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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 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. |
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