The A. P. Carter Cabin
and Birthplace
Visitors to the Carter Fold may visit the
cabin and birthplace of A.P. Carter following completion of a years-long relocation and restoration
project.
The cabin has been moved from its secluded and inaccessible original
location to a spot virtually only a few steps from the Carter Fold
building and the Carter Family Museum. A visit to the
Fold combined with a tour of the museum, which itself used to be A.P.'s
store operated by him almost to the time he passed away, in 1960,
provides a Carter Family experience and education previously only dreamed
about by A.P.'s children Janette, Joe, and Gladys (all now deceased), as well as
numerous other descendants.
Built in the mid-1800s, the cabin was originally located in Little
Valley, which runs parallel to Poor Valley. There was no public access to
its original location, yet it was designated both as a national and a state
(Virginia) landmark.
In order to remain on the historic registers, the restoration consisted
of a costly and time-consuming
procedure involving professional preservationists, archeologists, as well as
craftsmen, carpenters, and historians. The cabin had to be taken apart
meticulously board by
board, brick by brick, moved, restored and in the case of some items
replaced, and then rebuilt. Nothing but the most loving care on the part of
everyone involved was given to the tremendously complicated project.
A.P. Carter descendants Roger Carter, Fern Carter Salyer, David Carter,
Ann Carter Collie, and their familes donated the cabin, an
invaluable contribution without which the project could not even have begun. A
tremendous amount of gratitude also goes to the deeply appreciated financial
contributions from numerous fans, local businesses, civic groups, and
countless other supporters.
Besides being the birthplace of A.P. Carter, the cabin also was the place
of birth for his seven brothers and sisters and his brother Ermine's three
children, Roger, Fern and W.L. and grandfather to David
and Ann (mentioned above).
The photograph at the top shows the cabin late in 2002, prior to beginning its relocation and restoration.
About the
Dedication
The May 29 (2004) dedication of the cabin
was a day-long affair highlighted by a benefit concert starring
Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives. The afternoon ceremony
featured speakers and musicians from throughout the valley as well
as Carter descendants from Nashville. The day was deeply emotional
for the entire family but especially for Joe Carter and Janette
Carter, now deceased, but at the time of the cabin dedication, the two surviving children of A.P. Carter and wife Sara.
 Family friends Tom T. Hall, Marty Stuart, and his
wife Connie Smith joined various Carter Family members participating
in the dedication ceremony. These included Joe and Janette Carter
and Janette's daughter Rita Forrester; Carlene Carter, daughter of
June Carter; John Carter Cash, son of the late Johnny Cash and June
Carter; Lorrie Bennett, daughter of the late Anita Carter. Those
speaking were Tom T. Hall, John Carter Cash, Ralph Peer II, Joe
Carter (photo at right), Fern Salyer, and Marty Stuart.
 One musical highlight featured Carlene Carter,
Lorrie Bennett, Rita Forrester, singing with John Carter Cash on
guitar and his wife Laura on fiddle. Their performance of "My Native
Home" was meant to be a special surprise for Janette, whose
dedicated care for the Carter Family legacy coupled with years of
hard work has been the rock-solid foundation of the Carter Family
Memorial Music Center. Beloved veteran country superstar Connie Smith
presented a special dedication prayer opening the ceremony. Marty
Stuart, with his band, closed the ceremony with "Worried Man Blues."
 Janette Carter, who for many years has directed the
Carter Fold and handled the affairs of the Carter Family legacy, cut
the ribbon officially opening the cabin for visits. In the photo at
the right, Tom T. Hall assists.
The A.P. Carter Cabin will be open for visitors
during the same hours of operation for the Carter Family Museum,
primarily on Saturdays beginning at 6:00 PM.
From someone attending the dedication:
A lot of hard work went into the relocation, restoration, and
preparation of the cabin prior to the dedication and opening on
May 29. As granddaughter Rita Forrester says in response to the
comments below, "I
especially appreciate their comments as I've worried to the point
of making myself sick about how everything would go."
Dear Folks,
Thank you so
much as Mother and I enjoyed the visit at the Fold as it took us
back home.
We came for the
dedication on the 29th.
We are from the
hills of Northwestern Pennsylvania and from some humble roots so
we really related to your words and the dedication of your family
and friends. I flew from Houston to Cleveland where Sis brought
Mom over to make the drive down to Hiltons. I think other than
her meeting Janette and shaking hands with Tom T we both really
enjoyed the fragrance in the air from the honeysuckles. The
dedication ceremony was everything that a family event should be
and the God given talent that graced that porch put us in complete
awe.
You see we were
raised on music that come out of two radio stations, WWVA out of
Wheeling, WV and KDKA out of Pittsburgh. Mother of course goes
back further than I do at the young age of 69 now. Me, I am only
51. However, the music that Mom heard and shared with us over all
these years was music that was on the air back then from the
Carter Family.
Keep on the
Sunny Side was one we sung over and over again as Mom would lead
us as we were growing up milking cows and sowing the soil. We
never had nothing too glamorous but I do have a flock of brothers
and sisters and we never went without anything. Today, I live in
Houston and I am an executive with two software companies, who
would have ever thought.
My how the Lord
directs our path even when we think we are in control. Anyway,
with the loss of June and Johnny the trip seemed to be the thing
to do and we did it and we loved it.
I have to close
by saying that you have a real nice family and we think that God
will continue to bless the Carter Fold as it is obvious you folks
have not done that valley any harm so the music should continue as
Janette has asked the Lord. What we saw was just good folks, good
neighbors, and part of a nation’s country folks, no matter where
they came from, glad to see that the roots are being preserved and
the next generation is carrying on. Please tell your family that
this means a lot to folks they never met or may ever meet. One
last thing, it would be wrong for me to close without mentioning
how grateful we are to Marty Stuart for coming there with his
schedule and all to be an integral part of it and for him and his
wonderful wife to lend their entertainment skills to help make a
great event even better.
Thank you,
John McNerney
JoAnn Banta
Christmas, 2004
Christmas 2004 was the first Christmas in many
decades celebrated in the A.P. Carter Cabin.
Members of the family painstakingly and personally did the
decorations, utilizing precious family possessions including some
that actually were used when the cabin served as a residence.
Visitors to the Carter Fold during the holiday season had the opportunity to
visit the cabin and to enjoy this most traditional celebratory scene.
 And while there, many walked the few steps over to the Carter Family Museum,
pictured at the right and also decorated for the holidays.
Christmas photos courtesy of
Chris Rector.
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