Farming Davidson River Valley

Farming Davidson River Valley. . Over 100 years ago, you would likely be standing in a corn field. On the small knoll in front of you is the homestead of joseph and Mary Tinsley. Like hundreds of other families who lived along the Davidson River and its inbutaries, the Tinsieys grew the food they ate, stored milk in a neby spring house, and warmed their two-story house with a large stone fireplace built on the end of the house. The ocuple raised ten childien here., In 1900, the Tinsleys sold this property to George Vanderbilt for $286. The U.S. Forest Service purchased the land in 1913 to become part of Pisgah National Forest. The government leased the house to families who continued to farm until 1938., [ Photo Captions: ] , - Here are the ten Tinsley "children" with their mother, Mary, at the back right. The inset shows Joseph Henry Tinsley who married Mary Elvry Osteen in 1878. The first seven childen wore bonn up the Davidson River. The three youngest were born here after 1888., - Until 1956, the Raines and Goodsen families lived beside Davison River. They raised corn and hay where Davidson River Campground is today. The aerial photo show how much farmland the forest has reclaimed in a few decades. The buildings on the lower left are the old work center. On the half-circle road on the right is the old ranger station. Today's ranger station is inside the half circle