Construction of the Cherokee Winter House Begins

On May 20, construction of a Cherokee Winter House began at the Nelson Heritage Park adjacent to downtown Hayesville. Tighe White of Tighe White Construction provided earth moving equipment and grading. Jane Eastman, associate professor of anthropology and sociology and director of Cherokee studies at Western Carolina University, provided advice on design and construction. A group of students from Professor Eastman's partical archeology course assisted in construction. Rob Tiger of CCCRA participated. A first step was to burn the bark off of the bases of the locust poles that provide the vertical supports of the winter house. CCCRA played a major role in securing grants to fund construction.

Digging holes for vertical supports

Organizing the locust poles

Professor Eastman and a colleague observe construction

Burning bark off the locust poles

Students from Western Carolina University

Preparing the locust poles

Tighe White Construction truck

The mural that provides a backdrop to the Cherokee exhibits