Cades Cove with the John Oliver cabin in the background. August 27, 2010.
This is my post for the My World meme. It is hosted by Klaus, Ivar, Sandy, Wren, and Fishing Guy. To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.
Betsy and I went to Cades Cove in the Smokies on Friday. We hadn’t driven the Loop Road since it was re-paved and we wanted to see what improvements had been made. Of course we stopped several times to take pictures.
One of the places we stopped was the cabin of John and Lurena Oliver, who were the first permanent settlers in the cove. They arrived in Cades Cove in 1818. Their cabin was most likely built in 1822.
The picture above shows the cabin and its setting in the cove. The cabin is quite a way from the current Loop Road, but the setting is beautiful.
The John Oliver cabin, Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. August 27, 2010.
The cabin was built in a style that was fairly typical along the eastern frontier at this time. Perhaps the most interesting feature is that no pegs or nails were used to build this cabin. Gravity locks the logs together and the chinks are filled with mud to seal out wind and rain. The small windows and doors help conserve heat and maintain the cabin’s strength.
Gravestone of John and Lurena Oliver, Primitive Baptist Church, Cades Cove, Tennessee. August 27, 2010.
John and Lurena Oliver are buried in the graveyard of the Primitive Baptist Church which they helped establish and which is fairly near their cabin.
Tags: Cades Cove, History, Tennessee, Travels
Senior Moments 
August 31, 2010 at 5:27 am |
I think I may have bought a photo of that fence from Leedra!
August 31, 2010 at 5:56 am |
I’ve walked up to that cabin several times. I would love to have a house sitting at it’s location.
August 31, 2010 at 6:53 am |
They were so smart to build a log cabin, instead of buying on of those prefab homes. 😀 ha!
Great picture- I’d love to go back there again some day.
August 31, 2010 at 7:07 am |
love the old cabin, agian i am jealous. first betsy and her bears and now you and my beloved log cabin. I have always wanted to live in an old log cabin just like this one.
August 31, 2010 at 7:11 am |
Beautiful setting and hard to imagine what life would have been like for them so long ago. Thanks for sharing part of your world today George.
August 31, 2010 at 7:19 am |
That is amazing! Beautiful post. We’ve been busy at the cemetery here.
August 31, 2010 at 7:40 am |
I can’t even begin to imagine what it was like to live in cabins like that. I know people in those days worked so hard but it always gives us the impression they had such a simple life. I’m sure they enjoyed “the simplest of things” more than we do today.
August 31, 2010 at 8:27 am |
That’s interesting & the cabin holds a lot of history! No nails, amazing!!!
August 31, 2010 at 8:28 am |
I wonder how many children they raised in this small place.The setting is beautiful.
❀ Ruth ❀
August 31, 2010 at 8:58 am |
What a great post for the day, George! I love this old cabin and how interesting to learn how it was put together! Such wonderful history and what a beautiful place! That’s a place I would love to visit! Thanks for sharing this and I love your photos! Hope your week is going well! And thanks as always for your visits and comments! They are so appreciated!
Sylvia
August 31, 2010 at 9:28 am |
What a beautiful cabin and still standing. Nice history of the Olivers.
Wow! In 1818 the Native americans had this part of the country all to themselves. MB
August 31, 2010 at 9:37 am |
Beautiful countryside. How interesting that the cabin was made without nails or pegs!
August 31, 2010 at 11:26 am |
That is a very lovely cabin built without the help of nails and pegs. Even though built in 1822, still standing intact.
August 31, 2010 at 11:54 am |
Mud in the cracks, and it’s still standing and looking in good shape! Now you just KNOW what’s coming, don’t you? My questions, of course!! Has there been any touch up work, or is this left the exact way they made it? I would LOVE to look inside, did you?
August 31, 2010 at 1:37 pm |
Amazing that it has stood so well for so long. I like the fence too!!
August 31, 2010 at 5:29 pm |
Hi George,
I’ve been meaning to add your blog to my reader. I finally did so today. That is a beautiful cabin. It’s location looks so tranquil.
August 31, 2010 at 7:25 pm |
George: Great photos of this special place.
September 1, 2010 at 10:50 pm |
I think I would have liked living there…such a beautiful setting.