Imagine the hard work and the pride when it was finished. Nice history piece. We tour new cabins in PF and Gatlinburg Tn Thanks for sharing
Georgia boy here in the smokies. Pre COVID hiking guide. Huge fan, come check out the wears valley side of the park! We have unknown confederate graves, tales of lost treasure and more! Thanks for the great videos!
