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Big Cataloochee, Great Smoky Mts Nat'l Park, Haywood Co, NC
This Methodist church was named for Mary Ann Palmer who donated the land for the use in 1898, the same year it was built. Friends and relatives return yearly to clean cemetery, attend church services, & a picnic. The church looks like it was moved from an original location because the back faces the main park road. This is not the case. It faces the original trail that runs along Palmer Creek. It was the main access to the church long ago.
This cemetery appears to be up a small hill but is actually on the mountain side. I needed several breaks on my way up just to catch my breath due to the steepness & thinner air. This was not an ideal place for a 7 month pregnant woman, but I didn't realize this until it was too late! If there was an access road even the toughest 4-wheel drive vehicle would have trouble (the pictures don't portray how steep it really is). Several graves appeared to have been dug out but I believe this is do to erosion from rain and snow washing the earth away. I have to give the earlier settlers a lot of credit. I can't imagine how they managed even the lightest burials.
