Cataloochee is a valley in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, located in the Southeastern United States. Now, the historic and recreational area of ​​Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cataloochee was once home to the large Appalachian community and Cherokee hunt.
Video Cataloochee (Great Smoky Mountains)
Geology
Cataloochee consists of three narrow valleys that run parallel to each other, and "walled in" by the high mountains of the Balsam Mountains. To the northwest is Sterling Ridge and to the southeast is the Cataloochee Divide, both towering over 5,000 feet for quite a long time. To the southwest is the Great Mount Cataloochee along the 6155 feet along the top of Balsam, which runs perpendicular to Sterling Ridge and Cataloochee Divide. Two lower mountains, Noland Mountain and Big Fork Ridge, run parallel between Sterling and Divide, and divide Cataloochee into three valleys.
The northernmost of the three Cataloochee valleys are Little Cataloochee , located along the stream with the same name between Sterling Ridge and Noland Mountain. Across the Noland Mountain to the south is the Big Cataloochee , center of the three valleys, comprising lush plains along Cataloochee Creek. The southernmost of the three valleys is Caldwell Fork , located between the Fork Ridge and Cataloochee Divide. These three valleys are located along the river which is part of the River Pigeon watershed.
Maps Cataloochee (Great Smoky Mountains)
History
The name "Cataloochee" is derived from the term Cherokee Gadalutsi , which means "edges stand upright." His name probably refers to a line of tall trees along the ridge that surrounds the valley. The Cherokee uses the valley primarily as a hunting ground. Early settlers remember at least one Cherokee hunt camp around Little Cataloochee Creek.
The Cataloochee Trail, which runs from the Cove Creek area to what is now Cosby, Tennessee, connects Middlesettlements Cherokee with Overhill towns. The modern Cove Creek Road parallels this trail. By the time the first European explorers and merchants arrived, the trail had been used one foot in several places. Bishop Francis Asbury used it to cross the mountains to Tennessee in 1810.
The Cherokees surrendered their claim to Cataloochee when they signed the Holston Treaty in 1791. Nevertheless, they continued to hunt and fish in valleys throughout the 19th century. Hattie Caldwell Davis, a descendant of the first European-American Cataloochee settlers, recalls that his ancestors spoke "Cherokee fluent", and were always friendly with the natives. Davis's great-grandfather, Levi, is believed to have provided assistance to Cherokees hiding in the forest during the Trail of Tears period.
Initial completion
From the early nineteenth century, European-Americans used grass along the ridges around Cataloochee to free cattle. Temporary grazing camps were in place by 1814, when Henry Colwell made the first land purchase. In 1834, Henry's son, James Colwell (1797-1867) moved the family to Cataloochee. The spelling "Colwell" was eventually changed to "Caldwell." The Caldwells are accompanied by the Young Bennett family. The two families settled near the heart of Big Cataloochee, where their descendants will remain until the government forces them out in the 1930s.
George Palmer arrived at Cataloochee in 1838 and settled on the eastern end of Big Cataloochee. The family tradition reminded that Palmer had lost a lot of drinking and gambling in Waynesville and decided to move to Cataloochee to make a fresh start. Like Caldwells, the Palmers will remain in the valley until the arrival of the national park. An important final arrival at Big Cataloochee was Jonathan Woody (1812-1894), who arrived shortly after the Civil War.
Caldwell Fork may be named after John Caldwell, the grandson of the original settlers. John settled near the modern intersection of the Caldwell Fork Trail and the Big Fork Ridge Trail (the original path from Waynesville to Cataloochee through here), and a small community grew up around him. The leading early settlers along the Caldwell Fork include Sol Sutton, Elijah Messer (1844-1936), and Jesse McGee.
In 1854, Jack Vess, a son-in-law of George Palmer, and Daniel Cook (1831-1908) became the first permanent settlers at Little Cataloochee, located opposite Noland Mountain in the north of the main settlement. Princess Cook, Rachel, married Will Messer (1870-1946), a son of Elijah. Will Messer will eventually become the richest man of Cataloochee. Other notable early starters at Little Cataloochee included William Noland and his son-in-law, Evan Hannah (1802-1878).
