CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS.
BY REV. B. DODGE, PLEASANT HILL, TENN.
What have you done? This is a fair question for friends of this mission, North, West and East, to ask. I propose briefly to answer it. I left my pastorate in the “Pine Tree” State, and, with my wife and daughter, entered upon the work here October 1st, 1884. To leave a New England home for these mountain wilds is much like entering a new world. But, coming not to play, but work, duty said: “Look about you—East, West, North and South.” It was done, and the outlook showed a large amount of illiteracy in every neighborhood, many living so far away from school as to be totally beyond their reach, and many young people growing up with no knowledge of books.
What could be done? More impressively the answer came than I can tell it: Build a house for school and worship which may bless present and future generations. But, from a human standpoint, to erect such a building as was needed seemed extremely difficult, if not impossible, with limited means on every side, no market, no railroad, and 2,000 feet above the sea level. But, being used to hard work from early life, and not easily scared, I grappled with the idea of building a house for the double purpose named. I laid the matter before the A. M. A., and was by them requested to undertake the building of such a house as, in my judgment, was needed.
I began the work March 1st, 1885. A good lady donated five acres of land (a lovely spot) for church and school purposes, and deeded the lot to the A. M. A., and also contributed $50 to the building. I then headed a subscription paper with $50, and the people here added enough by timber and labor to make in all $300.
I then employed a man to put in a good foundation of split stone, laid in masonry and elevated twenty inches above the ground, the size of the building to be 50×47 feet, including tower.
What next? It was to hew a white oak frame in the forest and haul it to the building spot, then have it framed. At length I invited men to raise it, and women to bring a dinner.
When gathered we sought, with uncovered heads under the blue sky, the blessings of heaven on the future of the house and freedom from accident during its erection.
At 11 A. M. the school, marshalled by its worthy teacher, Mrs. Lord, came and marched around the walls and waiting timber with songs of greeting, and when the song ended, the men responded with three lusty cheers for the school. At sunset the frame stood on its solid base.