Work Continues on Cherokee Summer House

November 22, 2009. Local volunteers worked with students from Dr. Jane Eastman's archeology and bioanthropology class at Western Carolina University to construct the walls of the Cherokee summer house adjacent to the Hayesville town square. Clay County Communities Revitalization Association and the Clay County Historic and Arts Council supplied the local volunteers.


Locust poles support the roof of the summer house





Volunteers strip the leaves from cane that will be woven among the wall posts to create walls for the summer house. Volunteers include Ella Scheuer and Drew Holzemer of Atlanta, Hal Farren of the Historic and Arts Council, Amanda Grippe from Dr. Eastman's class, and John Adkins of CCCRA.

Barbara Bussolari of the Historic and Arts Council, Kevin Welch of Western Carolina University join Drew Holzemer of Atlanta, Amanda Grippe of Western Carolina University and John Adkins of CCCRA in stripping cane.

Ella Scheuer of Atlanta and Hal Farren of the Historic and Arts Council strip cane.

Brittany Starnes and Sarah Jane Jacobs of Western Carolina University cut leather that will be used to hold the cane in place after it has been woven to create the summer house's walls.


Dr. Jane Eastman, Eric Crowe, and Casey Edwards of Western Carolina University weave cane.



Dr. Jane Eastman, Tina Crowe, and Eric Crowe of Western Carolina University weave cane.


Eric Crowe, Tina Crowe, and Casey Edwards weave cane.

Interior Views of the Completed Winter House

The interior of the completed Cherokee winter house

The smoke hole at the top of the Cherokee winter house


Another view of the smoke hole of the winter house

Bike Ride Fills Jackrabbit Parking Lot

November 7, 2009. Glorious weather brought out dozens of bike riders to the Jackrabbit parking lot next to the Jackrabbit off-road biking trail. Most riders were members of the Southern Appalachian Bicycle Association (SABA) and the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA). Clay County Communities Revitalization Association provided much of the funding for construction of the parking lot and trail. These facilities have attracted hundreds of visitors to Clay County. Such visitors provide an important boost to the local economy.