Pioneer life at Cataloochee
Along with fertile fertile plains in Cataloochee, various types of livestock are the main incentives that attract early settlers into the valley. The grassy mound is a perfect summer pasture for sheep and cattle, and pigs can wander and find food in dense forest. Every year, residents of Cataloochee will drive their cattle and turkeys to markets in Waynesville or Charleston, South Carolina.
Because games abound in the valley, hunting and trapping provide additional income for the early inhabitants of Cataloochee. The feathers are traded for powder, lead, salt, coffee, cloth, and indigo. A hunting camp was established in which the Cataloochee Ranger Station now stands. In the late nineteenth century, George Palmer succeeded in making states give prizes to wolves, who consistently killed cattle in the valley.
Life on the Appalachian border is dangerous in several ways. While the early inhabitants of Cataloochee were friends with the Cherokee family, the apocalyptic Cherokee bands sometimes stole cattle. Wild animals such as bears and beetles often lurk the pioneers. Hattie Caldwell Davis writes of an incident in the 1830s involving his great-grandmother Mary Ann Caldwell and Allie Bennett, both alone at home one night cooking dinner while panther wandering the valley:
... the beetle smelt of fresh pork dishes and they were hungry. They jumped on a wooden cabin that was scratched and torn in shingles. They scratched and tore up the chimney trying to tear enough rocks to get inside the house. Every woman lives in her own house and constantly lights a fire in the fireplace to keep the panther from going.
By 1860, Cataloochee had a population of 160 and was recognized as a municipality by the state of North Carolina. The Cataloochee Turnpike was completed in the early 1860s, following the old trail of Cherokee. It was the first street cart in the Smokies.
Civil War
Unlike many Southern Appalachians, Cataloochee was largely pro-Confederate during the American Civil War. The children of many of the leading early settlers fought in the Confederate army, some of them lost their lives. The valley as a whole had great difficulty when most able-bodied men went for war effort, leaving many fertile fields in the valley for abandonment. Cataloochee was looted by robbers from both the Unitary and Confederate forces, who had previously sought Confederate sympathizers and the latter looking for a dodgers draft.
Among the worst of the Union robbers was a band led by Colonel George W. Kirk (1837-1905), who terrorized many pro-Confederate settlements in Western North Carolina. An important incident involved an emergency hospital occupied by Cataloochee residents for veterans returning from the war. While sightseeing in the valley, Kirk's Raiders found this hospital and killed or wounded 15 patients who were recovering.
The remote location of Cataloochee made it an interesting hideaway for deserters and Union sympathizers, and the Confederate invaders regularly made visits to the valley to root them out. One legendary incident occurred after an attack by Confederate Captain Albert Teague in which Teague captured Union George and Henry Grooms and Mitchell Caldwell sympathizers. Teague drove the three to a remote spot along Sterling Ridge, and ordered Henry Grooms to play his violin. Grooms chose "Bonaparte's Retreat." After he finished, all three were executed.
The end of the Civil War brought relief, although many people who returned were too weak to plant crops this year. The Confederate currency left by the remaining occupants is now worthless.
The arrival of the train gave a small economic boost, and helped North North Carolina recover from the war. When the first railway was built in Western North Carolina in the 1870s, many Cataloochee residents had never seen a train. They sent Hiram Caldwell and Steve Woody to Old Fort to observe new trains and report back. Many refused to believe when Caldwell and Woody told them that they could not run faster than the carriage.
1900s
By 1900, the Cataloochee population had grown to 764. The Cataloochee school was too small to handle an ever-increasing population, and in 1906 the township sent a delegation comprising Hiram and George Caldwell and Steve Woody to Waynesville to demand a newer and more big.. Officials at Waynesville refused them, however, claiming they were not paying enough taxes. On the way home, the three men drank a bottle of whiskey, and decided to burn the schoolhouse. After removing the furniture, they set the building on fire, and move the class to an old Caldwell cabin. They then again petitioned the government in Waynesville, claiming their school had been burned, and asked for a new one. Because of North Carolina's mandatory attendance law, the government has no choice but to abide by it. Known as Beech Grove School, its structure still stands today along the Palmer Creek.
