honestly it brings tears to my eyes seeing those old pictures of those massive ancient trees felled. all part of the beautiful lost America none of us will ever get to see.

@curiouser-and-curiouser

2 ай бұрын

Oh please. Most of us wouldn't see it anyway. I've never been to that area & probably never will. If they needed to cut down trees in order to sustain human life then so be it.

@darinwilson8663

2 ай бұрын

Absolutely, just like us, they are eventually going to die anyway. May as well make use ​of the wood because one of these days it's going to rot and turn into topsoil.

@pgogel8974

2 ай бұрын

Well we would still have trees like that if not for the Chinese blight that killed all the American chestnut trees in the early 1900s

@darinwilson8663

2 ай бұрын

Absolutely, the north ga mountains have valleys that are full of dead chestnut trees laying on the ground, and believe it or not, they are still sound and solid enough to saw into lumber after all these years. Some of those wilderness areas are completely untouched due to the rough terrain.​@@pgogel8974

@jebrook

2 ай бұрын

Does it really?

It makes me so sad to see these ancient trees all felled...but the fact that folk made use of the stumps is fascinating! Thankyou. I never knew this! ❤

When I was a kid, one of my favorite books was "my side of the mountain" about a kid who runs away and actually lives inside the bottom of a partially hollowed out tree. I think it was a redwood. I loved it!

@herbmumma5558

2 ай бұрын

Jean Craighead George wrote this book. Followed up with two more books(can’t recall titles). Great young adult books.

@patriciasalem3606

2 ай бұрын

I loved that book. I used to read it after school sitting in a huge pine tree in my front yard. I'd grab a couple of apples and climb up there for some quiet and the great scent.

@amazingtbone

2 ай бұрын

I must have read that book 100 times.

@philipthomas3938

2 ай бұрын

Great book...

@terriatca1

2 ай бұрын

Thank you for reminding me of that book, I loved it.

One of my great grandmothers was born in a redwood stump house in California in 1845. At 3:00 in this video you can see one of my great grandfather's, first row,far right (holding a pipe). His name was Joseph Foster. He is standing with 49 other men on the stump of the "Mark Twain" redwood tree,which was sectioned and sent back east for exhibition.

@patsmith6867

2 ай бұрын

Spotted Him , didn't see Him at first but when I found Him He is exactly where you said He is . That Cool .

@sookie4195

2 ай бұрын

😢

@FilthyMcNasty69

2 ай бұрын

Wow that's crazy

@patsmith6867

2 ай бұрын

OK I read your comment again , this time more carefully . Although the Video is based on Appalachia Your Great Grandparents were both from California but still associated with Stump Houses . Wikipedia has an Article about the Mark Twain Tree and a better quality Photo than the one in this Video . en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Twain_Tree

@patsmith6867

2 ай бұрын

Just revisited Wikipedia that Photo is Zoomable with Great Detail ! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Twain_Tree

I stayed in one as a kid. It was on my buddies property when they bought it. We fixed it up as a Fort and camped in it. It was probably 10' wide inside.

@marilynmckenzie2111

2 ай бұрын

Great memories for you to have now!! ☺️🇨🇦

@i_luv_hecklefish

2 ай бұрын

Awesome!

33 years old and I've heard of these but never really knew the history. As a student of history, I thank you for sharing this cool bit of it.

@cerberus1364

2 ай бұрын

🥰

Never underestimate the resourcefulness of country folk.

@TheAppalachianStoryteller

2 ай бұрын

yup!

@tommas2674

2 ай бұрын

Europeans were/are something.

@tommas2674

2 ай бұрын

@@TheAppalachianStoryteller more more more of this. thank you.

@jssekyl

2 ай бұрын

@@tommas2674 The interesting part to me is they werent born Appalachian country folk, they created Appalachian country folk.

@tommas2674

2 ай бұрын

@@jssekyl some seemed to even create British brown stone homes like from My Fair Lady, Henry Higgins house.

