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BLANTON-REECE LOG CABIN

According to oral family history the Blanton-Reece cabin south of Lake Logan in Bethel Community is Haywood County, North Carolina’s oldest remaining log cabin.Early log structures in Southern Appalachia were influenced by German horizontal log construction techniques, but most adopted the English single-unit square shape with side-wall chimney rather than the typical rectangular German measurement with central chimney. Unlike most log houses in Southern Appalachia, Western North Carolina, and Haywood County, the corner construction of this building is full dovetail, a particularly difficult mortising technique. This exceptionally sturdy corner design, however, is probably the reason the building has remained in excellent shape since its 1821 construction.. Typical of mountain log cabins, this structure has one large living space with upper sleeping loft. A shed addition to the back portion of the cabin housed the kitchen.

MANN CENTURY FARM

The Century Farm project in North Carolina began in 1970 at the North Carolina State Fair in order to recognize historic farmlands that have been in the same family and continuous agricultural use for 100 years. This Century Farm was started in 1894 by J. Frank Mann who was born and reared on the West Fork of the Pigeon River. Frank and Sallie Mann developed the property until it spanned approximately 800 acres at one time. Tour the historic dairy barn, milk processing house, and tobacco barn while learning about other buildings and the reason this farm was an essential location in the North Hominy Community of Haywood County, North Carolina.

MAST GENERAL STORE

The Mast General Store building was constructed in the 1930s and opened as The Toggery, offering fine clothing for men and women. Today, its original pressed tin ceiling and creaking floors welcome guests to a retail experience from the past. An array of items from the past line the top shelves and tempting old-fashioned candies evoke nostalgic memories.

BETHEL CEMETERY

Established in 1854 by Elijah Deaver, the cemetery features a picturesque panoramic view of Bethel Community that lies at the foot of Cold Mountain. One of the most popular sites on the Cold Mountain Heritage Tour, the cemetery features slave graves as well as the gravesite of Pinkney Inman, main character in Charles’s Frazier’s book and movie Cold Mountain. Tour guides relay the story of Inman’s demise on Big Stomp Mountain and his burial by his father. The details of the haunting story have been handed down as Inman family oral history since 1864 when Inman was killed.

INMAN CHAPEL

Built by James Anderson Inman, brother of Pinkney Inman of Cold Mountain fame, Inman Chapel is considered unique because rather than the typical Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian Churches in the area, this church was the first Universalist Church in North Carolina. Tour guides are Inman family descendents who relay the history of Universalism in Haywood County as well as the history of Inman Chapel and its founder. Seeds of social activism in Haywood County began with this small church congregation that established the county’s first pre-school training program, first free public health clinic, first free adult education program, a lending library, and a ministry to African-American sawmill workers at Sunburst logging community. The church is currently being restored with historic accuracy to its former grandeur. Bethel Rural Community Organization sponsors The Cold Mountain Heritage Tour each year and has chosen Inman Chapel as the icon representing Bethel because of its historic significance to this community, Haywood County, and North Carolina.

INMAN CEMETERY

James Anderson Inman, builder of Inman Chapel as well as its Universalist minister, denounced his Confederate citizenship at the end of the Civil War, moved to Boston, and studied the religion of Universalism before returning south to reunite with his family and fulfill his dream of building a Universalist church. In addition to being a minister, Inman also operated a post office, a grist mill, a blacksmith shop, and a farm. In order to assure a resting place for church members and family he also established the nearby Inman Chapel cemetery. He his buried there as are the grandparents of Charles Frazier, author of Cold Mountain.

HOEY-SMATHERS HOUSE

The brick home built in 1926 has an impressive genealogical history. The first owner, Clyde Hoey, Jr. could boast an impressive political heritage. His father, Clyde Roark Hoey was a newspaper owner, state senator, United States Representative, North Carolina’s Governor, and United States Senator.. His mother’s brother, Oliver Max Gardner, was North Carolina’s Lieutenant Governor, Governor, United States Senator, and Under Secretary of the Treasury.
The home features a blend of Federalist and Neo-Classical architectural styles. The Hoey family was meticulous about every feature of the dwelling since fifty pages of blueprints and builder’s notations specified minute elements of design and detail. Current owners Gail and Doug Mull have followed the decorative style of the Fleetwood Smathers family, who lived in the house for thirty-five years, by filling every square inch with antiques, numerous collections, and unique whimsical decorative touches.

BETHEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The Rev. Jesse B. Stalcup, who was a millwright, a carpenter, and a Baptist minister, built several historic structures in the mid to late 1800s in the Bethel Community. In 1885, the Bethel Presbyterian Church sanctuary was built by Rev. Stalcup on property donated by W.S. Terrell
The beautiful interior is reflective of the tongue and groove style Rev. Stalcup used in other historic structures of the time. The Pingree-Plott House (built in 1867) preceded the Church and boasts a similar appearance. This narrow matchboard style became available after the Civil War at local sawmills and was the most popular way to sheathe interior ceilings regardless of how the walls were finished. In the case of the Church, the entire inside is finished with the narrow tongue and groove chestnut boards, making for a dramatic appearance.
The stained glass window picturing Christ sewing the seed is the focal point of the pulpit area. Benches used in the original sanctuary remain in use in the Church Fellowship Hall. The gable-fronted building originally had an open-sided square belfry tower. Five 4/4 sash windows adorn each side of the building, while a double-leaf bolection-molded entry door lies under the three-paned transom.

WAY HOUSE

Dr. Joseph Howell and Marietta Welch Way House
Portions of the eleven bedroom Way House date to the Civil War. Dr. Joseph Howell Way, a prominent physician, attached a medical office to the structure, completing one of Waynesville’s most prominent homes by 1899. Dr. Joseph and Marietta’s son, Joseph Howell Way, Jr., a banker, was Waynesville’s mayor for twenty-eight years. He and his wife, Margtuerite Sloan, reared their six children in the house and were the last family to reside in the mansion. The wrap around, covered porch, high ceilings, traditional wallpaper, and fireplaces carved in Tennessee that are detailed with antique tile make the historic residence a fascinating place to visit. The widow’s walk atop the building adds a Civil War era touch to this marvelous house that now houses Persnickity’s, a collectible and consignment shop. Women and the Moon, a gift shop, is located in the original medical office, while the original carriage house houses Colonial Florist.

GREENHILL CEMETERY

Owned and maintained by the Town of Waynesville, Greenhill Cemetery is the beautiful and peaceful abode for the remains of citizens who shaped Haywood County, North Carolina’s history for two hundred years. Gravesites of the founder of Waynesville (Colonel Robert Love), the first white chief of the Cherokee and commander of Thomas’ Legion, the only North Carolina Civil War legion (William Holland Thomas), at least five United States Congressmen and Senators, John F. Kennedy’s chauffeur during the President’s fateful assassination ride, and actor Gig Young (Byron Elsworth Barr) can all be found atop the hill near downtown Waynesville. In addition, numerous types of unique gravemarkers adorn the burial sites, including at least one angel from the collection of William Oliver Wolfe, whose son, Thomas Wolfe, wrote Look Homeward Angel.

MASONIC LODGE # 259 – GATEWAY CLUB

The impressive building at 37 Church Street is Waynesville, North Carolina’s newest private social club, The Gateway Club. The edifice, now on the National Register of Historic Places, was originally built during the pre-Depression era as a home for Lodge #259 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina. Though the imposing three and a half story structure was constructed in the late 1920s, the Masonic organization’s history in Haywood County, North Carolina, reaches backward to post Civil War times to December 6, 1866, when the Grand Lodge of North Carolina chartered the local Lodge. Prefaced by 4 columns with Ionic scrolled capitals and two grooved pilasters that detail the doorway, this imposing edifice is a stately introduction to the beautifully revived architecture within, including a first story dining area with bar, third story grand ballroom, and Waynesville’s only existing old-time elevator, complete with scissored security gate and elevator operator.