GC3GRDG Gosnell CabinMauldin Cultural Ctr*ARCHIVED 4-9-21* (Traditional Cache) in South Carolina, United States created by The Scout Master

This cache has been archived.

The Scout Master: Well, I just contacted the office and indeed, the arbor is gone and renovation of the area is underway.
So, I am ARCHIVING the cache. Thanks for the 485 logs over the past 9 years!

GC3GRDG ▼

A cache by The Scout Master Message this owner

Hidden : 4/10/2012

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

I developed this cache for the Mauldin Cultural Center, who graciously gave permission for its placement.
All photos taken by The Scout Master
If you would like more information about Mauldin and what it has to offer you and the community,
you are welcome to visit their website at: Mauldin Cultural Center

YOU ARE ABOUT TO VISIT A VERY HISTORIC, 200 YEAR-OLD CABIN !

GOSNELL CABIN (c1810)

The history of the Gosnell Cabin originates 200 years ago. The cabin, with original dimensions of twenty-five by eighteen feet, was built out of twelve-inch thick by eight-inch wide beams of heart pine, and it was built to last.

Gresham Callahan is the first attributed inhabitant of the Gosnell log cabin.

According to a log cabin historian and log cabin experts, the cabin is considered unusual because it was initially started in the Cherokee Indian style of construction and was finished using the English method. In other words, the cabin was begun by an Indian and finished by a white man. Also, the cabin originally had a dirt floor, but the cabin was later raised up and a wooden floor was added.

Gresham Callahan, Indian fighter, pioneer, trapper and trader, came to the mountains of the 'Dark Corner', as that part of Greenville County has been referred to, in the very early years of the nineteenth century, and first appeared in the record books on the 1810 census. This indicates that he was a resident of Greenville County after 1800, but before 1810. He settled at the foot of a mountain that bears his name. The modern day roadway that traverses the route of the old State Road passing by his mountain is now aptly named Callahan Mountain Road.
A higher mountain on the opposite side of this roadway is called Old Indian Mountain. There are some who say that this mountain, too, is named for Mr. Callahan since apparently he had a number of different monikers, one of which was "Old Indian". Others say the mountain was named for an aging Cherokee chief.
The grizzled old trapper and trader was buried on Graveyard Hill, a small ridge between Old Indian Mountain and Little Mountain, to the northeast of Callahan’s mountain. There is still a marker located there with his name as well as an unidentified Cherokee.

The cabin was originally located in northern Greenville County, within a short distance of historic Poinsett Bridge. Poinsett Bridge was completed in 1819, and the cabin was used as the construction headquarters while the bridge was under construction. Poinsett Bridge is the oldest bridge still standing in South Carolina.

At some point the ownership of the cabin passed to John H. Goodwin. In 1875 John Goodwin sold the cabin and 300 acres to Rev. John Jack Gosnell for $351.00. Three generations of Gosnells lived in the cabin until 1941.

The Boy Scouts of America (Blue Ridge Council) bought the property for a camp in 1927. The last member of the Gosnell family to live in the cabin, Luther Gosnell, served as the caretaker of the property until his death in 1941. The name the Boy Scouts used for their new camp was derived from Gresham Callahan. The name chosen was "Camp Old Indian."

Back Yard Back Porch
The dry accounting of dates and numbers do little to reflect the colorful history of the Gosnell log cabin. At a meeting on Aug. 10, 2008 with several granddaughters of Luther Gosnell (Carol Gosnell Long, Tammy Poore Mason and Kathy Gosnell Janson) the ancient walls of pine echoed again the joys and sadness of life as it will never be known again in Greenville County.
Perhaps as many as ten babies were born in the cabin.
Luther's wife, Lizzie Dill Gosnell, died of measles in 1928 while sitting in a chair in front of the fire.
An uncle had his leg amputated on the kitchen table (the table was carried out first).

Luther made his living as a farmer and a rock mason. There are rumors that he was a moonshiner and a bootlegger. The main meal for his family was corn meal and water, which also happen to be the main ingredients for corn liquor.
In 1941 Luther has an epileptic fit in front of the fireplace. The attacked prevented control of his body and his spasms drove his legs into the hot fire. It was three days before anyone found him and he died of gangrene in the old Greenville General Hospital.

Life was tough in the foothills of Greenville County. Bears in search of food frightened little girls who peeped out at them through the chinks in the logs while remaining deathly still. Panthers, rattlesnakes and copperheads added to the danger.

After 1941 the cabin remained on the Camp Old Indian property. It fell into disrepair and the camp did not have the resources to keep it up. Sam Phillips, Dave Chesson and Tim Brett were instrumental to having the cabin removed and restored at the Mauldin Cultural Center grounds.
The cabin is undoubtedly one of the oldest remaining structures in Greenville County!

There are actually five different gardens located at the log cabin. These gardens are open to the public, and the public is encouraged to use them.

Located directly around the log cabin are native plants that our early pioneers would have encountered. Rhododendron, mountain laurel and deciduous azaleas abound. Hearts-a-bustin', native ferns, dogwood, serviceberry and heuchera add to this mix. This native plant arrangement has both scientific and historical implications. At the back of the log cabin will be an herb and physic garden. These gardens were an integral part of pioneer life.
In pioneer times, the "pharmacies" and "grocery stores" were located right outside the back door.
When the pioneers needed seasoning for preparing and preserving foods, they were able to walk out the back door and make use of the different herbs growing in their garden.
The pioneers used their physic gardens in the same way. In these gardens they would grow medicinal plants and other plants for their daily use. They might grow broomsedge to make brooms with, daisy fleabane for insect control or foxglove (digitalis) for heart conditions.

The vegetable garden at the log cabin is a further illustration of how the pioneers practiced self-sufficiency. For kids growing up in an urban setting, the log cabin vegetable garden may be a perfect illustration of a practice that is becoming less and less common.

The butterfly garden is an illustration of science in motion. Nectar plants, larval plants and host plants portray the life cycle of the butterfly from an egg to a caterpillar to a chrysalis to a beautiful adult butterfly.

A rock garden is "planted" around the bubbling brook created on the site. Full sun plants that do well in this environment are utilized. Sedum (a great butterfly plant), iris, rose creek abelia (another butterfly plant) and creeping rosemary (an herb) are some of the plants used in this setting.
The Carolina Fence Garden denotes all things Carolina. The state flower (Yellow Jessamine - pronounced "JAZ'-min"), the state stone (Blue Granite), the state bird (The Carolina Wren), the state wildflower (Goldenrod) and the state grass (Indian Grass) will all be represented.
These features are highlighted by the use of a typical pioneer post and split-rail fence.
Also note the birdhouse high up on a tall post by the fence that is a replica of the cabin.

By-the-way - all this beauty found here is here in large part due to the work of the Mauldin Garden Club.
(Hope you like the container I made)

Be sure and take the time to walk around to the VETERANS MEMORIAL at N 34° 46.742, W 082° 18.335.
ENJOY YOUR VISIT!

HAPPY CACHING!
FTF Honors got to...pikespice!!!

Permission to use the information from their website granted by V.Brannon of the Mauldin Cultural Center

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[Bird House on South end post of the arbor. NOTE the ARBOR is the framework over "creek" w/sides and roof covered w/climbing plants (end away from the cabin) (geocaching logo on its side) (open up the front).]

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)

This cache has been archived.

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Gosnell CabinMauldin Cultural Ctr*ARCHIVED 4-9-21* Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

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Geocache Description:

Attributes

Inventory

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Gosnell CabinMauldin Cultural CtrARCHIVED 4-9-21 Traditional Cache