The Old Natchez Trace

The Old Natchez Trace

The Gordon house

The Old Natchez Trace

Before we left the Merriweather Lewis Park, we were able to get shots of one section of the Old Natchez Trace.  The Old Trace and the 444 mile paved Natchez Trace Parkway wind through what used to be the old southwest wilderness.  The original trail was a walking trail.  Later, as it became a main thoroughfare, the trail was wide enough to travel by wagon.  Eventually, as steam engines and steam boats became more accessible, the trail was not traveled as often.  The technology of the day reduced the Old Trace to a walking trail, much like smart phones have reduced land lines to dinosaur status.  There are parts of the Old Trace that parallel the narrow pave parkway road. I like to imagine groups of pioneers and traders walking the trail as we drive by.  We passed by the site of Sheboss Stand, the former location of one of the inns that were spaced out on the Old Trace where travelers could stop to rest and get a meal.  All those structures are gone now, but as we sit in our "stand" (the Whale) looking out over the landscape, it's not too hard to imagine the small wooden slat building with covered front porch and smoke curling from the chimney.  An inviting sight to a walk weary traveler.

I spoke too soon...  Just as I was writing about the original structures on the Old Trace being gone, we pulled off to take pictures of the Gordon house, one of the last standing structures on the Trace.  It's also one of the first brick structures erected in this area.  The house was built in 1818, but Gordon and his wife operated a ferry on the Duck River from 1801 until traffic on the Trace declined.  Mrs. Gordon lived in this house until 1859.  Pictures of the house when occupied show shutters open and a full front porch with chairs.  I had to just put up with my curiosity to look inside as the  house was closed, tightly boarded up with bars on the raised basement windows.

We continued north to complete our drive on the Natchez trace and now are on 65 north to Louisville.