Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Weaving Cabin, interior

  • wcu_craft_revival-5975.jpg
  • This interior view of the Weaving Cabin shows an unidentified weaver at a loom circa 1926-39. Of special interest is the corner cupboard containing examples of pewterware produced and sold by the Penland Weavers and Potters. The Weaving Cabin, erected during a community log-raising in May 1926, served as the central gathering place for the community weavers organized by Lucy Morgan in 1923 as the Fireside Industries, a department of the Appalachian School. Their name was changed to the Penland Weavers and Potters in 1928. While the photographer is not known for certain, the photograph is from the time period and in the style of other Weaving Cabin photographs by Bayard Wootten. From 1923 to 1938 the Appalachian School served as the umbrella institution under which the Penland Weavers and Potters were organized and Penland School of Handicrafts (now Penland School of Crafts) was established.