Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Log Museum construction Men a table for Old Folks Party

  • wcu_craft_revival-3779.jpg
  • This photograph is part of a series of eight that chronicles the community-led construction of the Log Museum on the campus of the John C. Campbell Folk School in 1926. The Brendle Cabin from Clay County and the Caldwell Cabin from Cherokee County were rebuilt on the Folk School campus and were connected with a dogtrot. The photographs show the process of reconstruction and laying the puncheon floors, the interior of the cabin, and the annual celebration of the "Old Folks Party" which was held on the fourth of July at the Log Museum. The original intent of the Log Museum was to preserve the "old ways" and craft traditions of pioneer times; the hand-hewn cabins housed community-donated relics such as a loom, spinning wheel, butter churn, rifle, ceramic vessels, hearth brooms, and farm implements. The Log Museum is a regionally significant structure because it is considered one of the first preservation attempts of vanishing culture in Appalachia. This series of photographs was likely taken by Marguerite Butler (Bidstrup), who is responsible for many photographs documenting the Folk School's early history.