Apple was the main cash crop of Cataloochee at the beginning of the 20th century, because the relatively cold climate of the valley was perfect for apple trees. The foundations of the communal big house built by Will Messer around 1910 can still be seen today near Cook Cabin in Little Cataloochee. Messner's multipurpose building is now on display at the Mountain Farm Museum in Oconaluftee.
By 1920, Cataloochee had two post office locations - one in Little Cataloochee known as Ola, after one of Will Messer's daughters, and another at Big Cataloochee known as Nellie, after one of George Palmer's daughters. Both locations are still occasionally present on topographic maps of the area.
At Caldwell Fork, the closed son of George Lafayette Palmer, "Boogerman" Robert Palmer, has settled in the dense forest north of the Elia Messer field. Legend has it that on the first day of Palmer's school, his teacher asked what he wanted when he was growing up. Palmer replied, "Boogerman." Palmer is his forest protector. He rejected all bids from timber companies, and even banned his neighbors from cutting wood on his property. As a result, some of the tallest trees in the valley are found along the Boogerman Line, which follows the old path that connects Big Cataloochee with the Caldwell Fork settlement.
At the beginning of the 20th century, moonshining rampant throughout South Appalachia, and Cataloochee was no exception. Some experts estimate that 95% of households in Cataloochee make their own whiskey, though mostly for personal use. Early settlers used whiskey as a cure for various diseases and helped them work long hours during the summer. During Prohibition, some of the poorer inhabitants of Cataloochee and small farmers supplemented their income by selling liquor, which was in great demand. The liquor was sold in Waynesville, and from there it was delivered as far as New York City and Washington, D.C.
Cataloochee largely escaped the booming logging that cut down much of South Appalachia in the early 20th century, though Suncrest Lumber and Parsons Pulp and Lumber have bought most of the surrounding ridges in order to cut it. Many residents of Cataloochee find work at logging camps in Hartford, Crestmont, and Big Creek, all located along the Pigeon River in the north, and Walnut Bottom, located on the other side of Sterling Ridge. The arrival of the national park movement in the 1920s ended a large-scale logging operation in the northeast Smokies before reaching the lowlands of Cataloochee.
National park
Tourists began dripping into the Smokies in the late 19th century, attracted by the mineral-rich mountain springs that are considered to have quality health restoring. Many mountain residents built additional rooms to their homes to accommodate the inhabitants of the lodge, and several hotels have sprung up. The Cataloochee Ranch was founded in 1933 by Tom and Judy Alexander. The farm is open from April 15 to October 15, with 10 rooms with rates ranging from $ 2.75 to $ 5.00 per day. Jarvis Palmer operated an 8-person cottage and three cottages during the 1930s, at a slightly lower rate.
In the 1920s, increased tourism and the destructive effects of logging led to a movement to create a national park in the Smokies. In order for this to happen, residents living within the proposed park boundaries will have to sell their land or be forced out through a reputable domain. In 1928, Reverend Pat Davis delivered the news to the residents of Cataloochee at the Palmer's Chapel, informing them that the valley was within the boundaries of the proposed park and that they would be forced to sell. Hattie Caldwell Davis, who was at the gathering, recalled the women who were crying and people threatened to blow the road and shoot anyone who tried to get in.
The opposition to the park's movements was appeased when the Park Commission allowed residents to earn a lifetime rent and stay in their homes. While some people are opposed to their criticisms, it is easiest to take what is offered, because they are skeptical of the lawyer and do not think anything will be obtained by going to court. Many choose to keep renting for life, but agricultural and logging restrictions will force most people out of Cataloochee in 1943. Most move elsewhere in Haywood County.
In the 1970s, the Park Service made plans to develop Cataloochee as a major tourist area within the park by opening the Creek Creek Road and allowing greater access to vehicles. Extensive opposition and litigation threats halted the plan until 1982, when budget cuts forced the Park Service to abandon it.
In 2007, the former residents of Cataloochee are still alive and their descendants still hold reunions in August each year.
Cataloochee today
Compared to other driving destinations within the park, Cataloochee remains relatively far away. While the well-kept paved paths cross the Big Cataloochee, the valley is connected to the outside world by the rough gravel of Cove Creek Road, which is full of sharp turns as it crosses Cataloochee Divide and Sterling Ridge. Cove Creek Road is accessible from Jonathan Creek Road (I-40, Exit 20) or from the Big Creek area near Waterville, North Carolina.