Got pictures of my grandpa living in a stump house, Corbin, ky.

i know a man who is in his 70's now. who planted 16 trees when he was a young boy with his dad in the middle of a forest [ 30 years later ] he built a tree house within the square of trees he and his dad planted . now he lives in a town house but i did get to see his tree house a few years ago he took me there ! theres no way i would ever find the place on my own , as you can almost walk right past it without seeing it . this thing / house had 3 storys no roof as such just a slanted green tarp streached between the trees no real walls just branches that over the years he inter twined together . he told me he lived there for 35 years with no bathroom no windows no real door . every bit of the house was made from branches the only thing he had was a realy big pot belly stove with a 30 ft steel stack set right in the middle of the trees two sets of ladders made from straight thin tree trunks . honestly my discription of this place is a realy poor attempt to describe something that litraly grew . all he did was wait and year by year got planks ready and trained the branches to his desire / cut off branches in the middle and twisted branches together between trees [ making a living wall as such ] he lived in the middle of this woodland for almost 35 years with no one bothering him . sadly where we live the authoritys will not let you live how you want . and today he now lives in a shared comunity housing [ hell] as he thinks ] tbh! i think hes better off where he is now only because he's too old to be climbing hand made ladders he even admitted to me when he took me there [ in a sort of around about way ] like old folk do ; you can go up the ladders if you like but i dont know how sound the floor is so watch your step lad he said ! the tree house was an amazing place sadly a lot of the timber he had put there was quite rotten so i never even dared to go to the top floor . this story told by the appalachian storyteller reminds me so much of this old kid i know , all he wanted was shelter and he litral grew it then put floors in where he needed them this tree house is still out there i know whitch woodland it is in but for sure i could not find it today .

@bigglilwayne7050

2 ай бұрын

Cap

@Rosesraspberries72

2 ай бұрын

Very cool story, thanks for sharing

@CorpseBride64

2 ай бұрын

A wonderful story, thank you for sharing that. 💓

@danweyant4909

2 ай бұрын

The plan: Go into deep wilderness, select site, clear & plant select arboreal species, wait 30 years, PROFIT. I love playing the long game.

@piotr.leniec-lincow5209

2 ай бұрын

Hard to imagin but l belive you. Life in America once had people so close to nature. Europe lost that long , long ago. That is what made America a special place. A strong country. Im so sad that this is almost gone. Like these trees.

Give me the good old days before planning boards and permits. I'm old and lived in the era we built when we needed and it was no one's business but ours. Loved the pictures. Never saw a postcard with a picture of the stump houses. I'm totally amazed.

@VanderlyndenJengold

2 ай бұрын

It's great you can complain about certain aspects of your government, yet there are other parts of that same government that help you enormously. Canny folk can work out who is stripping the helpful parts away from you.

@SirenaSpades

2 ай бұрын

@@VanderlyndenJengold I'm just curious, how does the government help us?

@VanderlyndenJengold

2 ай бұрын

@@SirenaSpades If you are curious there are plenty of sources you can learn from, rather than a stranger on the internet. Good luck!

@badeugenecops4741

Ай бұрын

​​@@SirenaSpadesThe government helps us think and makes our decisions for us, because we couldn't possibly do it for ourselves.

JD, I am 65 years old and I never heard of these wonderful stump houses. They are so amazing. I wish I could see one in real life. Thank you for sharing this with us ❤❤❤❤❤❤

@TheAppalachianStoryteller

2 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@petegregory517

2 ай бұрын

72 here, never a word about these, and I was born, raised in the Appalachian Mt area.

@unknown5150variable

2 ай бұрын

​@@petegregory517 the whole worlds information is right at your fingertips. You can see, hear and learn things you've never imagined. I hope you find something fun.

@petegregory517

2 ай бұрын

@@unknown5150variable Yeah, but there's more than you can actually think of. Who in the world is one day sittin' in their underwear on the ez chair and says "dang, think I'll look up something I never heard of.....how bout🤔stump house's? Never heard of such a thing but, what the hey?"😆

@headhunter7881

2 ай бұрын

​@@petegregory517algorithm nether have I if you look at comments in most videos you will see alot are months and years apart for older videos utube trys the video out then takes it off the shelf them tries again that's how it's random for all of us

Those were times when people were free to put a roof of some kind over their heads, and not be compelled to live under a bridge or in a tent along side a street. I have heard and read about people living in hollow trees or stumps in pioneer days. Thanks, JD, for the great story.

@darlenekostelachinman6626

2 ай бұрын

yes people lived sustainably long before our blessed govt came with all its armies of agencies "to help and guide us with expert wisdom." it was teh corporations who profited from the giant tree felling. the Natives werent so stupid to chop them down.

@testingtesting4534

2 ай бұрын

The Keebler Elves live in a tree………..😂

My great-grandmother's house is still standing in Aiken, SC. It's made entirely of American Chestnut and has a central hearth fireplace with a big cast iron pot and cradle still in it. My cousin Jeff lives in it. We've caught several people over the years trying to steal wood off of the house. It was built in the late 1800's

@EVERGLOW828

2 ай бұрын

Wow so amazing Jeff is still living there, I bet it’s lovely there. He has a much simpler life living that way hard work but simple and honest.

