New Poe's Tavern is under construction at Soddy Daisy
photo by Wes Schultz
The historic Poe's Tavern - that was the first seat of Hamilton County government in 1819 - is being reconstructed.
Bill Clancey said his crew is constructing the new Poe's Tavern as accurately as possible including using hand tools.
The new cabin will not have electricity, and it will feature custom-made hardware that will closely match the original.
Mr. Clancey said the cabin was used by both sides in the Civil War and as hospital. It was also used in the Indian Removal.
That homeplace of Hasten Poe at Daisy was torn down in 1911.
A house on the original site is on the original foundation of Poe's Tavern. A state historical marker has been placed nearby.
The new cabin is only about a block from the original site.
Many members of the Poe family still reside in the Soddy Daisy area.
Mr. Clancey said many of them as well as others have stopped by and he has learned a lot from them about the history of the cabin and the family.
He said the Poe family still has the hatchet used to make the logs for the original cabin.
Mr. Clancey said the cabin should be open next spring with displays of period artifacts and he hopes to have a book about the history of the cabin ready for sale.
The park where the cabin is located already has a children's playground. There will be covered picnic tables lining the sides of the park, a few covered places at the street for local made or grown products on weekends and a large green area between the highway and the cabin for special events and concerts.
Original tavern site
photo by Wes Schultz