Mahala Mullins: “Catchable, But not Fetch-able” Any fan of American bluegrass would be familiar with names like Jimmy Martin and Doyle Lawson. What you might not know is that they come from a little one stoplight town in Hancock County, Sneedville. Sneedville is home to the Vardy Community School, the only institution providing primary education to Melungeon children living in the remote mountainous areas along the Tennessee-Virginia border during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After visiting the Vardy Community mission school you might wanna stop next door to see Mahala Mullins Cabin. I sure did. And when I did, I heard some amazing stories from Mahala Mullins’ great-great niece. As the story goes, “Aunt Haley” was a big moonshiner. I don’t say big because of the amount of moonshine she made. Mahala was a big ole gal, weighing around 500 pounds! Her log cabin was situated right on the state line between Virginia and Tennessee. So whenever the “revenue men” would come to shut her down, she’d just pick up her stills and drag ‘em over to the other side of the house! Mahala Mullins Later on when she got too old to move back and forth she’d just sit there grinning at the lawmen and their warrants for arrest. She knew they’d never be able to transport her down the mountain. One deputy reported her to be “catchable but not fetchable.” When Mahala finally passed away she was so big, they had to build the coffin around her bed and carry her out of a hole in the wall that was meant for a chimney! So next time your coming through Hancock County, stop by the Vardy Community and hear a tale or two about the mystery and heritage of the Melungeons of Newman’s Ridge! HomeThe RetreatThe MarketRiver Place OutfittersCafeCabin RentalsPlan Your TripAbout Us RECENT BLOG POSTS Look for us on Facebook! Calling all Campers! Clinch River Fish Off Fall Fun Fest at River Place on the Clinch New Quilt Squares at River Place Plan your Spring Float at River Place New Hours at River Place on the Clinch NRCS Makes Conservation Plans for 2009 Making a Difference on Make a Difference Day 2008 World Festivals of the Dead Make a Difference Day in Kyles Ford Come Overhome for a Bluegrass Concert Vardy School and Mahala Mullins Cabin Guided Tours Canoes Now Available for Rental Upcoming Overhome Events Moonshining Rooster Stained Glass Window Spotted at River Place Kyles Ford artists expanding operation Bicycling Safety on Country Roads Deck & Party Barn IV. Unmanaged Recreation III. Loss of Open Space II. Invasive Species I. Finding the forest for the trees Protecting Wild Ginseng The Magic Cicada In Loving Memory of Jimmy Martin Mother's Day Out at River Place Cafe Stewardship--The Solution for What Ails Ye Historical Preservation Before and After Snapshots Barn Raising Along the Clinch Clinch River Conservation Center & Retreat Opening & Earth Day Event The Impact of Coal on the Clinch Spicy, Southern-Style Breaded & Baked Wild Fowl Recipe Community Heroes Create Conservation Easements River Place Featured on Tennessee's Wild Side Forget to stop for roses? Raise your Mountain Dews High RAISE YOUR MOUNTAIN DEWS HIGH Thursday, 31 January 2008 00:00 And toast to the most famous moonshiner in East Tennessee history: Mahala Haley Mullins. The tales were that she was a Melungeon who lived on the Tennessee-Virginia border... And toast to the most famous moonshiner in East Tennessee history: Mahala Haley Mullins. The tales were that she was a Melungeon who lived on the Tennessee-Virginia border and when the Tennessee officials came for her, she moved around to the Virginia side of the house and then when the Virginia officials came for her, she moved over to the Tennessee side of the house, always evading arrest. Other tales say she couldnt leave the house to go with the police if she wanted to. One newspaper at the time reported her weighing 690 lbs. and claimed she told the officials flat out, “Why don’t you do your duty? I’ve been selling moonshine right along. Goin to do it ag’in too, soon’s you uns gits out er sight. Why don’t yon take me: I’m all yourn–about 700 pounds of me. Take me along with you now.” Since she would not fit through the door, there she stayed until age seventy-five, selling moonshine all the while. If youve never heard of Hancock’s local folk hero, Haley Mullins before, youre probably asking yourself, is any of this true? Thats a good question. And thats just how it starts. There are many stories associated with the Melungeon community in Hancock County, Tennessee that draw people in and start em diggin for the truth here at the Hancock County library and historical society, at the state archives, or online. Haley Mullins lived all her life on Newmans Ridge near Vardy, Tennessee and her home has