More Cumberland Plateau History plus a Critter Update

This posting will continue our exploration of a couple of the towns on Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau.  In addition, there is an update on the cats we’re fostering plus a progress report on their owner’s search for a new place to live where she can have her 2 dogs and the cats.

This church in Altamont Tennessee looks older than it is.  FYI, the native stone for the veneer was gathered from nearby creek beds.  I was surprised to discover that it was a Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. (Mormon) It turned out that this church was completed due to the dedication and perseverance of Lewis F. Fults.  His dream for this chapel began to take shape with ground breaking in the spring of 1939.  At times, he was the only person working to complete the church.  Due to financial constraints, construction difficulties and World War II, the church wasn’t dedicated until November of 1947.

Mr. Fults also served as postmaster, operated a general store and filling station, served several terms as County Registrar as well as Mayor of Altamont.  Services were held in this building from 1946 until 1981.  Membership had grown to over 200 and a new church was built about a mile from this one.

For a history of Mormons in Grundy County, go to https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59c69c542278e73c826f3226/t/5ab6e792575d1f49360c2a2b/1521936282272/Mormon_+Church_History.pdf.

Citizens of East Tennessee have always supported democracy in times of need, providing more than its share of volunteers for service in the military.  The Altamont Veterans Memorial Park is located right on TN Hwy. 56 in the center of town.  The big memorial monument above the classic stone wall at the right commemorates those from Grundy County who gave their lives in defense of the USA in WWI and WWII.

We really felt that this beat up looking army boot sculpture on the wall was especially poignant.  Its right in front of a memorial dedicated to those from the area who died in the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts. 

The Harris B. Northcutt house, built in 1885, is the largest and most prominent brick house in Grundy County.  Harris Northcutt was one of 15 children born into an influential family.  His parents, General Adrian Northcutt and Sarah Cope came from pioneer families in the area.  General Northcutt was a Captain in the Mexican War and later became a Brigadier General in the Tennessee Militia.  He also served for 10 years in the Tennessee Legislature.  He ensured that Altamont was selected as the Grundy County Seat.  His son H.B. Northcutt learned business from his father and he operated his father’s businesses until Harris died in 1910.

At some point, a descendant of the Northcutt family, Miss Fanny Moffit moved into the 12 room house.  She’d inherited thousands of acres of land and was quite wealthy, receiving royalties from coal mining and lumber harvesting from her property.  Miss Fanny (at 5’1” and weighing 200+ lbs.) died in 1955 at only 62 years of age.  She left no will so the legal fun began.  $15,000 in cash and royalty checks were found in the house and her furnishings alone were valued at $15,000.  FYI, Miss Fanny was buried in a $7,500 copper casket… 

To learn more about her death, the estate and her various quirks, (via an extensive newspaper article), just go to http://grundych.org/06_GenCh/Individual/Moffitt,%20Fannie.pdf.

In recent years, the Northcutt-Moffit home was operated as a bed and breakfast called The Manor.  However, from what I can tell it is closed for business.

This large frame house was built ca. 1900.  I missed this listing from the National Register but Laurie’s sharp eye spotted the home.  The L.V. Woodlee House is located in Altamont on Cumberland Street behind the County Courthouse.  L.V. Woodlee was a prominent citizen, an attorney and a banker.  He served in several county offices including 30 years as a member of the Grundy County Board of Education.  In addition, he was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives and the State Senate. 

From Altamont, we headed south down TN Hwy. 56 to the town of Coalmont…a town of about 840 residents.  This building from the National Register of Historic Places is known as the Coalmont Bank Building or as the Sewanee Fuel and Iron Company Building.  Locals prefer the first name due to the long term tenancy of the Coalmont Savings Bank which occupied the building’s first floor from 1921 to 1975.

Coalmont was created as a company town in 1903, operated by the Sewanee Coal, Coke and Land Company.  The company built the original residences, businesses and commercial buildings.  SCCLC reorganized and changed its name in 1908.  This building was built in 1921 to house company offices as well as civic facilities.  The bank and the post office were on the first floor and the company was on the second floor.  Today, the Coalmont Bank Building is home to the Coalmont City Hall and the town’s library.

The following is an update about our temporary ‘wards’.  I’ll start with a couple of photos…

This shows Loulou and Roger sleeping together...sort of!  Most of the time Lou- lou bothers Roger to the point that he just gets up and leaves wherever he is, but he usually tolerates her at naptime.

Loulou is a sweet little cat…probably no more than about 5 or 6lbs.  Like Roger, her front paws are declawed.  She loves to play with plastic straws that are tied together.  Here she’s getting a little attention from Laurie.

Roger is a big boy…probably around 18 lbs.  He’ll do well in a house where his food can be rationed. (In other words, where food doesn’t have to be left down for other cats) Roger is a lover though.  He’s perfectly happy to be picked up like a baby and it is challenging to pet him ‘enough’!

Now about the status of our foster cats… One of my concerns when we entered into this temporary fostering effort was that it wouldn’t be temporary.  Indeed, the original owner has given up her efforts to find a rental property in our area that will permit her to have cats.  Her dogs are apparently OK though…

We can’t keep them permanently as Laurie is allergic to cats as are several members of both her immediate family and our son’s family.  Laurie’s on double dose allergy meds now!  We would rather have visitors than cats!  In any case, it appears that Roger will be ‘adopted’ by the cat’s owner’s son, who was raised with him.  Loulou is still looking for a good home…and we’re hopeful!  She is a very sweet cat and very good about entertaining herself and is truly a very smart 2 year old!   

That’s all for now.  Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them…

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave