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Cumberland Gap Beautiful? Mo R E Than Beautiful

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Cumberland Gap Beautiful? Mo R E Than Beautiful COR R E C T I O N S From last month’s Down Home article, Mr. DOWN HOME SERIES Fraser Murray is 82, not 62 as listed. The article also named “Captain Jack” Rollins as the owner of the High Hill Mine when the owner was Joanna Bayn- ham Gregory. “Captain Jack” worked there as a by Jadon Gibson, Contributing Writer foreman. Also, the W.W. Tuck house shown is not that of former Gov. Tuck. We apologize for these er r o r s . During 1998, we’re making our way around Virginia, each issue visiting a small town and meeting some of the folks who make up the heart of electric co-op country. On this, our ninth stop, we’ll be... Down Home in Cumberland Gap Beautiful? Mo r e than beautiful. Historic? Absolutely lo a d e d . Quaint? Yep. Accessible? More than eve r . The place to be – why the Gap, of course . umberland Gap, the historic pass through Cumberland Mountain, is C located near where Virginia con- verges with Kentucky and Tennessee. The quaint town with the same name of Cum- berland Gap rests a few hundred yards below the famous pass through which thou- sands of pioneers passed, going westward, in the 1700s. This is where Highway 58 The Cake Box and Cookie now begins its trek across the state of Vir- Cabin Gift Shop (right) are ginia to the Atlantic Ocean. Northbound and housed in two of the oldest southbound motorists travel along U.S. structures in Cumberland Highway 25E, within seeing distance of Gap. Cumberland Gap Gen- Cumberland Gap. eral Store owner John Rav- The 1.1-mile-long, four-lane, Cumberland num (below) has “over 300 Mountain tunnel stretches through the moun- dolls and much more” in his tain beneath the famous pass. The $265-mil- store in the historic old town. lion tunnel opened for use in October of 1996 The Tennessee portal of the when the U. S. Park Service closed the road $ 2 6 5-million, 1.1-mile-long, across the mountain and through the historic Cumberland Mountain tunnel pass. Lives have already been saved and trav- (below, right) is near the town. elers don’t have the lengthy waits due to acci- dents and inclement weather. The tunnel has helped more tourists find their way to the area, which is so rich in beautiful scenery and history. Powell Valley Electric Co-op serves much of the surrounding area. The Appalachian Mountain chain’s wilderness and its hostile Indians prohibited western expansion for three centuries after Columbus discovered North America. Hunters and explorers pushed farther into the wilds and finally, in 1750, Dr. Thomas Walk- er, Thomas Jefferson’s guardian, documented the discovery of Cumberland Gap. Walker The town of Cumberland Gap (left) is seen from the Pinnacle atop Cumber- land Mountain. A Civil War cannon remains (inset) atop the mountain, which is part of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. Mayor John Douglas, shown in front of the new Cumberland Gap Inn (above), has led efforts to broaden further the area’s appeal to tourists. JADON GIBSON PHOTOS and his band of men continued into the who led the way into the valley of the Cum- Middlesboro, Kentucky, and Cumberland expanse that would become Kentucky, where berland; here passed that small band of fearless Gap, which is actually in Tennessee. they built the first log cabin in that state. men who gave the Gap its name; here passed Cumberland Gap Mayor John Douglas Cumberland Gap is one of the most iden- the long hunters; here rushed the armies of the and the city council are working toward capi- tifiable places in the world, and mention of Civil War; here has passed the wave of wester- talizing on the area’s history and scenic beauty the name conjures up thoughts of Daniel ly emigration, whose force has spent itself through tourism. They’ve worked to get ade- Boone, pioneers, and Indians. The Gap was only on the Pacific slopes; and here in the long quate signs to direct tourists to the city. Co u n - also considered a strategic passageway dur- future must flow backward and forward selor John Ravnum, who operates the Cum- ing the Civil War when it changed hands sev- wealth beyond the dream of avarice.” berland Gap General Store, leads periodic eral times. Alexander Arthur read Allen’s article and efforts in publishing an informational pam- Author James Lane Allen visited the Gap visited Cumberland Gap, climbing to the top phlet with maps about the Cumberland Gap in the mid-1880s and slept beneath the shad- of Cumberland Mountain. He explored near- area. It is distributed at welcome centers and at ow of the