Visitors recognize US Constitution Day at David Hall Cabin
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Cathy Bridges, left, and Libby Bumgardner, the owner, sit in the main room of the David Hall Cabin in Claxton during the recent Constitution Day “Living History” event at the historic venue. - G. Chambers Williams III
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Andrea Fowler O’Neal, left, and Tommi Scott take a break in front of a tent on the grounds of the David Hall Cabin during the recent Constitution Day event. - G. Chambers Williams III
Visitors to the Historic David Hall Cabin in Claxton were recently treated to a trip back in time to the period around the late 18th Century as participants in period costumes celebrated Constitution
Day.
One of those dressed up for the occasion was Richard Scott of Kingston, who said local historic groups gather usually twice a year for “Living History Days” at the restored 18th Century cabin on Old Edgemoor Lane.
Scott, a member of Tennesseans for Living History, said the event was held to recognize Constitution Day, an American federal observance of the adoption of the U.S. Constitution, which was signed by delegates to the Constitutional Convention on Sept. 17, 1787, in Philadelphia.
The main cabin and other structures on the property were open to the public, and there were demonstrations of blacksmithing, soap making, butter churning, and leather works.
There also was a bell-ringing ceremony, conducted by the Clinch Bend Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Open to the public mostly by appointment, the David Hall Cabin was built around 1798-99 by George Walker, on commission by Isaac Braselton, and was sold to David Hall around 1802-03, said Lisa Brock, president of the Anderson County Historical Society, who was present for the weekend event.
“In the early 1850s, it was sold to Granville Arnold, whose granddaughter Nacky later lived there,” Brock said.
Her caretaker was Walter Thomason, to whom she left the property when she died. Some of his descendants now own the property again, she said.
Libby and Harry Bumgardner bought the cabin and the land it sits on about 25 years ago, and live in a home behind the cabin. Libby is one of the descendants.
“I really didn’t know anything about it until we bought it,” Libby Bumgardner said Saturday.
“We started [restoration] on it in 2000, and soon as I found out about the history, and then we started letting people come in.
“In the attic, I found a big wooden box with old receipts, letters and so forth that Grandville Arnold kept, and that included receipts from when Civil War soldiers stayed here. We also have receipts of where the soldiers bought oats for their horses here. ”
The Bumgardners have since brought in and reassembled five other historic cabins, which are also open for visitors to see.
The big Hall cabin is furnished like it would have been shortly after it was built.”
For more information about the David Hall Cabin, check out its Facebook page: facebook.com/HistoricDavidHallCabins.