Maces Spring in Scott County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

At the Park

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 18, 2023

1. At the Park Marker

Inscription.

“[A.P.] would go anywhere if he heard someone that had a new song. I would be traveling somewhere and hear a song that I'd think would be in [the Carter Family] style. He would get in the car and go and see about it.” – Leslie Riddle

Concerned that his original songs – more than 300 – were being forgotten, A. P. built an outdoor stage and presented music shows in the woods behind the store in 1953. He called his little stage the Park.

Crowds came to hear his music played by old-time musicians for a time. But his daughter, Janette, who started Saturday night shows in the A. P. Carter Grocery store, took up his vision and hope later. The Park structure deteriorated over time.

Captions:
Top: A.P., Sara and Janette Carter on the stage of A.P.'s “Park,” built in the woods behind the present site of the A.P. Carter cabin. A.P.'s songs drew inspiration from his life in Poor Valley and are filled with images of the surrounding mountains.
Bottom: The label from Decca Records' release of “My Dixie Darling” performed by the Original Carter Family is from one of hundreds of records issued during A.P. Carter's lifetime.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1953.

Location.

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36° 40.119′ N, 82° 24.732′ W. Marker is in Maces Spring, Virginia, in Scott County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of A P Carter Highway (Virginia Route 614) and Anchored in Love Drive, on the right when traveling west. Marker is in the Carter Family Fold complex. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3481 A P Carter Hwy, Hiltons VA 24258, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A. P. Carter Boyhood Home (a few steps from this marker); A. P. Carter Grocery (within shouting distance of this marker); June Carter Cash (approx. 3.2 miles away); Houston’s Fort (approx. 3.8 miles away); Kilgore Fort House (approx. 4.8 miles away); The Block House (approx. 7 miles away); First Court of Scott County (approx. 8.2 miles away); McConnell's Birthplace (approx. 8.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Maces Spring.

Also see . . . A. P. Carter. Wikipedia entry on the musician and a founding member of The Carter Family, one of the most notable acts in the history of country music. (Submitted on July 19, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 18, 2023

2. At the Park Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 19, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 19, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 59 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 19, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.