Lost Cove, North Carolina: Portrait of a Vanished Appalachian Community, 1864-1957

by Christy A. Smith

Located just seconds from the winding Tennessee border, the remote mountain settlement of Lost Cove, North Carolina was once described as where the "moonshiner frolics unmolested." Today, Lost Cove is a ghost town accessible mainly to hikers hoping to catch a glimpse of the desolate settlement. In this first historically comprehensive book on Lost Cove, the author paints a portrait of an isolated yet thriving settlement that survived for almost one hundred years. From its founding before the Civil War to the town's ultimate decline, Lost Cove's history is an in-depth account of family life and kinship in isolation. The author explores historically relevant interviews and genealogical findings from railroad documents, old newspaper articles, church records and deeds. Also included are oral histories that provide authentic, conversational accounts from families in the cove.

193 pages, Paperback

Published December 13, 2021

Reviews

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Curious about life in the Appalachians away from the world as we know it? Living off the land within a community of nurturing families? By the time I finished this book (several checkouts), I could look at the cover and see that family. The author, a relative of these families, incorporated interviews with surviving family members and chapters presented as distinct parts of the community's life, that is one step at a time: the school, the church, impact of logging and the train. I might have assumed an understanding having seen the North Carolina and Tennessee mountain. But what I saw instead when staying in those hills was a peak across the mountain, wondering what life was like moving around the ground. What stories the forest could tell, stories that for Lost Cove are mostly overgrown.

It starts with the first two families moving into the area, joined by others and then the arrival of the train, the only transportation passing by.

Lost Cove is truly a place on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, now marked with No Trespassing signs ignored by hikers and families returning to visit the cemetery.

The most beautiful poem written by the "mountain" speaks of its skin being walked on by the people, things stuck into its skin and its feelings of sadness. This poem is read best after settling in to read the whole story first.

[Michael Wiggins · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is some good information in this book, including a short history of the founding, growth and decline of Lost Cove. There are also fairly tedious family histories of the main families of Lost Cove. I think these individual family stories are important, but I wish they had been organized in a more cohesive way.

I checked this book out from the library.

[Linda Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent picture of a bygone southern Appalachian community. There are so many false stereotypes about the region, that it's refreshing to read a factual account, written by an author with ties to the area.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has a lot of potential, needed a good editor. There was a lot of rambling, sentences in places that didn't make sense and typos. I would have loved to read more from the people she interviewed that lived in Lost Cove.

[Joyce McMichen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Author did a lot research. Recommended for anyone who loves history.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

The community of Lost Cove, a deserted ghost town since the late 1950’s, has long fascinated me. The content here is strong, but the author’s writing could benefit from a strong editor.

[Susan Kasza · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at about 30%. Needs an editor. So many repetitive sentences, sentence fragments that make no sense, contradictory statements, and unrelated nonsense.

[Tabitha Coons]

Nice to know about my family history!!!