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The Snow Hill Community
Blend Store at Snow Hill, about 1918
Snow Hill is probably the best-known landmark in DeKalb County. It got its name from Joseph Snow, who was born in 1771 in Delaware and moved to the foot of the hill in 1813. Snow lived in a two-room log house in a big curve of the old turnpike.
The land at the top of the hill was sparsely settled for many years. Thomas Bradford lived there by 1840, and by 1850, his son-in-law, Dr. John A. Evins was living there, along with his father, George Evins, born in Ireland. Dr. Evins served the nearby area, including Indian Creek, Holmes' Creek, Possum Hollow, etc. He was paid 50 cents for a house call. Dr. Evins' son, William (Bill) Evins and wife, Eliza Foutch lived with their family near the Snow's Hill Baptist Church. Their son, Edgar, established a store nearby around 1900. For a few years, the Blend Post Office was located there. Ms. Myrtie Goodson came to teach at the Snow Hill School, and later married Edgar Evins on the 7th day of the 7th month in 1907! They drove seven miles to Seven Springs, where they spent seven days on their honeymoon. They were living in Smithville in 1946 when their son, Joe L. Evins was elected to the first of 15 consecutive terms in the United States Congress.
Thomas Bradford, an early settler, is said to have had an inn at the sign of Two Cranes. Luke McDowell also had a tavern on Snow Hill. However, the best-known inn was the Beckwith Inn, owned by James Beckwith, (born in 1797 in Bristol, Connecticut) and his wife Rachel Roulstone, daughter of Tennessee's first printer. In 1843, they bought the Cannady Tavern, owned by James Cannady, where Andrew Jackson often stopped on his way to Washington, D.C. They added to the tavern, had a front porch 90 feet long and a dining room that seated 60, with nice cherry and walnut furniture in the guestrooms. For many years before and after the Civil War, the Beckwith Inn was a favorite stopping place for wealthy Nashville families traveling to the Bon Air resort on Cumberland Mountain.
The John B. Atwell family left Virginia and, by 1860, lived near the top of Snow Hill and had established the Atwell School, where the present Community Center is. The Atwell School was where much of the Battle of Snow's Hill took place on April 2, 1863. The largest battle to take place in DeKalb County, it involved about 2,000 soldiers on each side. Apparently neither side won; they both withdrew.
The Atwell School was still in use in 1904; in later years, the Snow Hill School was built and during the 1920's had two and three teachers at various times. Most families continued to move to the turnpike from surrounding areas, including the families of Sam Fish, the Taylors and Rhodys.
By 1884, the Snow Hill Methodist Church had been established, while Snow Hill Baptist Church was organized in 1897. Both churches had large cemeteries and are still active today.
A short time after the Civil War ended, some of the freed slaves located at the turnpike coming up the hill. Joseph Thomas, David Norman and others bought 110 acres and divided it. Joseph Thomas built a log house right on the road, where his son-in-law, Leonard Sellars, later lived. It is presently occupied by the Michael Antoniak family. Several of the Sellars, Thomas and Norman family members are buried in a cemetery near the Antoniak barn. For a time, there was an African-American church nearby. But, most of the African-American families sold their land and moved to town by the 1920's.
Because it is near Smithville and DeKalb County High School, the area has grown considerably in recent years. There are residential subdivisions and Bert Driver's Nursery at the former DeKalb Drive-In Theater near the home of Driver's great-grandfather, Henry Hass. DeKalb Market is where Buren Wilson once had his sawmill, and several other businesses are just across the road.
The land at the top of the hill was sparsely settled for many years. Thomas Bradford lived there by 1840, and by 1850, his son-in-law, Dr. John A. Evins was living there, along with his father, George Evins, born in Ireland. Dr. Evins served the nearby area, including Indian Creek, Holmes' Creek, Possum Hollow, etc. He was paid 50 cents for a house call. Dr. Evins' son, William (Bill) Evins and wife, Eliza Foutch lived with their family near the Snow's Hill Baptist Church. Their son, Edgar, established a store nearby around 1900. For a few years, the Blend Post Office was located there. Ms. Myrtie Goodson came to teach at the Snow Hill School, and later married Edgar Evins on the 7th day of the 7th month in 1907! They drove seven miles to Seven Springs, where they spent seven days on their honeymoon. They were living in Smithville in 1946 when their son, Joe L. Evins was elected to the first of 15 consecutive terms in the United States Congress.
Thomas Bradford, an early settler, is said to have had an inn at the sign of Two Cranes. Luke McDowell also had a tavern on Snow Hill. However, the best-known inn was the Beckwith Inn, owned by James Beckwith, (born in 1797 in Bristol, Connecticut) and his wife Rachel Roulstone, daughter of Tennessee's first printer. In 1843, they bought the Cannady Tavern, owned by James Cannady, where Andrew Jackson often stopped on his way to Washington, D.C. They added to the tavern, had a front porch 90 feet long and a dining room that seated 60, with nice cherry and walnut furniture in the guestrooms. For many years before and after the Civil War, the Beckwith Inn was a favorite stopping place for wealthy Nashville families traveling to the Bon Air resort on Cumberland Mountain.
The John B. Atwell family left Virginia and, by 1860, lived near the top of Snow Hill and had established the Atwell School, where the present Community Center is. The Atwell School was where much of the Battle of Snow's Hill took place on April 2, 1863. The largest battle to take place in DeKalb County, it involved about 2,000 soldiers on each side. Apparently neither side won; they both withdrew.
The Atwell School was still in use in 1904; in later years, the Snow Hill School was built and during the 1920's had two and three teachers at various times. Most families continued to move to the turnpike from surrounding areas, including the families of Sam Fish, the Taylors and Rhodys.
By 1884, the Snow Hill Methodist Church had been established, while Snow Hill Baptist Church was organized in 1897. Both churches had large cemeteries and are still active today.
A short time after the Civil War ended, some of the freed slaves located at the turnpike coming up the hill. Joseph Thomas, David Norman and others bought 110 acres and divided it. Joseph Thomas built a log house right on the road, where his son-in-law, Leonard Sellars, later lived. It is presently occupied by the Michael Antoniak family. Several of the Sellars, Thomas and Norman family members are buried in a cemetery near the Antoniak barn. For a time, there was an African-American church nearby. But, most of the African-American families sold their land and moved to town by the 1920's.
Because it is near Smithville and DeKalb County High School, the area has grown considerably in recent years. There are residential subdivisions and Bert Driver's Nursery at the former DeKalb Drive-In Theater near the home of Driver's great-grandfather, Henry Hass. DeKalb Market is where Buren Wilson once had his sawmill, and several other businesses are just across the road.