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Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Robert Scruggs House - Cowpens National Battlefield


Although built nearly 50 years after the Battle of Cowpens, the Robert Scruggs House has been restored by the National Park Service to its 19th century appearance. The park service chose to preserve the house as it is one of the few remaining examples of a typical backcountry farmhouse from the first half of the 19th century. The Scruggs farm initially consisted of 200 acres given to Robert by his father Richard in 1828. Robert and his wife Catherine Connell Scruggs had eleven children.

Over the years, the house had been enlarged, wood siding had been added, and even a metal roof installed. All of this was peeled away to the original log house. The chimney was rebuilt due to tornadic winds in the early 20th century.

The house was not open for visitors when I stopped in February 2017. Other than the brick chimney, the Robert Scruggs house seems to have been constructed in much the same manner and architecture as log houses of the same era in Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Scruggs store and barns once stood in this area

The historic Green River Road passes in front of the Scruggs House

West end of the house

Back porch of the house

East end of house with restored chimney

Entry to Cowpens National Battlefield is free.

The battlefield website is https://www.nps.gov/cowp.

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