Saturday, June 10, 2023

How an enslaved family might have lived

 At the Vance/Hemphill homestead in Weaverville, NC we were enjoying wonderful weather to trapse across mowed grass from one building to another.

Looking down to the slave house from the main house.











This well-constructed building has two rooms as well as a space above the ceiling.




Looking from the slave house up the hill to the other buildings at the site. The big house is in the distance on the left behind 2 outbuildings.

I didn't ask, but I did wonder where the outhouse had been. 

Incidentally when I moved to the Asheville area in 2007, most of the literature about historic homes, stories, and especially what was said to tourists was: "in these mountains and Asheville itself, there weren't many slaves, because there weren't the plantations like other areas in the state."

I'm really glad "Black Lives Matter" has established a much more honest look that there were many people of color around throughout history.

Today's quote:

The epitaph that I would write for history would say: I conceal nothing. It is not enough not to lie. One should strive not to lie in a negative sense by remaining silent.

 -Leo Tolstoy, novelist and philosopher (1828-1910)




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13 comments:

  1. MarciaJune 10, 2023 at 7:43 AM

    Thanks for sharing this. Even at Monticello the narrative has been corrected above Jefferson's slaves. It's part of our history and should be reflected correctly instead of ignored.

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    1. Barbara RogersJune 10, 2023 at 5:59 PM

      You said it. But there were so many people who suffered under slavery. Just looking at a building, and reading a sign, I fear hasn't given me much of the true lives of those people.

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  2. eileeninmdJune 10, 2023 at 7:56 AM

    Hello,
    Great photos of this historical house! History can not be changed, even if there are some people that want to pretend nothing bad happened. Take care, have a great weekend.

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  3. AnvilcloudJune 10, 2023 at 9:32 AM

    At least in most of the world, people can’t own other people any more.

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    1. Barbara RogersJune 10, 2023 at 6:01 PM

      That's a good point. But then think of all the people who work under certain political autocratic persons, where if they don't do his bidding, will have personal and professional repurcussions. Many people will follow out of fear.

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  4. NewRobin13June 10, 2023 at 9:54 AM

    Thank you for showing us this part of our nation's history. It's good to look back and remember what life was like so we will never repeat it.

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  5. Vicki LaneJune 10, 2023 at 2:20 PM

    Good post.

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  6. Granny SueJune 10, 2023 at 4:24 PM

    That seems a very large house for a slave. Unless of course several families lived in it together. It is probably true that there were fewer slaves per capita in the mountains, but certainly there were some.

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    1. Barbara RogersJune 10, 2023 at 6:02 PM

      I think a single room house was more often the way I've seen slave "quarters." So this is quite different looking.

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  7. William KendallJune 11, 2023 at 8:07 AM

    Bigger than you'd expect, but if a large number were in there, perhaps not.

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  8. LindaJune 12, 2023 at 11:34 PM

    People used to say that our valley had few slaves, but then someone examined the old census…

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So glad to have your comments...whatever they may be. I'm one who likes to reply sometime or another, so others will see that; or you might happen back sometime and see what conversation might have started.