Journey to Appalachia- Wood

Flax Spinning WheelThis type of flax wheel is found throughout Southern Appalachia. Flax is the stalk of a plant that is used for fiber. It is considered a cellulose or bast fiber, similar to hemp, jute, and ramie. Flax, which has been spun, is called, linen. Flax can be grown almost anywhere, where the growing season is three months. It has very short roots, and is harvested by pulling it out of the ground instead of cutting it. Once the stalks are pulled, they are stored in bundles, and set aside to dry. Next, they are put through a process called, rippling, which removes the seeds. Retting is the next process, which rots the outer core of the stalk to expose the inner fibers.  The next steps in the process are breaking and scutching, which breaks the stalk and removes the fiber. Once the flax is prepared, the flax is secured into the wheel. It is spun with only a slight amount of tension. This particular wheel came from the old Walter Thompson place on Washington Pike in adjoining Knox County and was acquired from the Thompson children. The wheel had belonged to Grandmother Dotson and perhaps evven her mother. 

Dovie Owens' Old Keepsake Clock

This clock brought back many fond memories for Dovie in that lonely pine woods section of Itawamba County, Mississippi. "My Parents bought it at a 'sell out' from a family  moving to Texas before i can remember. I was raised up with that old clock, and it's been here all my life-- stricking the time, day and night, year after year. It's een one of the hardest things I have to part with, but i'm having to leave and i can't keep these old keepsake things. I wouldn't sell it to anybody, but i know you'll keep it for people to see."

The Museum of Appalachia was founded in 1969 by John Rice Irwin, who is very passionate about bringing Southern Applachia to East Tennessee. He wanted his museum to portray an authentic mountain farm/village with some three dozen historic log structures, exhibit buildings filled with thousands of authentic Appalachian artifacts, gardens surrounded by split rail fences, and farm animals in a picturesque setting. The museum still adds new exhibits, buildings, and educational programs to enhance its mission to enform visitors of Southern Appalachian values and traditions.