A VISIT
TO CATALOOCHEE VALLEY
November 6-7,
2006
Cataloochee
Creek.
Beech
Grove School is one of three schools that was built in the valley.
This is the only one that remains. The school term ran from Nov. through
Jan. unless sufficient local funds could be collected to continue through
Feb. and March.
Lunch
buckets were crammed with sweet potatoes, cornbread, beans, applesauce,
biscuits, ham, and a jar of milk. Reading, writing, spelling,
arithmetic, geography and grammar were taught. Fridays was parents'
days and they came in the afternoon to see what the students had
accomplished.
Palmer
Chapel Methodist Church was the only church in Big Cataloochee.
There is a Baptist Church in Little Cataloochee.
Circuit
riding ministers conducted church services once a month. Sunday
school was held every week. The church was built in 1898.
Every
year a reunion is held at the church. Friends and families return to
clean the cemeteries, attend services, and have dinner on the
grounds. The front of the church faces away from the park road.
When
a member of the Little Cataloochee community died, the Baptist Church bell
would be rung for several minutes to attract attention. Then after a
brief pause, the bell would toll the age of the deceased.
These
riders were riding behind the church. Horseback riding is allowed
only in certain areas of the park.
We
encounter a few more elk as we leave the chapel area.
This
beautiful old barn is the Will Messer Barn. Built about 1900-05 and
moved here from Little Cataloochee in 1977 and restored. The ranger
station sits next to this barn. We left Cataloochee Valley and
returned to Waynesville. We will be coming back to this amazing place.
The next morning
we are greeted with rain, clouds, and the forecast for lots more
rain. We had planned on staying another day but decided to head
south.
I
had made arrangements with the owner of Francis Mill to take some photos
of the mill on Tuesday morning. The rain slacked off enough for a
few pictures. This
mill dates back to 1877 and was built by William Francis. The mill was in
operation until 1976.
Francis
Mill is now owned by Tanna Timbes who is the great, great, great granddaughter of
William. The Francis Mill Preservation Society was formed to
try to preserve the mill. Mrs. Timbes was kind enough to put up her
dogs so I could wander the property and take pictures. Link to mill:
http://www.francismill.org
Jim
and I headed home in the rain. We really enjoyed seeing the elk and
liked the town of Waynesville very much. The Francis Mill was a
special treat for me. You know how I feel about mills. We plan
on a return trip in the future and we recommend Cataloochee to all.