A Piece of Bent Mountain History SOLD
 Bent Mountain, Virginia is chock full of history. However, most of Bent Mountain’s illustrious history hasn’t found its way to the written page. Many of us newbies (only 25 yrs up here in paradise) don’t know a lot about the history and have been privy to wild speculation and many a tall tale regarding old chimneys, black panthers and big band orchestras playing along Bottom Creek.
When we first started restoring the old Bartlett farmhouse in order to re-sell it, we researched a bit of the history surrounding this well-built vestige to a time gone by. Morgan Bartlett was able to tell stories of the original homesteader (his granddaddy) and answer a few questions regarding the building of this extremely well constructed 80 year old dwelling.
[See the Bent Mountain Farmhouse listing here]
He was also able to answer (or embellish) our inquiries about the Big Band theory. It seems this part of Bent Mountain was a popular vacation spot for Roanokers who came up the mountain to summer and escape the heat of the City. We locals know the temperatures up here to be at least ten degrees cooler than they are in the city, making air-conditioning a luxury, but not a necessity. Back in the day, many city folk had small cabins up on the creek, and invited not only their friends to come and cool down for a bit, but threw huge parties, even entertaining with big band music down alongside the creek.
The panthers are another story. Everyone claims to know someone who has seen one of these black Cats. However the people who have actually eyeballed a panther, or black paint as they are called locally, are themselves somewhat elusive.
The Bartlett home was built in about 1930 by a gifted local carpenter. Mr. Bartlett owned a small lumber operation located near the place he intended for his family home. His grandson remembers him telling about running a small mill operated by a steam engine just outside the present kitchen door. The 75 year old grandson remembers his granddaddy stating that just as fast as they cut the chestnut off the property, they would saw and plane the wood and construct the framing for the house. Most of the wall coverings in the house are the original chestnut planks sawn right off the property. The beautiful ash and yellow pine floors were also most likely cut, milled and planed right on site.
The house first got electricity in about 1946. Morgan Bartlett remembers the “government man” coming along shortly thereafter to make sure that everyone had the lumber to build an outdoor Johnny house. The next “government” employee came along with a shovel to dig the hole for the outside toilet. But it was not until approximately 1980 that the farmhouse could boast indoor plumbing and a toilet that actually flushed!
Supporting the sustainability of the homesteader is a still operational springhouse. Ice cold water from one of the many springs on the property flows through the springhouse trough in the middle of summer, which used to work as a refrigeration system for the house. Mr. Bartlett kept milk, butter and other perishables in the trough and they kept as cold and fresh for as long as any refrigerated items would keep today.
Mr. Bartlett also talked about the lush garden spot that sits at the convergence of the two branches on the property. His family used to plow the field in the spring and upturn what he called “bird point arrowheads”…remnants of a time when this spot probably hosted Native American hunting parties on its shores.
The farmhouse is located at the headwaters of Sugar Run Creek. I asked Mr. Bartlett if he knew why the area has been called Sugar Run. He chuckled and remembered infamous speculation that some “mighty good sugar whiskey” was bootlegged back in those parts back in the day.
The farmhouse, because of a strong upbringing and good solid bones, still looks today much the same as when it was first built by the elder Mr. Bartlett and the fine carpenter back in 1930. Highly unusual back when it was built, something that was thankfully incorporated into the construction of the farmhouse were large and numerous closets. Just one of the many details that make this 1930’s farmhouse very inhabitable in 2010.
This original and well-maintained farmhouse, complete with functional springhouse and small pond, would make any new owner pleased to share history with a fine example of early Bent Mountain homesteading.
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