The Meigs Line

 

I love our Smoky Mountains. Always have. I’m sure it started with my parents, who made regular trips into the Smokies.  I have early memories of those trips and photos that predate my memories.

When it came time to go through my mom’s stuff, I kept all her photos. In going through those, I found a photo that I hadn’t seen before. It was my much younger parents standing in front of their car with the Newfound Gap monument in the background.

It appears that my parents attended the dedication ceremony opening the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in 1940. They never told me that. My dad was about to head to World War II so I guess it faded into a distant memory.

I have a photo of myself when I was probably about three.  I’m standing in snow up to my waist, somewhere in the Smokies. I remember my dad would put chains on the tires of his vehicle and go anywhere.

Boys Scouts just perpetuated my love for these mountains. And when it came time to pick the place to live the rest of my life, there wasn’t but one choice. Along the way, I built a house on a high ridge out in the county with a spectacular view of my beloved mountains.

I’ve always had an interest in the history of the area.  I remember when Durwood Dunn’s book, “Cades Cove-The Life and Death of a Southern Appalachian Community 1818-1937” came out. I was fascinated. Later, I found “The Cades Cove Story” by Dr. Randolph Shields, who grove up in the Cove, graduated from Walland High and Maryville College, then later was Biology Professor at Maryville College.

 

A couple of weeks ago, in one of my columns, I mentioned the Oak trees on Big Springs Road that were part of the Hawkins-Pickens Line of 1797. These trees marked the southern boundary of America and the northern boundary of the Cherokee Nation. You may remember that the Hawkins-Pickens Line later became the Meigs Line, which runs from the Southwest Point Fortress near Kingston straight through Blount County to Meigs Mountain in the Smokies and then on into North Carolina.

How cool is that?!? I have since delved deeper into that story, first reading “Meigs Line” by Dwight McCarter and Joe Kelley, then inhaling a series of books about these mountains.

Among the other books I couldn’t put down are Horace Kephart’s “Our Southern Highlands” and Inez Burns’ “History of Blount County.” And I’m only getting started.

My point is this: There is a rich cultural heritage here, literally in our back door. Durwood Dunn pointed out that this wasn’t an area of dumb hillbillies. Indeed, it was filled with intelligent, resourceful people with integrity and ambition.

And we get to explore it. Pretty much anytime we want to. I can leave my office and be in the foothills in 10 minutes and the national park in another 15. Easy.

I don’t take advantage of it as often as I would like to. I love Cades Cove, but I don’t go there. Too many cars. I love Jarvis Park but I’ve only been there a couple of times and it could not be any more convenient. Indian Flats Falls. Messer Barn and the old Smoky Mountain Hiking Club Cabin along the Porter's Creek Trail. The Walker Sisters Cabin.

We are surrounded by so much glory and grandeur that I couldn’t list all the places on my short list in this little space. You just need to go out and check them out for yourself.

You will be healthier, happier, better adjusted, and a better partner. You have problems that are stressing you out? Go for a walk. Need to clear your head? Find a quiet spot by Little River. Life just seeming to be overwhelming? Go to the forest and be absorbed in the sights and sounds.

But here’s my best advice: Go where the people aren’t. You will figure it out.