Pioneer Heritage Festival offers tour of historic Shook-Smathers House
The chapel on the top floor of the Shook-Smathers House was used for years as a place where the community would come worship. Sabrina L. Greene photo
The historic Shook-Smathers House in Clyde has seen significant improvements in recent years, and this weekend folks will have a chance to see all the museum has to offer as part of the Pioneer Heritage festival.
The house, which was constructed in 1795 and is the oldest frame-built house in Western North Carolina, has a long and interesting history that saw the property change hands between various members of the Shook family and eventually the Smathers family. Sometimes, history came to the home, like in the early 19th century when Bishop Francis Asbury, one of the first two bishops in the Methodist Church, came to visit. Asbury stayed in the home and worshipped in the chapel that still occupies the top floor of the house.
Later on, the chapel served as a central place for worship in the community, and now, the chapel features an exhibit on the longstanding tradition of shape-note singing.
Over the last decade and a half or so, some serious efforts have gone into renovating the structure, shoring up longstanding deficiencies like the chimney and areas where the structural integrity had been compromised.
In addition, the building itself has been repurposed to serve as a museum that features not only exhibits highlighting the history of the house, but also the rich history of Haywood County. Some exhibits include the history of military service in Haywood County, industrial history and how culture has evolved in the region.
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Walking into some of the rooms at the Shook-Smathers House feels like walking into the past. Sabrina L. Greene photo
The museum has a team of docents who are experts on not only the house, but also the history of Western North Carolina and especially Haywood County. A tour of the house with one of these docents typically takes about two hours and allows visitors the chance to see how the building itself has changed as it becomes clear what rooms were added onto the original 1795 structure and which rooms have been renovated.
The Pioneer Heritage Festival will be at Riverside Park on Penland Street in Canton from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21. This family friendly festival is free to the public.
The day’s events will include live heritage skill demonstrations such as blacksmithing, candle making, basket making, broom making and dyeing with natural dyes by regional crafters. Experts on the American long rifles will be on hand to display their collection and answer questions.
Activities for children will include churning butter, shelling dried corn and using a water pump. On site will be the America 250 AirStream bus, which will provide historical activities for children. A story walk and selfie stations will round out the offerings.
Some exhibits offer a look at how life used to be in Haywood County, such as this one that features tools used in the fiber arts. Sabrina L. Greene photo
Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, Haywood County Public Library, Canton Area Historical Museum and The Haywood County Historical and Genealogical Society will be on hand to offer assistance in genealogy research.
The Pioneer Heritage Festival is being held in coordination with the America 250 Campaign, which is a nonpartisan national initiative working to engage every American in celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This multi-year campaign, from now through July 4, 2026, honors the contributions of all Americans, past, present and future, and looks toward the next generation and beyond.
The museum now houses the original sign from the Louisa Chapel, which is the oldest Methodist Church in Haywood County. Sabrina L. Greene photo
Shuttles will be offered that will depart from the festival in Canton and take visitors to the Shook-Smathers House. The house will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the last shuttle will depart at 4 p.m.
More information about the festival can be found at nchchgs.org/pioneer-heritage-festival.
