SAVE THE SHOOK HOUSE !

Pictures by Bob and Wilma
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This is the abreviated chronicle of the "Cousins" effort in 2001 to save this historic structure.

Updated 7/22//2001

When my sister and I first visited Haywood County in May 2000, I stood on the 3rd floor balcony of The Days Inn in Waynesville and spoke to the 4 winds. Not too quietly I asked, "Cousins, WHERE are you?" My Lord sent the 4 winds to bring my cousins to me yesterday. What a bountiful blessing! My cup truly spills over.

From the onset of this mission and with each step along the way, success has exceeded my wildest dreams. From first getting permission to conduct the tour and being given the house key, from publicity given by your area newspapers, from the countless telephone calls and emails made by cousins to cousins, from obtaining the use of Clyde's City Hall for our meeting, down to the last hug and close of the day, our Lord has richly blessed our work. Papa would be proud.

I go home to Washington State knowing that a strong committee has been formed to work towards our goals of saving and restoring the old home with it's precious PROPHET'S ROOM. I am grateful beyond words for the continued interest of Dr. Hammett and Bruce Briggs. Their offer of guidance and support is truly appreciated. If saving the old structure is not to be, we have saved it in our hearts and pictures. It will live on as long as there is any memory of it surviving in us.

We cousins have been greatly blessed just by having been able to walk in the rooms, and pray in that holy place. "Saving the Shook-Smathers House" is already a success.

Your proud and devoted Shook Cousin, Wilma Simpson

March 25, 2001

Officers of the Save The Shook Smathers House Committee were announced and
a "working meeting" to get things organized was announced for Monday the 26th at 3:00 PM.

A wonderful day indeed!

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Wilma's Visit... A Recipe for Excitement...

Take a "mover and shaker" with a vision, Wilma Simpson

Add a little "pre-publicity"	At the nearby Church on land donated by Jacob Shook you can ..
Add a bit of Methodist History	A Historic Spot worthy of Preservation, and a Society who cares ...
Bring "Cousins" from afar ...	Crawl under the House to see Jacob's handiwork ...
with the ancient joists and doweled beams...	Peek in the ancient Root Cellar ...
Explore the old rooms downstairs ...	Then up the stairs to the second floor ...
and on up the "attic" stairs to the Phrophet's Room	and its wonderful and acncient wood work ...
much of it bearing the signatures of those who have visited: Hyatt, Welch, Shook, McDowell, many more	Back outside to check the chimney and see the beginnings of another spring
Then we're then off to Catawba County in the quest for Shooks (Shook Road at Lyle's Creek north of Conover)	To St John's Lutheran Church (which we find in ruins)
a churchyard full of Jacob's cousins, Younts mainly but some Shooks as well ..	to the Catawba Museum and the Catawba Library, then on to Old Fort ..
and the Gateway Museum ...	and the location of Jacob's service in 1776 and 1781