Visiting the Vann House, Chatsworth, Georgia

 We had our Speidel grandchildren here for a few days so we decided to drive to Chatsworth, Georgia, about 40-60 miles north of us, to visit the Vann House, a home built by a Cherokee Chief, James Vann, the son of a Scottish Trader named Vann and a Cherokee woman named Wahli. The house is not a teepee! (Ha,Ha)  The Cherokee never wore feather head dresses nor lived in tee pees. This house is called the showpiece of the Cherokee Nation. Involved in the planning was a German Architect named Vogt, a brick mason from Virginia named Robert Howell and carpenters from Tennessee named McCartney. Moravian craftsmen from the nearby mission and Cherokee laborers with Vann's African slaves built the house. It is in the Federal and American Georgian Style.

Chief Vann's House Today

Chief Vann's House about 1910

Chief Vann's House about 1930's

Chief Vann's House early 1950's

Chief  Vann's House in winter

 The bricks on the house were made, by Vann's slaves, from Georgia red clay.The nails and hinges were made in his blacksmith shop and heart pine floorboards were cut at his sawmill. He has the oldest example of a cantilevered staircase, known as Vann's floating staircase. He completed his house in 1804.

Hall Furnishings-Grandfather Clock-1700's from London

Corn husk dolls on third floor childrens' bedroom.

Main floor dining room

Joseph Vann, James'son, over fireplace

Beautiful antique dresser

Interesting side table, note the legs.

Elaborate mantel goes 12 feet to ceiling, note paint colors

Many Indian baskets

Old piano

Another side table

On the two main floors are just two rooms,24 by 14 feet with a wide hallway in between. People were taxed back then by the number of rooms in the house, thus the two large rooms per floor. The original paint colors represent earth tones, blue sky, red clay,yellow sun & grain, and green forests.The one fireplace goes all the way to the 12 foot ceiling.

James Vann was an influential Cherokee. He earned much wealth through businesses along the Federal Road, which ran through the Cherokee Nation in the early 1800s. This included taverns, tolls,whiskey stills, blacksmith shop, saw mill, and 1000 acres.  He provided land and supported the Springplace Moravian Mission across from his plantation for the education of his children and other Cherokee children. He became belligerant later in life from all the drinking he did. As a result he was shot at age 41 while leaving a tavern, in 1809. He left everything to his first born son,Joseph Vann.  There are no photos or portraits of James but Joseph's portrait hangs over the fireplace in the dining room.

Joseph Vann over fireplace

Original charcoal drawing of Joseph Vann

Closeup of Joseph Vann from full portrait over fireplace

Did you know that Indians had African slaves? James was kind to them at first and had many in his house, but later set the thief on fire in front of other slaves, after a robbery. His mother, Wahli, was particularly kind to them and defended them against her son,James.

Before 1800 the Cherokee lived in mud & wood daubed huts. After 1800 they lived in log cabins, much like the white pioneers.

Cherokee Traditional Farm with cabin & out buldings

Slaves by a cabin

Slaves interior of cabin

The Vann Plantation had over 100 slaves.  The plantation had 50 slave houses at one time, each 14 feet by 16 feet.The Cherokee had similar homes by the 1800s.  These cabins were log cabins with log fireplaces, wooden floors and wooden roofs.

Presidio & back to Lajitas, November 9, 2012

This is an Ocotilla Tree, quite common in the desert here.

 

We made it to Presidio.  It is a non-descript town so I did not get any photos of the town.  We did get gas while there. We ate lunch in the "Elightened Bean" cafe on main street. Guess what kind of food we had!

It is amazing how different the terrain and views are going back!  This is true whether biking, kayaking or taking road trips.

The Rio Grande must be close to the road here for there to be any green bushes or trees.

If it weren't for the greenery in the foreground, you could almost say this is moon-like.

I do think anyone interested in geology should study here & in southern Utah.

Isn't this pretty!

These crazy cactii will live anywhere, even in the rocks!

The Rio Grande is vital to this area, although it has lost 95% of it's water to cities to the north .  It is so shallow that you can walk across it, in many places, into Mexico.

Here is another view of the Closed Canyon.

The Jeep is nearly to the top of that mountain again. 

Now the roller coaster is going the other way or toward the east.

Notice the view going back down the mountain toward Lajitas.  See the car?  That will give you a little scale.

Yes, it is pretty steep!

I love the different colors of the rock & soil.

 

The green areas are obviously watered by the Rio Grande.  Close to Persidio, there are quite a few farms, who irrigate from the river.  Most of the way toward Presidio and back are within the Big Bend Ranch State Park, which I feel is prettier and more dramatic that Big Bend National Park.

This home in the distance may still be occupied

See what I mean about dramatic?

Lajitas to Presidio, Part 2

After cresting that mountain, this is the view down the other side.  Note the steep downgrade.

This is called Closed Canyon.

Look at how this road dips; the road seems to follow the terrain with no grading.

We are entering into Colorado Canyon.

 

This was one of many cyclists on the road to Presidio this day.  I  think they were all crazy, considering the mountains, hills and also the heat of 80 plus degrees!

At least once in awhile they can coast downhill

This is the ruins of an abandoned house.

Another of my "ribbon road" sections!

This abandoned house is made from adobe blocks.  It must have been a hard life here!

This is "Lote Bush Clepe , since it was labeled

Close to Presidio, we came upon a State Monument called, Fort Leaton. This marker shows that it was originally a mission, set up in 1683-84 to convert the natives and Indians to Christianity by Franciscan Monks.

Later, in 1773, it was set up as a fort to protect the local farmers. (from whom-marauders, Indians?)  It was abandoned as a fort in 1810.  In 1846 Ben Leaton settled here for the main purpose of providing a trading stop from Mexico to San Antonio.  After the Trans-contental RR was established in the 1860s, the RR became the primary trading route. The Fort Leaton community was dissolved in the 1950s.  The State of Texas took over the fort in 1967.

This is the restored fort of  Fort Leaton.

Who is this great guy?

Notice the wooden bars on the window.  Wonder if it is for security or shade or both?

 This is a room in the inside of the fort, having period furniture.

I am in front of a Honey Mesquite tree.

Wow, these cactus could impale you!  However, it is really pretty.