Pinnacle, a large formation from by valleys and was amazed at the vast miner- sites which are frequented heavily by tourists. which visitors can see several states. al and natural resources in the area. Arthur The town has several nice shops such as “It was late in the afternoon when our returned to England and arranged the capital the Depot Gift Shop, which was the old town tired horses began the long, winding, rocky which would launch the rapid buildup of railroad depot before restoration. Randolph climb from the valley to the brow of the pass,” Allen wrote in Harper’s Magazine. “As we stood in the passway of Cumberland Gap, amid deepening shadows of the twilight and the solemn repose of the landscape, the air grew thick with ghostly utterances — primeval sounds, undistinguishable and strange, of creatures nameless and never seen by man; the wild rush and whoops of retreat- ing and pursuing tribes; the slow steps of watchful pioneers; the wail of dying children and the songs of homeless women; the muf- fled tread of routed and broken armies, all the sounds of surprise and delight, victory and defeat and hunger and pain, weariness and despair, that the human heart can utter. “Here passed the first of all the white race The Cumberland Gap Towne Hall (right) was erected in the late 1800s. 33 Schwartz Gift Shop, Tennkyva Crafts & Country Store (named for Tennessee, Ken- in the country and home to the late Harrison tucky and Virginia), Cumberland Gap Gener- If You Go... Mayes, who erected large concrete crosses in al Store, Cumberland Gap Antique Mall, Ye many states in fulfilling his calling. A large Olde Four Seasons Gift Shoppe, and the Nail irginia’s Highway 58 leads to the cross is permanently lit on the mountain side Keg Gift Shop all have many curiosities. VCumberland Gap Ramada Inn (423- on the eastern edge of Middlesboro. Good food can be found at Ye Olde Tea 86 9 -3631), just across the state line in Pine Mountain State Park, the oldest & Coffee Shoppe, Webb’s Country Kitchen, Tennessee. In the town, a short distance state park in Kentucky, is just 10 miles and Ramada Inn in town. The old Drug Store away is the two-year-old Cu m b e r l a n d from Middlesboro. High above the city of serves tasty sandwiches and various ice Gap Inn (4 2 3 - 8 6 9 -9172). A new Da y s Pineville, a huge rock was chained years cream products. Harvey Fuson makes several In n is located two miles away in Mi d - ago to prevent it from bounding down on varieties of candy in the store window, and dlesboro, KY (6 0 6 - 2 4 8 -6860), where the homes and buildings below. The state sells them inside. The old Drug Store is Best Western Inn (606-248-5630) is park is the location of Pine Mountain Lodge replete with old medicine bottles and gad- also located. (6 0 6 - 3 3 7 -30 6 6 ) . getry from the last century. Cumberland Gap borders the Cu m - Harrogate, TN, is located just two miles Visitors can rent bicycles at Cumberland berland National Historical Park, from Cumberland Gap and is the home of Gap Outfitters to ride about the city or on a which encompasses 22,000 acres in Lincoln Memorial University, which has nearby mountain trail. They also have canoe Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee an d one of the three largest Abraham Lincoln rentals and dropoff and pick-up vehicles. the headquarters and visitor’s center are collections in the world. Much of No r r i s Powell River is a short distance away. just three miles away on the edge of Mid- Lake, the largest of the TVA lakes, also lies Olde Tyme Photographs is a favorite stop dlesboro. The center includes a museum, in Claiborne County. for visitors to the Gap, and Ye Olde Mill, with free movies and other information Big Springs Primitive Baptist Church, approximately 200 years old, is next door to about the area and its history. the oldest church in Tennessee, still stands the Cookie Cabin and the Cake Box. Visitors can motor to the Pi n n a c l e in Springdale, only about 15 miles from Cumberland Gap is a town with a popula- atop Cumberland Mountain, where Cumberland Gap. The church was erected tion of approximately 230 friendly citizens. earthwork, trenches and cannon during the winter of 1795-96, when the area Many tourists park and walk from shop to remain from the Civil War. M a n y was still part of North Carolina. The church is shop as everything is close and there are walking trails meander through the area, still in good condition. many points of interest. and one leads to the point where Vir- There are many other historic and scenic The remains of the Iron Furnace, which ginia, Kentucky and Tennessee meet.
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