Cades Cove has a rich historical background, as the area was once a thriving settlement. People worked and lived off the land; they also built their own homes too! Thanks to the preservation efforts of the National Park Service, visitors can still see some settlers' cabins in Cades Cove today! Read on to learn about one of the most notable homesteads along the Cades Cove Loop Road– the Becky Cable House:
History of the Becky Cable House
The structure that would become the Becky Cable House was built in 1879 by Leason Gregg on a one-acre tract of land that was sold to him by John Cable. Gregg lived upstairs with his family while he ran his shop on the bottom floor. The house was later sold and bought by Dan and Rebecca (also known as Becky) Cable, John Cable’s children. When Dan became sick, Becky Cable took over the upkeep of the house. She herded cattle and ran the nearby gristmill. The work may have been hard, but Cable did it all. In fact, she once stepped on a rattlesnake while plowing the land barefoot. Becky Cable did not marry or have children. She lived in the house until she passed away in 1940 at the age of 96.
Where to Find the Becky Cable House
After Becky Cable’s death, the NPS moved her homestead from its original spot on Forge Creek Road to where it sits today. The Cable House is located next to both the John P. Cable Gristmill and the Cades Cove Visitor Center, about halfway along the loop road. You can see it without getting out of your vehicle, but you’ll definitely want to stop and explore the area because you’ll learn so much more about the house and the people who lived there. While you’re near the Becky Cable House, check out her father’s gristmill nearby. It is operational during the summer months, so you can watch corn being ground just like it would have been back then! The Visitor Center has restrooms, a gift shop, and there may even be a volunteer who can tell you more about the history of Cades Cove! Other things close by to explore include the Henry Whitehead Place and the Cades Cove Nature Trail.
More Places to Discover Cades Cove History
The 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road is home to lots of other historical structures. One of them is the John Oliver Cabin. This is the oldest human structure in the park. It was built in the 1820s when John Oliver and his wife first settled in Cades Cove. In addition to their homes, churches were important to Cades Cove settlers as well. Their houses were sometimes far apart, so the church gave them a place to come together for social gatherings. There are 3 Cades Cove churches still standing today, and you can go inside and imagine what a church service back then would have been like!
We hope you enjoyed learning more about the Becky Cable House and its unique history. Want to discover some interesting facts about other historic homesteads in Cades Cove? Read about the Carter Shields Cabin!