@jacobhendrickson8935

2 ай бұрын

Wow I would so love to see that. How big is the home?? Is it just the stump home only or extended in some way?? Cause the big American chestnuts was like a max 14’ diameter?? Or was there bigger??

@BeardMan01

2 ай бұрын

@@jacobhendrickson8935 It's not a stump home. It's made out of Chestnut. The house is 4 bedrooms, of which 11 children were raised. Maybe 1100 square feet.

@jacobhendrickson8935

2 ай бұрын

@@BeardMan01 wow that’s awesome.

@cathypound3719

Ай бұрын

What a lucky man he is.

That has to be just about the coolest house I've EVER seen!

What an amazing people from whom we of Appalachian blood descend. “Resilience and innovation” is a perfect summation of the Appalachian culture. With the world getting as it is, my family have had a fair few conversations about moving back to join our family in the mountains. And if we don’t, I know our people will still be there whenever my descendants decide to go back home.

@colinvanful

2 ай бұрын

sorry to say the gentree has moved in and it aint quite like it used to be up in the hills i remember seing a documentry on youtube showing the changes in the appalachiain mountains [ the upshot was out of town people wre buying land and turning it into gated comunitys ] not realy what the locals wanted tbh!

@disklamer

2 ай бұрын

You mean boat people. You are all boat people. You all came from elsewhere. There is no glorious origin. Your nativist idea of some sort of local indigenous bloodline is deranged. At best you’re inbreeding.

@DetroitMicroSound

2 ай бұрын

An amount as giant as these trees, fled the hills in the south, many many moons ago, looking for work in Detroit, in the auto industry.

@twitchy_bird

2 ай бұрын

As an Appalachian person who still lives in appalachia, it is not what it used to be. I'm not sure you'd get what you're looking for if you came back.

@PB-ho6dm

2 ай бұрын

Just read online today 03/24/2024 that people are selling their homes in Florida and heading to Appalachia to build and retire. 😪

I am crying for all These wonderful trees. It is heartbreaking.

@helbitkelbit1790

24 күн бұрын

They all die at some point......

@ulrikegerigk7852

24 күн бұрын

@@helbitkelbit1790 🙈

@roslynbyers5415

16 күн бұрын

No you're not

WOW, JD!! I've never heard of such a thing before! The creativeness and ingenuity of the Appalachian immigrants was out of this world! I'm so impressed! I would've loved living in a stump house!

@tommas2674

2 ай бұрын

Irish slaves in island places were not given dwellings. I want a stump. I need a stump.

We (humans) can be so creative, and capable of marvelous achievements. At the same time capable of such destruction, and ignorance. I pray we come together and smarten up. Thank you for sharing!

Truly amazing!!!!! This is something I would HAPPILY live in today!!!!

@TheAppalachianStoryteller

2 ай бұрын

Some of those stump houses were gigantic up to seven 800 and even 1000 ft.²

@brentnevius2849

2 ай бұрын

Only until the first time you need groceries!

@helloslimeyslug

2 ай бұрын

what is your source@@TheAppalachianStoryteller

@BostonBoss

2 ай бұрын

💯

@jamiesuzanne5781

2 ай бұрын

@@brentnevius2849 I currently live on a self-sufficient homestead... I would be fine 🙂

In Perry County, Georgia in 1997 at the county fair, we saw a 24 ft. log built onto a trailer. It was hollowed out all the way through with three rooms and a door on each end the rooms were 6.5 ft.tall and wide.

@judyingram-kh1vm

2 ай бұрын

O bet that was so awesome ❤

@DramaMustRemainOnTheStage

2 ай бұрын

I wonder if it is still in shape to see. How awesome that would be. I'm in Georgia but never heard of these

@grimrot

2 ай бұрын

I think I have some pictures of that house you are talking about that my grandparents took. I'll have to see if I can find it.

@roseholley671

2 ай бұрын

That’s amazing is it still there? 💜

@maureenobrien4807

2 ай бұрын

AWESOME!

I love how well dressed they were, my grandparents were like that. They lived out in the bushes but they were always nicely dressed.

My fifth great granddad Christopher Kit Maynard settled a little holler by building a cabin into a cave mouth. Now known as Brushy Creek, Pike County KY. They were so inguinitive and resilient back then.

