 The
original part of the house was built in the depression
on land that once belonged to my great grand-parents,
John Patrick Autrey and Harriet Gibbs Autrey. It was
built for my aunt and uncle, Mary and Roy Autrey.
The cabin was built by Uncle Roys' three brothers, one
of which was my dad, Gene Autrey. In the early 1930's,
they couldn't get round nails because of the depression.
They had to use square-cut nails instead that the
blacksmiths made. The lumber was sawed at a local
sawmill from trees grown locally, mostly poplar,
chestnut and some hemlock.
I used the cabin as a rental house until 1994 at which
time Ron and I decided to use it ourselves and initiated
repairs to update the windows, electrical wiring and
plumbing. Repairs were completed in 1999. We lived in
the home until 2002 when our new home was completed.
I have fond memories or growing up around here. I can
remember having to walk across the swinging bridge to
practice my piano lessons. I didn't have a piano so Aunt
Mary let me use hers to practice on and I walked across
the swing bridge often. The only time I can remember
being scared while walking across the swinging bridge
was during hurricane Hazel in 1955!
When my great-grandparents lived on the river, they had
a canoe. When people came to see them, they would yell
from the other side of the river and my
great-grandmother would ferry them across in their
canoe. I believe the term they used was "setting them
across the river".
The cabin has served a lot of people well over the years
and we hope that you might enjoy it as we still do.
by Lois Autrey Hancock |
