Tag Archives: Tennessee

Levi Vernon Woodlee House-Altamont, Tennessee

L. V. Woodlee was a lawyer and leader in the Grundy County area. His home was built in 1900 and sits on the Altamont town square. The Colonial Revival home is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mount Gilead Cemetery-Sparta, Tennessee

Mount Gilead Cemetery outside of Sparta, Tennessee, is one of several cemeteries found in mostly Southern states and the Appalachian Mountains containing tent graves. This cemetery has some of the oldest graves featuring this style.

The graves of Mary Brogdon (1837-1868), Owing Gentry (1806-1875), and William Davis (1864-1873)

Also known as comb graves, it was initially assumed that they were built to protect graves, but it is now believed that these were likely aesthetic choices. I support this idea. Vernacular headstones often appear in clusters in several cemeteries. For instance, there are a series of cemeteries along the coast that feature what I’ve called “Black Madonnas” since they are only in Black cemeteries. Additionally, many cemeteries along the coast feature a single-star motif on headstones. An example can be seen on the Mary Lemon grave at Behavior Cemetery.

The grave of Susannah Keathley (1788-1854)
The grave of Jinsey Aust (1813-1875)

Northcutts Cove Chapel-Grundy County, Tennessee

The are only a a handful of rural churches left that were built and used by the Latter Day Saints. Northcutts Cove Chapel was built in 1909. It was built on land donated by church member, John Tipton.

It is often stated it is the oldest LDS church still standing in the rural southeast. However, the Cumorah Church in Douglas, Georgia was built in 1907. Northcutts Cove is in significantly better condition, though. Neither building is under the auspices of the Latter Day Saints anymore.

It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Church of the Latter Day Saints-Altamont, Tennessee

The elders at the Northcutt’s Cove Chapel decided that the church should be closer to town, so they decided to build on land surrounding the Altamont town square, a few miles from the chapel. Built with local stone hauled in by mules, the church took several years to build because the land was incredibly rocky. The church was in use from 1946-1981 until the congregation had grown large enough that a new house of worship was built on the edge of town.