@cliffordmaynard6559

2 ай бұрын

Hello, if I remember right, he was my Great Great Grandfather also. There is a book called, Maynrds of Eastern Kentucky.

@CrackerFL

2 ай бұрын

Yes that was before 🤬 building codes. A person could build what they wanted!

@loripotter6296

2 ай бұрын

Are there any left?

@scharlamallory9545

2 ай бұрын

Ingenuitive *

@testingtesting4534

2 ай бұрын

I have the book.

How interesting but such a tragedy at the loss of such majestic trees. All for nothing but greed. Our forest are disappearing at an alarming rate and no protection for them in sight. Breaks my heart.

@paulmalinoski5951

2 ай бұрын

Those trees built America... As much as it saddens me that many of them ancient giants are gone, they did great good for our country As for logging nowadays, the vast majority is literally farmed like crops nowadays.

@Webb63

4 күн бұрын

You have wood products all around your house. Trees aren't harvested for no reason. Ps. That stuff you wipe with comes from 🌲🌴

Some of the stump houses were beautiful with windows and balconies! Amazing.

@robertroullard1963

2 ай бұрын

Thank you pat Smith for the link! Seen the photo before but not like this.ZOOM!

Man, it's so sad to see these wonderful trees in just pictures! Couldn't they have left a few for us to enjoy? Honestly, how amazing they must have looked in real life!

The first tiny house. Heard of them never seen one.

"And they'd fix em up riiiiight nice!" 😁

Trees used to be so tall and majestic until we came and cut them down. We literally are blind to the world around us. I’m sorry. Someone has to say it. Trees- I’m so sorry.

@alliecat8348

2 ай бұрын

Humans are very destructive species which unfortunately provides no reciprocal benefit to the world around it. 😢😞

@shanghunter7697

2 ай бұрын

A STELLAR comment fellow gardener !!! Sad that "unwise, greedy" humans devastate the MOST important things in life. Best wishes to you and yours.

@HooLeePhucingSheet

2 ай бұрын

Too many trees are deadly. But I don't see you living underwater.

@Lucky..B

2 ай бұрын

I guess you are sorry for the house You live in the furniture your folks had and Cabnets . Maybe that old tv that was incased By wood . Or that bomb fire with all that falling Sticks and Limbs that Fell off Treese ! LOL

@jacobhendrickson8935

2 ай бұрын

Well to be honest we didn’t get to wipe out the chestnuts, a greedy guy that imported seedlings from China because there were cheaper was the cause. Those chestnuts brought what was called chestnut blight, an aisian chestnut bark fungus. It wiped out the American chestnut in about 20 years. It’s so sad that we don’t have them anymore. They were the most plentiful tree back in the 1800s they took up 75 percent of the forest. Imagine how cool it would be to see them today. I so love big trees and have 1 large maple I’m trying to save on my property.

Today some local, state or federal official would tell us why this is illegal and threaten us with imprisonment and/or fines. "How dare anyone live for free and not be on the grid, it's bad enough some people own their land and are living off the grid, we can't have free housing as well." So yeah, that's today's "freedom" in America. Look at the beauty, ingenuity and quality workmanship in this video, simply amazing. Thank you so much for sharing this video. 🙏

@dougjohnson7907

5 күн бұрын

Murderers control the crooked cops and judges in USA. Wake up to the real world we exist in.

I would love to live in a stump house. So sad that it shows the greed of men though. Awesome story, thank you.

I have heard of people living in stump houses. Country folk will servive I remember my Mother telling me of this

Amazing!! I wish I could have lived in the time of the majestic, huge chestnut trees. To gaze upon the virgin forests. What an exciting time it must have been. I love seeing the stump houses, I would have been proud to live in one. That shows appreciation for God's natural creations. The sweet times that have faded into history. Now days with too much social media, many peoples lives have no mystery. A lack of morals and self respect, has replaced love of God and country in many instances. I fear that too much progress is actually determential.

@petegregory517

2 ай бұрын

Born 52 years late. My time would have been 1890 to ???.

Just wanted to let you know I had to put my dad in a place called Journey home today... instead of the nursing home cuz I could not do that to him. it's a really nice place has six bedrooms. They take patients that have 30 days or less so I don't know... can't really think straight right now but I wanted to let no the last few nights I shared your videos with him and he really enjoyed them at this really special I'm still watch the videos and hit like and support I just may not comment for a little while if you could just keep me in your prayers Thank you

@MyraG1225

2 ай бұрын

Bella, I'm so sorry for your situation. I pray for clarity in your thoughts and peace in your heart. And I pray that your dad is pain free, easy in his mind and at peace in his heart, too. Remember to grieve when the time comes and eventually the good, sweet memories with help with the raw pain. God bless you, dear.

