Work progresses to preserve historic Miller Farmstead in Roan Mountain
Published 10:12 am Friday, September 30, 2016
Work is progressing on a renovation project to replace the foundation of the house at Roan Mountain State Park’s historic Miller Farmstead.
“The foundation is built now,” Roan Mountain State Park Manager J.R. Tinch said.
In August when Tinch announced the closure of the Farmstead so work could begin, he noted the farmhouse was sitting on the original foundation that was constructed when the home was built. The Farmstead was first settled by Dave and Louisa Miller and their family in 1870. The farmhouse which currently stands on the site was built by Dave Miller and his son Nathaniel “Nat” Miller in 1908.
“Part of the house is starting to sink in and the current foundation is crumbling,” Tinch told the Elizabethton Star in August. It is a very time-sensitive project and we hate that we have to close it down but any type of project like this is very delicate.”
The operation of replacing the foundation was originally expected to include lifting the entire structure five feet into the air so that work could take place beneath it.
“They had to lift the house about seven feet,” Tinch said on Thursday, adding he was impressed with the operation. “They even lifted the chimney up in one piece.
“We didn’t have to take anything out of the house,” he added. “They just told us to take the pictures off the wall or anything we were afraid might fall and break.”
Now that the foundation is complete, Tinch said the house will be lowered and placed onto the new foundation. Some other work will be completed at the site before the farmstead reopens to the public.
Due to the continued work at the site, Tinch said the park had to change the location for the Autumn Harvest event, which is typically held at the Farmstead. This year’s event will be held at the Park’s Visitors Center on Saturday, Oct. 8, from noon until 4 p.m.
“That’s where it has been for the past two years because of rain,” Tinch said. “We will still have all the vendors, food, and entertainment.”
The Farmstead was closed down on August 29 and at that time it was hoped the park could reopen the site in a month.
“It’s sad we have to shut it down now, but the Farmstead will be fixed,” Tinch said. “Once the project is complete it will be preserved for another century.”
No date has yet been set for the reopening of the Farmstead, but Tinch said the park should be able to host its annual Old Time Yule at the Farmstead. “It should be done by then,” he said.
In 2014 the Miller Farmstead was added to both the State Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places. The historic designation allowed the Park to obtain grant funding for the project to preserve and repair the home.