Twiggs - Gray Corn Crib ~ c. 1880
See slide show of the Twiggs Corn Crib
xxIn Original Location in Ivy Log DistrictxxxxBeing reassembled, note absence of ridge pole
After being reassembled at Mtn. Life MuseumxxOn the creek behind Payne Cabin, note still
The Twiggs Corn Crib was donated by the Gray Family. This building was originally built in the 1870 - 1880 period on the “Old Twiggs Place” in the Ivy Log District of Union County. Originally near the old Twiggs home (since demolished), it had already been moved a short distance to a site nearer the road.
It is at its original height and size. As a corn crib, it originally had a wood floor. The construction is of a older style than the late 1800s when it was built. There is no ridge pole. The roof rafters meet each other at the peak. Corn on the cob (dried in the field and shucked) would be tossed in through the upper trap door in the gable. As typical of the old corn crib, the front door is very short. This allows corn to removed without much of the corn spilling out. The spaces between the logs would not be chinked to allow air circulation.
The corner notches are of two different styles: a “peak notch.” and a modified “dovetail notch.” The half dovetail logs are older. The saddle notch logs are from a later reconstruction. All logs show adz marks by the adz used in their final shaping.
The corn crib is currently being displayed as Spring House behind the Payne Cabin. Many older buildings were repurposed as families grew and needs changed. In the photo in the lower left is a Still display (The still is not normally kept there). It is a single-stage coper still from Byrant Cove.The still was buried during Prohibition and was later retrieved by the family. It does have the “Thump Barrel or “Worm.”
Family history provided by Don Byers.
Shucking corn with wooden peg