@Bella1neverknows670

2 ай бұрын

@@MyraG1225 thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words. Truly means a lot. Again thank you 🙏

@PB-ho6dm

2 ай бұрын

I am so sorry. May God be with you, your dad and family. Blessings and prayers.

@Bella1neverknows670

2 ай бұрын

@@PB-ho6dm thank you so very much that's so kind of you. He passed away this afternoon but thank you again for the kind words

@katiekane5247

2 ай бұрын

​@@Bella1neverknows670my condolences dear, he's left the pain of our mortal existence. Hugs

I never knew people lived like this ! That is so amazing! All those people were so inventive, and resortsful. My hat off to them all!! 🎩👏

Seriously who wouldn't love a stump house. Amazing

This year I bought three hybrid American Chestnut trees to plant on my property in Virginia. I may not be around long enough to ever see one grow that large.

@izzyplusplusplus1004

2 ай бұрын

How you gonna be around 600 years from now?

@Wakeupandsniffthecoffee

2 ай бұрын

Actually the American Chestnut trees are pretty fast growers from what I've learned.

J D I am 77 years young and have roamed the mountains of sw virginia and have never came across any chestnut stumps of this size. I guess that the elevation here in Wyhte co va, the trees did not grow as big here. But love this this is very inlightning

Fascinating! I'm 53 and never knew such houses even existed. Well done video I enjoyed it!

Well, ya got me with this one, JD. I hadn't heard of such in Appalachia. I wish I could live in one, in the middle of nowhere, right now... partially because of that aversion to politicians! ~Bama

@TheAppalachianStoryteller

2 ай бұрын

Isn’t this a neat little story? Can you imagine living in a stump for a house but rent free and no mortgage and no taxes

@cntrygrlTawanna

2 ай бұрын

Me too!

@bettyfeliciano7322

2 ай бұрын

Sounds just about as close to heaven as you can have on earth! 😊

@Teresia12

2 ай бұрын

Me toooo!!

@Amelia-hu8yb

2 ай бұрын

These were in California, Washington state, and Oregon!

Are there any remaining houses, hopefully if so they are protected, that people can visit?

Reduce, reuse, recycle. Awesome ❤️ 🍁

@TheAppalachianStoryteller

2 ай бұрын

yup!

I love the pic of dancers assembling on the stump.

149 # we love these stories.. keep them coming J.D…

@TheAppalachianStoryteller

2 ай бұрын

Thank you John!

I live in British Columbia, Canada and I love listening to storytellers. I just found your channel and it is amazing. I have always loved Appalachian music, especially the ballads. I really loved the story about granny witches, that is what true witches are, nothing like the bs we see on social media. Sending you much love and light.

@pamelaliegh

2 ай бұрын

👋 Victoria BC. We have some of these big stumps in BC. I don’t know think I’ve ever seen them built them into homes though, or even alternative out buildings,

They're beautiful!

I’ve lived in the upstate of SC for over twenty years and visited Stunphouse tunnel outside of Walhalla many times. I’m so glad I know the origin of the name.

JD it’s pity these magnificent trees were cut down. But it is what it is. Awesome video brother God bless.🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

You actually had me…..wait for it….stumped, with this most informative video yet. You are a true teacher of a world that existed not to many years ago, and still probably have descendants that are still living the Appalachian life. Thank you!!

The images provided with this story are amazing. Great work, JD.

@TheAppalachianStoryteller

2 ай бұрын

Thank you 🙏

Thank you!! I had never heard of stump houses. It is awesome to see people's ingenuity in making use of these stumps and sad they cut down all of these old trees.

I would totally live in a stump house. My favorite book as a kid was My Side of the Mountain where a boy runs away to the woods and lives in a hollow tree. It has always fascinated me.... Thanks for the video! PS. Appalachian folk still got no use for politicians!

@leeperkins963

2 ай бұрын

I loved that book too!

