Cherokee Vann Cabin

Beautiful morning at the deconstructed Vann Cabin in downtown Cave Spring. The ancient construction now showing the mortise and tenon and pegs used in building the south end that is probably almost as old as the original two story tavern-inn. The structure is almost identical to other Vann Taverns. One has been reconstructed at New Echota. Vanns worked as a family to support other family members in entrepreneurial activities. These structures were built east- facing, on major roads, in this case the lower Alabama Road or Chinibee's Trace and Cedar Road, and on a fordable part of a stream. A small log building on the north side which may have been the 'storehouse' was razed in 1854. There would have been out buildings of every kind, including a cookhouse, corn crib, and other storage buildings. The middle of that block long had a large garden in early centuries. May have included an orchard. I live on land just west of the depot that was part of a Vann orchard. The inn above Vann taverns was only accessible from the rear as is visible in the lowered door facing behind. This was standard in the Vann design. The Indian improvements for which they were paid after the Removal were on almost all the downtown forty acre land lots. Cave Spring has been occupied by diverse cultures since before written history, and the abundance of its resources appreciated. May this ancient structure continue to encourage enjoying and remembering the rich history of the land we are privileged to enjoy briefly. May we learn to be good stewards of that land and history for posterity.   Victoria Abernathy