The Tron House

The Tron House is one of the first homes built upon the Waldensians arrival in Valdese in May of 1893. It is typical of the "sawmill shacks" hastily constructed to shelter the early settlers. This is the original home., When Pierre Tron first built the home, it was only half as large as it is today. Though a family of five would live here, they were allotted only enough boards from the colony's sawmill for 150 square feet (10 x 15) of living space. The Tron's and other families were promised additional lumber later, for enlarging their homes. The flooring in this house, which is the original, shows the dividing line between the first room and the addition made several years later. The original home had no interior walls and was open up to the roof., The only protection from the bitter winter winds were daub and wood strips covering the cracks between the boards and the wood stove that served for both heating and cooking. In time, homemade furniture was built and straw ticks garnished the beds. The baby walker served a double purpose, it built leg muscles and taught the child to walk, while keeping the toddler from the hot stove and out from under mom's feet., Until 1969 this house still stood where it was built, about 500 yards southeast of it's present location., Mrs. Albert Tron kindly consented to moving the house to its present site., This very land the Trail of Faith was built on was donated to our organization by Pierre Tron's grandson and wife, Fred and Patricia Stroup.