@kellyprobst4084

2 ай бұрын

my favorite child hood book as well! i often think about it 50 years later

I found out why I cried when I heard harps, fiddles or flute. I also was enamored with banjos and mountain music. My great grand daddy on my dads side came over during the Black '47s or there abouts when the potato famine hit Ireland. He was Scotch-Irish and married a Cherokee woman. I knew I had some of the old country in me and always loved the hills, I was made from their stock and the Cherokee they married. I am a outdoor, hills kinna guy. Your stories bring tears to my eyes when I hear about the old timers and the old country, especially the part about not contributing to corrupt politicians and banksters (Legend of The Fall). Living off the grid is long good, healthy living and my grand da was born in 1902. He lived until he was about 102 as well. My mom is currently 95. My estranged dad, who became too city, my granda's son, is 96. So, I got a long history of the hills in my family along with the strength of character and gravity to the old ways and living long. I still use roots, berries, herbs and such to keep healthy and don't like the city much but stay close to take care of my mom's administrative affairs after moving her out of independent living in a retirement home by myself and into a nursing home, at about 92 years of age, because I never married a city girl (money) and raised a family. So I couldn't tend to her myself at the ready. I was always working from about 5 and knew how to drive a tractor at about 8. Grew up on Maryland Easter shore on the Wicomico Rives in the summer. When I hear your stories, I can't help but love this. It's so real and so heart felt I feel it in my bones and always look forward to hearing more. Thank you for all you do. It means a lot even though this is just words on a page. But city living was never for me. I lived in the element for over 42 years and slept like some of these people did, only not so well. But I survived 2 residual hurricanes, 3 record breaking blizzards, hitched across the US and back from coast to coast sleeping under the stars sometimes and just turned 67, moving in to a new apartment by my lonesome. So I know I got the strength of the original pioneers in my genes and it shows, thank the Lord. I am so thankful for being in touch with the photos you show and the stories. It means more to me than gold. Thanks again, you absolutely Rock!

@bigtoelittlefinger6133

2 ай бұрын

Class story and history Great wee read wish u and your old maw the best much love fae bonnie Scotland ❤

@-----Disciple-----------

2 ай бұрын

@@bigtoelittlefinger6133 Much obliged. Thank you very much! My mate, Howie Nicholsby, owns 21 Century Kilts. He made mine, from our family tartan, New Stuart of Bute. His da owns Geoffrey Tailors in Edinburgh. I haven't seen him for a wee bit but he use to come to these parts in Virginia to the Highland Games every year to set up and sell. If you ever get a chance, you should stop by his shop and give a shout. Thanks for the love.

I could live in one comfortably. I think this is just amazing!❤

French citizen here. First time hearing about those tiny houses of yore so thanks for sharing. I'm conflicted: Glad that people with little money could have shelter but I also wish those magnificent giant trees could have been saved, restart from their feet... It's easier to collect & destroy than create isn't it.

@TheAppalachianStoryteller

7 күн бұрын

well said my friend, thanks for commenting! And greetings from East Tennessee USA

Gosh I wish I could see one. When you think of the abodes our forefathers created- caves, sod, mud, etc. it shouldn't be surprising they would utilize sturdy stumps. I imagine that stumps did make sturdy, secure structures to house and protect animals that were so important to survival. Wonder how many still stand. great story dear! Stay safe and GOD bless

I love when I can learn about the origins of slang phrases! "Stump speech"...who knew!!

@petegregory517

2 ай бұрын

Actually, I knew that one but not the house aspect.

BEAUTIFUL!!!! And one of the last photos of the woman at the window of her Stump Home, that Stump exudes happiness, to me ❤️❤️❤️

Amazing !! The Land that time forgot !! Gratitude 🙏

I've never heard of a stump house. Very unique for sure.

They had stump houses at the start here in the PNW because there were such massive trees. This area has pictures of such houses. Makes sense, yes?

So interesting. I turned 66 today. You just proved you can teach an old dog new tricks. I have never heard of stump houses. I might find a bigger one of those than the bird house apartment I’m in now. Thanks for the super fun and educational video.

@BeeFunKnee

2 ай бұрын

I've been 66 since last August. "Happy Birthday" And welcome to the #66 club. So glad you made it!

@Bitterstone3849

2 ай бұрын

I'll be 66. 3 - 30. There's a club ? 😂

@BeeFunKnee

2 ай бұрын

No age 66 club, but there should be one! No guarantee anyone gets to live this long. One of my friends died at age 49 and I lost my little sister to cancer at age 59. Be nice if everyone could reach old age. They keep saying we live longer these days after all. Both my grandparents lived to age 87.

@donnaboisen6003

2 ай бұрын

@@Bitterstone3849 Happy Birthday.

