Sylamore

My family spent Christmas in a cabin on Sylamore Creek and decided to get out to get a few shots of the remaining buildings at Sylamore. Pictured is the Sylamore Depot (actually on the National Register of Historic Places), an old house, the old Williamson's General Merchandise Store, and the old petroleum warehouse. I added a shot of the suspension bridge across Sylamore Creek.
According to Karr Shannon in A History of Izard County, Sylamore Creek was named after Chief Syllamo, an old Indian horse-thief who was shot by the early white settlers he harassed, falling near the mouth of the creek and dying. The first post-office was established on the Stone County side of the river in 1851 under postmaster Tobias S. Rudolph. Later, in 1905, another post-office was established across the river in Izard County and was named "East Sylamore". After the office in Stone County was discontinued, it was renamed "Sylamore" in 1930. Sylamore Landing was one of the most important steamboat landing on the upper White River. It was the entry point for goods and supplies as far away as Big Flat. There once stood a 100ft long two-story warehouse on the west side of the river near the mouth of Sylamore Creek where goods were stored to be carried by wagon or pack animals all over the region.

UPDATE!  The depot is now gone...dismantled by the current landowner. Very sad.

Blankenship's Rocks

Blankenship's Rocks, a huge outcrop of limestone on a hilltop above Knob Creek...a natural playground! There are several deep fissures the visitor can traverse that almost form a maze! Rocks to climb, trails to follow, trees to conquer(possibly even a thong tree!)...no wonder this place has been visited by generations of frolicking Easter Sunday pic-nickers!

There is a darker, more tragic history to this place, we have learned. It is said that once, a physically abusive husband, after having been fatally injured by his fed-up wife by way of an ax-blow to the neck, died on these rocks trying desperately to make his way to the closest doctor at Brockwell. Though some believe that this incident is how the rock formation gained its name, it is said by others to have been called by the same name even before this took place.

Update!!


We've recently heard an alternative story to the one offered above. A descendant of the man, Elijah Blankenship who supposedly died upon the rocks, told us he may not have died at all! There is a very good possibility Blankenship made it to Brockwell where he got treatment and was able to recover. There is testimony by someone claiming to be a descendant through a second marriage that Elijah moved up north and began a life with a new family. His first wife, who administered what she thought was the fateful blow, was Sarah Jane Goodrich, and is said to have fled with her family after the incident to Texas.

It was a cold day on this rocky hilltop. We hope to visit again on a more accommodating day and spend more time exploring this place. When we do, we'll also visit a similar formation nearby!

Video Below!

Video: The Arnold House

Enjoy this video of our walk around the Arnold House a few weeks ago!

2008 Knob Creek Country Christmas

Today we celebrated the Christmas Season during the annual Knob Creek Country Christmas at the Knob Creek Church. We sang, enjoyed recitations of poetry and listened to stories from the building's past. We ate, drank, and made merry with one another during an afternoon of fellowship while honoring this historic place and the Saviour who has been served here for generations. We encourage you to be a part of the fun next year!

Thanks to the Cooper family for organizing this special event!

Log House near Lafferty

This old Cabin is located along the Lafferty Road. Although we don't know who built this home, we are told that it was moved sometime in the distant past from another site on the hill behind it.

Lafferty School, Nail Cemetery

More from our trip to Lafferty on Saturday...The Lafferty School, the Nail Cemetery, and the Peterson Place. The Lafferty School is shown in an old photo as it appeared when school was held there and in one we took Saturday that reflects the changes. Our thanks to Mr. Hollowell who lives in the building for allowing us to photgraph it and the vintage shots.

Lafferty Schoolhouse