been lovingly restored by the Vardy Historical Society. If youre one of the hundreds of thousands of descendants of East Tennessee pioneers who share a connection to this place somewhere down their family line, why not come visit Hancock County to get in touch with those Appalachian roots? Even if you’re not a descendant or at least not a genealogy buff, what better way to explore the stories of the past than to come to the very place where they occurred? Cant promise youll find moonshine in the hills but youll definitely find a Mountain Dew at River Place on the Clinch Market in Kyles Ford. Plus cabins and just about anything else you might need for your stay. Theres plenty to do in East Tennessee but Hancock County has something special youre just not going to find anywhere else HomeThe RetreatThe MarketRiver Place OutfittersCafeCabin RentalsPlan Your TripAbout Us RECENT BLOG POSTS Look for us on Facebook! Calling all Campers! Clinch River Fish Off Fall Fun Fest at River Place on the Clinch New Quilt Squares at River Place Plan your Spring Float at River Place New Hours at River Place on the Clinch NRCS Makes Conservation Plans for 2009 Making a Difference on Make a Difference Day 2008 World Festivals of the Dead Make a Difference Day in Kyles Ford Come Overhome for a Bluegrass Concert Vardy School and Mahala Mullins Cabin Guided Tours Canoes Now Available for Rental Upcoming Overhome Events Moonshining Rooster Stained Glass Window Spotted at River Place Kyles Ford artists expanding operation Bicycling Safety on Country Roads Deck & Party Barn IV. Unmanaged Recreation III. Loss of Open Space II. Invasive Species I. Finding the forest for the trees Protecting Wild Ginseng The Magic Cicada In Loving Memory of Jimmy Martin Mother's Day Out at River Place Cafe Stewardship--The Solution for What Ails Ye Historical Preservation Before and After Snapshots Barn Raising Along the Clinch Clinch River Conservation Center & Retreat Opening & Earth Day Event The Impact of Coal on the Clinch Spicy, Southern-Style Breaded & Baked Wild Fowl Recipe Community Heroes Create Conservation Easements River Place Featured on Tennessee's Wild Side Forget to stop for roses? Raise your Mountain Dews High RAISE YOUR MOUNTAIN DEWS HIGH Thursday, 31 January 2008 00:00 And toast to the most famous moonshiner in East Tennessee history: Mahala Haley Mullins. The tales were that she was a Melungeon who lived on the Tennessee-Virginia border... And toast to the most famous moonshiner in East Tennessee history: Mahala Haley Mullins. The tales were that she was a Melungeon who lived on the Tennessee-Virginia border and when the Tennessee officials came for her, she moved around to the Virginia side of the house and then when the Virginia officials came for her, she moved over to the Tennessee side of the house, always evading arrest. Other tales say she couldnt leave the house to go with the police if she wanted to. One newspaper at the time reported her weighing 690 lbs. and claimed she told the officials flat out, “Why don’t you do your duty? I’ve been selling moonshine right along. Goin to do it ag’in too, soon’s you uns gits out er sight. Why don’t yon take me: I’m all yourn–about 700 pounds of me. Take me along with you now.” Since she would not fit through the door, there she stayed until age seventy-five, selling moonshine all the while. If youve never heard of Hancock’s local folk hero, Haley Mullins before, youre probably asking yourself, is any of this true? Thats a good question. And thats just how it starts. There are many stories associated with the Melungeon community in Hancock County, Tennessee that draw people in and start em diggin for the truth here at the Hancock County library and historical society, at the state archives, or online. Haley Mullins lived all her life on Newmans Ridge near Vardy, Tennessee and her home has been lovingly restored by the Vardy Historical Society. If youre one of the hundreds of thousands of descendants of East Tennessee pioneers who share a connection to this place somewhere down their family line, why not come visit Hancock County to get in touch with those Appalachian roots? Even if you’re not a descendant or at least not a genealogy buff, what better way to explore the stories of the past than to come to the very place where they occurred? Cant promise youll find moonshine in the hills but youll definitely find a Mountain Dew at River Place on the Clinch Market in Kyles Ford. Plus cabins and just about anything else you might need for your stay. Theres plenty to do in East Tennessee but Hancock County has something special youre just not going to find anywhere else.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 07:32:08 +0000
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