06/16/2024
Cades Cove Cantilever Barn
“When those hated tax men finally made his way up to Cades Cove and started pokin’ around and assessing property tax on the folks who lived there, they quickly realized that it was the footprint square footage that determined the tax rate on each building. Well, the w***y mountaineers quickly changed the design of their sheds incorporating a smaller footprint with a larger overhang, and just like that, they cut the property taxes on the building in half and the Cantilever Barn was born. At one time, there were nearly 200 of these barns in Sevier and Blount Counties. The barn had additional benefits such as allowing for storage for tools and even provided a place to get out of the rain for the smarter cows.” -Squire Elroy