@donnaboisen6003

2 ай бұрын

@@BeeFunKnee Happy belated birthday.

Love the stories and the photos. Thank you, JD,much love ❤

Wow, I used to have recurring dreams of my own stump houses and had no idea they were anywhere other than my imagination!

Great pics. Beautiful old trees.

@TheAppalachianStoryteller

2 ай бұрын

Thank you so much Melissa hope you’re having a blessed day my friend

Ya stumped me on this one. 😅

@TheAppalachianStoryteller

2 ай бұрын

😂

@karenroot450

2 ай бұрын

🤣that’s a great comment 🤣🤣

@gilbertcammarn874

2 ай бұрын

@@karenroot450 thanks

@mistybollinger3312

2 ай бұрын

Pun intended??!! 😂😂

@gilbertcammarn874

2 ай бұрын

@@mistybollinger3312 yeppers

So beautiful living in a house inside of a tree! The tenants must have felt very safe in them.

If I had my chance to have a Treehouse, I would live there. A tree lover all my life ❤

In the early 1980's I stayed in a motel in Eukia, CA. Across the street from the motel was a gas station that had its office built into a massive Redwood Tree stump. Knowing that the wood from a Redwood can last seemingly forever if properly treated, I have no reason not to believe that the gas station with its Redwood Tree office exists today. From the photos that you showed with your documentary, I have to think that in many cases such living was truly a comfortable and pleasant way to live, even though this living arrangement was a necessary choice for some poor families. Frankly I'm a little envious, since the simple, modest lifestyle is the best way to live, "don't ya think."

@joestrummer4106

2 ай бұрын

Ukiah or Eureka?

Wow, that's amazing

I'd be happy living in one now.

@KC9UDX

2 ай бұрын

Me too but I'd have to trade my zither for a dulcimer.

@paulsture7045

2 ай бұрын

Unless you had no other choice. Sure it seems ideal but I feel not many folks would be able to stand it for very long nowadays.

@WNCBlueRidgeBlondie1

2 ай бұрын

@@paulsture7045 That's probably true. I have a wood stove and spring near where I live now. I had to make it 14 days without electricity a few years ago. It's harder but oh how good I slept those nights. Food tastes so good cooked over the stove like that.

@WNCBlueRidgeBlondie1

2 ай бұрын

@@KC9UDX I love to hear a dulcimer.

That would be great now the stump house had to be warm thick as the stump walls were great video Jd GOD BLESS

Wow you outdone yourself on this one never heard of stump houses before great pictures terrific job ❤ it

New Sub great video. I'm from South Jersey moved to Appalachia 6 years ago and I will die here. There nothing like the people and freedom we have.

@TheAppalachianStoryteller

Ай бұрын

Welcome my friend!

Human ingenuity at its best indeed!

Wow never heard of stump houses pretty cool!

4:43 The notch on the left had me wondering if they considered cutting it down then said, “ ya know, I’ve got a better idea.”

@floydfaircloth8874

2 ай бұрын

Those are notches that they drove boards into the tree to stand on so they could reach higher to saw

@ArcadianOutpost

2 ай бұрын

@@floydfaircloth8874 I see, that does makes sense.

Phenomenal ingenuity and hard work put into making these incredibly strong weather withstanding homes. I mourn for the beautiful insanely huge trees that were cut down. I'd not heard of stump houses before but what amazing wee family homes ❤

JD, i sure do love it!😁 An intriguing simple life with all the natural beauty surrounding you, sounds heavenly to me. I imagine being in these places when you tell about them and it feels warm, peaceful, & loving, just like my mamaw. I always think of her and how she grew up in the depression. Both parents died by the time she was 12 but she had a few brothers and sisters to look after her until she met and married my papaw. I wish i would have payed more attention to what she was teaching me about the woods and everything in them. We're close to Viking mountain in a little place called greystone. We live next to the mouth of bullen holler that takes you up to margarite falls and it's plum beautiful. Way back in the 30's & 40's there was a logging company with a train that ran out of the holler. There's a whole town out in the woods with sidewalks and all. If course it's grown up over the years and the flood in 2001 took a lot of the structures down. It would be a great story to tell if a person had the details about it. Greeneville, Tennessee is where it's at and there's a lot of history there. There's a few places where the sidewalk splits off and runs up to a set of steps to a house. The house is gone but the steps, sidewalk, and well house are still standing. Anyways, Thank you for the story, Prayers & Blessing to you. JD= The GOAT of Appalachian story telling! ✨✌️✨🫶✨🙏✨🤘✨

Never knew this. How fascinating. I knew the trees were wiped out, but not about using the stumps in so many ways

You can do anything out of anything. I know I do that. Such beauty, what more could u ask for from mother Earth!

