Maxton-On November 13-15 about 35 members of Shoeheel Holiness Methodist Church made an excursion to the mountains of North Carolina, the trip was filled with a lot of historical significance. The group made a visit to Cades Cove in the Cherokee National Forest and visited the Methodist Church there which was established in 1830 the first church structure was hewn from trees with a dirt floor in 1840. The current building was built in 1902 by the Reverend John McCampbell at a cost of $115.00. This was a dollar a day for the 115 days it took him and his family to build the church. The youngest members got to experience what church life was like without electricity or any form of heat in the grand old structure the temperature of 23 degrees was warmed by the congregations’ sweet rendition of “Amazing Grace” in the historical landmark.
In addition the group spent two wonderful nights at the National Registry of Historical sites “Lambuth Inn” on the grounds of the Lake Junaluska assembly. The Inn built in 1921 is so charming and at the same time so very elegant the staff there were so friendly and helpful.
The group also came across a wonderful sight, a small herd of elk (not moose) feeding right on the outskirts of Maggie Valley everyone thought it remarkable that they chose to eat here since the sign is advertising the restaurant located at the top of the hill. Just thinking they must serve pretty good food to be able to attract even the wildlife. While visiting Cades Cove wildlife like this massive white tail buck took their time eating while cars filled with gawkers slowed or stopped to watch them hard at work trying to get a meal from under the snow and ice which had fallen the night before.
