Vanessa WoodOn my recent genealogy road trip I visited The Homeplace in Stewart County, Tennessee. It’s a recreation of a 1850s farm situated in the Land Between the Lakes recreational area. We arrived on an outstandingly beautiful spring day that only enhanced the charm of the location. The location is just up the road from Pryor Creek where William Pryor, and probably his wife Elizabeth (Trammell) lived (a family featured in my book Pryor Wives). William and his wife were both deceased before 1850, so it is hard to say if The Homeplace represents how they lived, but it’s probably fairly close. The wills for owners of small family farms usually included far few possessions.
There are some lovely examples of items used for spinning and weaving at the site. I was reminded of the Pryor women in Jackson County, Tennessee who were weavers in the 1850s.
A Loom
Women (and sometimes men) used looms to weave wool, cotton, and flax. To the right is a sample of a patterned coverlet that would have been created on a loom. Panels of cloth could be cut and sewn to make clothing for family members.
Spinning Wheel
Women and girls were often tasked with the duty of spinning the raw wool, cotton, or flax into thread or yarn.
Carding Machine and Raw Wool
Anyone who knits with wool knows sometimes a stick or piece of straw will sneak into a skein of yarn. Sheep’s wool picks up all kinds of crud while they are out grazing. Wool has to be cleaned and “carded” to clean and separate the fibers before spinning.
Candle Mold, Iron Pots, and Tools
PHOTOGRAPHS: Vanessa Wood, The Homeplace, Land Between the Lakes, Tennessee, 2025.
