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The Shook-Smathers House
Original Gallery
Pictures by Bob and Wilma (updated April 3, 2001)
Click on picture to see larger view.
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From US 19-23 the house presents an imposing sight as you arrive from Clyde, a sight that has greeted travelers for more than 200 years. Today the view seems just a little "worn" by the ages.
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How many souls have enjoyed the cool mountain breezes from its luxurious verandahs? |
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Today the "rocking chairs are silent and the front porch is empty as the old dwelling awaits its fate.
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On the side porch the weeds have conquered the old floorboards near the back end ... |
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But underneath the house the ancient main support beams are solid as steel, and bear the marks of Jacob's hand work so long ago.
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Plumbing added in the 1940s runs beneath the 200 year old floor joists. In the center beam at top right you can see a dowel that connects a vertical member of the house.
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| and in the back the old screened porch has been boarded up. |
The chimney, with its ancient brick still stands tall and proud ...
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but the foundation of the monolith needs help. (Here we see the transition, we believe, from the original foundation and the "rebuilt" chimney of later times)
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The Dining Room has a "still lived in" feel... It hasn't been that long since people lived life in it's many rooms.
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and children frolicked on the massive stairs. These old stairs are not original to the house, they were part of the 1890s remodling, but still they are over 100 years old still not a creaky footfall or loose board to be found!
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These incredible stairs
that lead to the second
floor rooms,
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| and from there a tiny and steep set of stairs continue to the Phrophet's Room. |
The Old "Phrophet's Room is still preserved upstairs, a room where "old time" Methodism was "preached" in the early years of the 1800s and where Ruebin Philips held his "Singing Schools" in 1818.
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A room where the Pulpit still awaits another minister ...
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Everywhere are examples of the ancient virgin paneling, cut by hand from virgin wood ... |
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Many of these boards bear the signatures of past visitors to the famed room...
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The roof is supported by many ancient beams ...
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worn and notched reminders of when trees were much bigger than they are today.
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