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Cataloochee tract 231: W. G. B. Messer

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Item’s are ‘child’ level descriptions to ‘parent’ objects, (e.g. one page of a whole book).

  • CATALOOCHEE HISTORIC DISTRICT: CULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT GREAT SMOKY MoUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK January 2000 Dianne L. Flaugh Historical Landscape Architect Cultural Resources Resource Management Great Smoky Mountains National Park National Park Service I I I I I I I I •• • CHAPTER 4: INDIVIDUAL TRACTS W. G. B. Messer Upper Place Tract (231 b)" Location This 52.86-acre tract is located along Little Cataloochee trail on the east side of Davidson Gap. History 139 The Upper Messer Place is part of a one hundred acre parcel originally bonded to D. J. Cook from the Love holdings in 1877, and another thirty-one acre tract acquired in 1885. In 1891, Cook divided his property among three of his ten children. His son Harrison acquired this tract (231 b). In 1895, Harrison sold the property to his brother-in-law W. G. B. (Will) Messer. The NCPC acquired this property in 1930, from Will Messer. From 1937, through 1943, Kimsey Palmer leased portions ofthis tract. Daniel J. Cook and Harriet Caldwell married in 1854, and soon established a home in Little Cataloochee. By 1880, Dan Cook farmed forty acres of cleared land and ten acres of permanent pasture land. Refer also to information for the Dan Cook Cabin Tract 231 a. No information is available concerning the occupancy of this tract by Harrison Cook. It is possible that he built and occupied a home on this tract. As late as 1900, the Harrison Cook family1 is included in the Cataloochee census along side brother-in-laws Will Messer and John Burgess. In 1895, Will and Rachel Messer purchased this section of the Cook property from Harrison Cook for $350. He built a log cabin on the property that boasted one of the fmest stone chimneys in the area. Messer also built a barn, applehouse, and springhouse on the property. Sometime after 1905, Messer moved his family to another home in Little Cataloochee. It is likely that tenants of Will Messer occupied the cabin on this tract following his move. Will Messer is known for his activities in the commercial orchard operations in Cataloochee. His apple crops brought in between $500 and $3,000 per year with $2,000 being average.2 His apple trees numbered over six hundred good productive trees as well as some that he considered of poor quality. It is unknown where his orchards lay on his extensive properties, but as late as 1943, a three-acre apple orchard persisted on this tract. Kimsey Palmer leased property in Little Cataloochee from 1931, through 1943. Beginning in 1937, the land leased included pastureland on the Upper Messer Place (tract 231b). From 1941, through 1943, the leased land from tract 213b included only the three-acre orchard. 3 Vegetation Unlike other tracts acquired by the NCPC, there is no breakdown for this tract of the number of cultivated, pasture, or woodland acres. All of the Will Messer holdings were combined to show a total of two hundred fifty acres of cleared land and orchards, and ninety-three acres of woodland. Aerial photographs and vegetation studies (ca. 1938) 140 C ULTURAL LANDSCAPE REPORT: CATALOOCHEE HISTORIC DISTRICT indicate that portions of tract 231 b were open. The tract is also known to have included an apple orchard. Circulation Little Cataloochee road ran along Coggins Branch to end at this homesite. Beyond this point a trail continued through Davidson Gap and provided connections with homes along Davidson Branch and Palmer Creek. Trace roads within the homesite accessed the barn and other structures. Structures, Furnishings, and Objects Unlike other tracts acquired by the NCPC there is no list of structures found on this tract. All of the structures owned by Will Messer were included on one list. It is known that the site included a barn, applehouse, and cabin. It is likely that the site included other structures, such as a springhouse, that were not included on any listing. The log cabin was built by Will Messer in 1898, and stood north ofLittle Cataloochee road. It stood one and one-half stories high and was built of poplar and ash logs. The house faced south. It