Oliver’s Cabin

The First Cabin in the Smokies The Smokies pioneers started settling Cades Cove on the north eastern side where the loop begins, for this is the higher and dryer part of the cove, away from the swampy land found elsewhere. John and Lurany Oliver were the first to come to this area of the Smokies. Typical of the European immigrants and their descendants, the Olivers came despite the fact that there was no Indian treaty allowing them...

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Henry Whitehead Place in Cades Cove
Aug15

Henry Whitehead Place in Cades Cove

Life was not always perfect in Cades Cove. Divorces and separations, though rare, sometimes happened. Take Matilda Shields Gregory, of Cades Cove, for instance. She and her young son were deserted by her husband. But in the Cades Cove culture, if you had family nearby, you had help. Her brothers quickly built a small mountain cabin to give her shelter which was no small task when you consider they also had to build the fireplace and...

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