The Cataloochee campsite is located at the intersection of Caldwell Fork and Cataloochee Creek. The Backcountry campground is located along the Caldwell Fork Trail, the Rough Creek Trail and the Pretty Hollow Gap Trail.
In 2001, the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center was founded in Purchase Knob (Atop Cataloochee Divide) on land donated to the park by Kathryn McNeil and Voit Gilmore the year before. The purpose of this center, part of a network of 32 such research centers throughout the national park system, is to facilitate scientific research on the Appalachian highlands and raise public awareness and understanding of the research. Its center, which lies along the Cataloochee Division Line, includes workers and housing for visiting scientists.
Population of Deer
Elk was reintroduced to the park in February 2001 when 25 deer from the National Recreation Area of ​​Land Between Lakes was released in Cataloochee. Most of the original $ 1.1 million fee is funded by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, which provides $ 700,000. The deer once roamed the highlands of South Appalachia, but were eliminated by hunting and habitat loss. A herd of deer is a common sight in Cataloochee in Spring and Autumn. After the 2011 marry season the total population of deer in the park is estimated at more than 130.
Historical structure at Cataloochee
For anthropological and historical purposes, the National Park Service has preserved several structures originating from the pre-park days of Cataloochee. Unlike other historic areas of the park such as Cades Cove and the Mountain Farm Museum in Oconaluftee, many of the structures at Cataloochee have a more modern look, and are more representative of life in the early 20th century compared to pioneer life in Appalachia. Notable exceptions are Cook Cabin and Hannah Cabin.
The Hannah Cabin at Little Cataloochee was built by John Jackson Hannah, the pioneer son of Little Cataloochee Evan Hannah. The cabin chimney is one of only three brickheads that survive in the national park.
The Cook Cabin at Little Cataloochee was built by Dan Cook in the 1850s. It was dismantled in 1970 after being vandalized, and returned to its original site in 1999. The Cook applehouse ruins (built by Cook's son-in-law Will Messer) are on opposite sides of the path.
The Palmer House in Big Cataloochee was built in 1869 by George Lafayette Palmer. Originally a wooden hut, framed additions and weather boards were added later by Palmer's son, Jarvis. Along with the house, the site includes a Palmers' frame house, a smoke house, and a shed. The house now contains a self-guided museum.
The Palmer Chapel at Big Cataloochee was built in 1898 on land delegated by Mary Ann Palmer.
The Caldwell House in Big Cataloochee was built 1898-1903 by Hiram Caldwell. The Caldwell Barn , adjacent to the house, was built in 1923.
The Steve Woody House at Big Cataloochee was built in 1880 by Steve Woody, son of Jonathan Woody. The house was originally built from logs. Then, additional panels and spaces are added as the wood from the sawmill becomes widely available. The house is located along the Rough Fork Trail, a mile from the road. Springhouse Woody is nearby.
The Small Cataloochee Baptist Church (sometimes called the Ola Baptist Church) at Little Cataloochee was built in 1889. Will Messer then built the bell tower, including a bell donated by William Hannah.
The Messer Barn was built by Will Messer around 1905, and was originally located at Little Cataloochee. It was then transferred to the ranger's residence, where he stands today. Messer's applehouse is now located at the Mountain Farm Museum in Oconaluftee. Will's cousin John Messer built Messer Barn which now stands on the Greenbrier, on the Tennessee side of the mountains.
Along with this intact structure, a number of stone walls, falling chimneys, and burial remain in the valleys of Caldwell Fork, Big Cataloochee, and Little Cataloochee.
References
External links
- Cataloochee - the official site at nps.gov.
- Great Smoky Mountains Association - an official partner of non-profit parks, maps, guides, photos and videos
- Science Appalachian Highlands Center - located along the Divide Cataloochee, just above Caldwell Fork
- Cataloochee camp - general info.
- 'Cataloochee Valley: A Brief History' | My Smoky Mountain Guide
- The short film Cataloochee - The Center of the World (1993) is available for free download on the Internet Archive
- Hattie Caldwell Davis website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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