measured 24' by 16' and had porches running the length of the cabin, both at the front and rear. A kitchen was included on the east end of the rear porch and a stone chimney stone stood on the west end of the house.4 Although the yard of the cabin was overgrown when photographs were taken in 1935, the area included several flowering plants and fruit trees (figure 52). Figure 52. W. G. B. Messer Cabin, 1935. Note flowering plants. GRSM Archives. The two-story applehouse stood south of the barn and north of Little Cataloochee road. It was constructed of chestnut logs and native stone. It measured approximately 20' by 16' in size and had a six-foot overhang on the north end.5 The log portion of the two-story applehouse was removed and reconstructed by NPS personnel as part of the Pioneer Farmstead found at Oconaluftee. II I I I I ~ I I I I I I •• • • CHAPTER 4: INDIVIDUAL TRACTS 141 Messer constructed the 30' by 40' native stone and timber barn ca 1896. The barn boasted an unusual gable-on-rup roof 6 It stood north of Little Cataloochee Road approxi­mately 195 feet and photographs show the barn situated on a slope surrounded by cleared fields and pastures (figure 53). The barn was removed and reconstructed by NPS personnel in Big Cataloochee just north of the present day ranger station (refer also Hub Caldwell Tract 222). This structure was documented in HABS drawings completed in 1975, prior to its relocation to Big Cataloochee. Figure 53. W. G. B. Messer Bam at original location, 1937. GRSM Archives. Existing Conditions The Upper Messer Place is found witrun subzone Natural Environment-Type I, which emphasizes the natural environment. The tract is now entirely forest covered. Formerly clear areas are dominated by tulip poplar with a midstory of black locust, striped maple, and silverbell. Multiflora roses comprise a truck understory found in the area of the home and barn sites . Little Cataloochee Road is now a horse and foot trail. The trace leading to the barn is evident although filled with multiflora roses . The structures that once existed on this tract have all been removed. The location of the barn, cabin, and applehouse remain apparent as small clearings in the forest cover. The native stone foundation of the applehouse remains evident although several trees have fallen onto the foundation. Rock walls and fencing remnants are found throughout the homesite and former field areas of this tract. Analysis and Evaluation Tllls site is associated with the Cook and Messer families. It also is connected with circulation patterns between Big Cataloochee and Little Cataloochee communities. Reforestation, loss of orchards, and the removal of buildings have impacted the site. However, the reforested agricultural land remains evident, dominated by pioneer tree species. While no buildings remain standing, there are small scale landscape elements and remnants that illustrate the history and use of the site. These include structural I~ 142 CULTIJRAL LANDSCAPE REPORT: CATALOOCHEE HisTORIC DISTRICT elements such as walls, fences, and stone foundations. Historic circulation patterns through the site remain evident. The mountainous setting and remaining landscape elements attest to the difficult nature of subsistence farming in Cataloochee. NOTES 1 The 1900 census included Harrison, wife Rachel, four sons, and one daughter. He listed his occupation as a day labor. 2 Roy Carroll and Raymond H. Pulley, "Historic Structures Report: Jim Hannah Cabin, Will Messer Bam, and Dan Cook Cabin," (Appalachian State University, Department ofHistory, 1976), 27. 3 Kimsey Palmer lease file, GRSM Headquarters inactive file. • Carroll, 78. 5 1bid., 79; and Charles Grossman, Grossman notebooks, B-4, 1935, GRSM Archives. 6 Carroll, 78-79. I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I -- - . . : J I Will Messer 'Upper Place' Homesite Cataloochee Great Smoky Mountains National Park Cultural Landscape Inventory - Levell July 1996 0nWD by: Cb.ouocc:r Mcl.au@)ilin CUL T\JRAL LANDSCAPE REPORT CATALOOCHEE HISTORIC DISTRICT HA'IWOOO COUNTY, NORTH CAROUNA ume CATALOOCHEE W. G. 8. MESSER AT OLA EXISTING CONDITIONS NATIONAL PNV< SEIMCE QMAT SMOKY MOUH'fAINS NAnONAL PAAK REIIOUI'CE MNiAG£MENT .(;Ul TUAAL RESOURCE! DAA-IY: OllmO L _,.. Df<TE;_.. .... DAAWINGNO.
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).