@oughtssought1198

2 ай бұрын

anything out of anything? anyone? WOW

I am 47 years young and I have never heard of a stomp house. You can learn something new about yester year even at this time of life. It just makes me sad what we have done to this world we will never see trees like that. I know where James got the idea for home tree now...

Well, grandpa didn't have a stump house but he had an oak tree growing right in the dead center of the house. He built the home around it. All you could see was the trunk in the living room, and outside it shaded the home.

Some of those are just beautiful. Id live in one.

Could you imagine what it looked like? How beautiful the air fresh, the lakes how clear and bright the night skies must of been...

@jasonrackawack9369

2 ай бұрын

Guess the Native Americans werent as dumb as people thought.....they were living well with no.pollution or most problems of the "civilized world".

I grew up in Humboldt County living in my homestead now,we had a lady who lived in a stump house she had a goat farm she lived in the stump house with her goats 🐏 just down the lane was were we got our gallons of fresh milk cream on top still warm oh, and our 🥚 our community is known for our yearly Blackberry Festival all hand picked by locals thanks for sharing!!

The music of this episode is beautiful absolutely beautiful.

@TheAppalachianStoryteller

2 ай бұрын

Thank you!

This is so surreal! I had no idea people used stumps like this. It sounds more like fairytales about leprechauns than real history.

I've always wanted to live in a cave but I find these to be very interesting. Thanks for sharing this with us JD and stay safe my friend 🙏

@donnaboisen6003

2 ай бұрын

If you live in a cave then you have to deal with the bats and all their guano. 😳🤮

Watching this is show True Freedom

Well I’m just amazed & dazed JD! I’ve never heard of anything like this! How awesome and brilliant to turn these stumps into houses! I sometimes long to have a tiny cabin in the woods on a spot of land!! It’s never going to happen as I’m 73 years old now, but I still dream of it! JD, do any of these stump houses exist today??? Blessings always my friend! 😊❤️✝️

@judyingram-kh1vm

2 ай бұрын

I so do wish I could live in a little stump house cabin out in the woods, with a creek near by, but wouldn't never flood me out. Of course I would want running water in my cabin, even if it was just a hand pump in a big Ole country kitchen sink. With a little garden and a yard full of beautiful flowers, planted in that rich dark soil. ❤❤❤

@deborahgross1045

2 ай бұрын

@@judyingram-kh1vm That's my dream also. Wouldnt it be wonderful.

Such a fantastic video about such resilient people! But as I looked at those tree stumps and thought about the mass of trees that once stood on them I had sadness in my heart! When they were young, the white man hadn't even arrived! We must preserve whatever we have left!!

Ingenious.

It gives a whole new meaning to a "tree house"

Resourcefulness!!! Every era has some, from Adobe huts,tipis(teepee),igloos,sod houses of the plains,& log cabins… NEVER underestimate the will to survive!!

Absolutely fascinating 😮. The ingenuity of people is so amazing. Another great story.

@TheAppalachianStoryteller

2 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Cannot remember the nursery rhyme that the characters lived in tree but that thought of living in a tree has always stuck with me & I am 75 this month of March. I never knew pioneers or folks in the old days lived in tree stumps. Great video.

@buddymckean8469

2 ай бұрын

Happy Birthday Jan !

@MyraG1225

2 ай бұрын

Happy birthday, Jan. I turned 75 at the end of January. Enjoy your day!

Wow I actually found out something new about my area of the Appalachian mountains.

I want to tell you DJ, that I don’t always comment, but I’m always listening and I love your stories so much. My niece was murdered by Christian Soto on March 27, 2024. Your voice has always comforted me and you telling stories have been my most stalwart travel companion while in my car. Thank you for all you do, and please don’t stop because I just know that one day you will tell me something about a distant ancestor ❤

@TheAppalachianStoryteller

Ай бұрын

I’m so sorry to hear about your niece, peace and love to you 💜

You got it going on this week, friend! Theys been times when a tree stump woulda suited me just fine. That cold sidewalk will put your body to hurting, JD! Today's story was awesome brother and I'll see ya early Saturday morning

@TheAppalachianStoryteller

2 ай бұрын

see ya in the morning!

🔥is that ever awesome🔥👊🔥🏍⚙️🔨🪵