The log kitchen dependency of the Col. Coleman D. Bennett property was located behind the Bennett home at 131 North Main Street. The original Bennett house was removed and replaced with the present “Magnolia Manor” around 1890 by the Shepherd family. The log cabin was finally removed for safety reasons by the Thompson family during the 1940's.
The cabin was reputedly the residence of President John Tyler's daughter Letitia Tyler Semple during the Civil War.
Irene Vaden Thompson wrote on the margin of this photograph of the kitchen building as seen from the southwest, "Old cabin in our yard, July 20, 1934."
These next three photographs are taken several years later than the first one. In this view from the southeast, the rear of "Magnolia Manor" can be seen in the background.
The chimney and a profusion of flowers are seen in this view of the cabin from the northeast.
This view is the same as in the first photograph above, but the vegetation has grown significantly, and the chimney to the right seems to be leaning precipitously.
Notes:
This webpage is sponsored by Mitchells Publications and the Sims-Mitchell House, Chatham, Virginia.
Copyright © 2002–2006 Patricia B. Mitchell.