Shook House Museum
Historic Research,
Interpretation & Restoration
(Click on each photo to view a high-resolution version.)
The Shook-Smathers House, built by Jacob Shook, a Revolutionary War veteran, is one of the oldest standing structures in Haywood County, dating back to 1810-1820. It is believed to be the oldest frame structure still standing west of the Blue Ridge.
The project goal was to stabilize and preserve significantly representative areas from the historic periods of its construction and renovations, so that each could be interpreted for the visitor. Through a great deal of architectural “detective work,” historic assessment of finishes, and the good fortune of finding a key historic image, Mathews Architecture was able to return missing components to the house and allow for a full and rich historic experience. The house has operated as a museum since its opening in June of 2006.
According to Jane Mathews, “In the beginning, the Shook house was wrapped in aluminum siding; but, through our work, we were able to identify four periods of construction. The original two-story, 3- or 4-room house was constructed of pegged heavy timber framing with wide beaded plank board siding on the walls and ceilings. In the mid to latter part of the 1800s the house was expanded to one side and a Victorian period porch wrapped around two sides of the original house. A third period came sometime in the early 1900s when the rear of the house was expanded to enlarge the kitchen and dining room and add a bath and bedroom upstairs. This addition took on details and finishes of the Arts & Crafts style popular at the time. The final work on the house came sometime after the 1960s when thin interior paneling was installed throughout much of the house, aluminum siding added to cover the lapped wood siding, and the ornate detail of the porches were reduced to down to a simple metal railing.”
The Clyde community had long sought to rescue the house, knowing its historical significance to the area. Oral tradition says that Francis Asbury, the first Methodist Bishop consecrated in North America, spoke in the Chapel established in the 3rd floor attic of the house.
It was Dr. Joseph Hall of Washington, DC, a descendant of Jacob Shook, who stepped forward to purchase the house and work with Mathews Architecture to restore the house and create a museum that, today, illuminates an important part of western North Carolina’s early history.
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The Shook-Smathers House, before restoration commenced. |
Detail of the second floor porch showing the failing structural beams and the historically out-of-character metal railing.
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The Shook House after restoration.
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A ramp was added to the exterior and a stair climber to the interior, so almost the entire museum is accessible to the handicapped.
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The Shook House living room, before historic research, interpretation and restoration.
The original wood plank walls were concealed by cheap wood paneling and the ceiling was covered with acoustical tile.
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The living room after its restoration. To display the many eras of the house, certain artifacts and remnants were left in place. The 1960s-era paneling was left in one corner to contrast against the original wide board planking immediately adjacent to it.
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When the paneling in the living room was removed, a window in the front wall was revealed.
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A special method was developed to display the window from the interior; but it was decided to leave the exterior unchanged.
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Much was revealed when the paneling was removed. “Shadows” against the wood wall planking in the living room revealed where the original stairs to the second floor were located.
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This is a detail photo of that corner taken soon after the stair details were revealed.
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The second floor room above the living room was modified to display how the stairs originally rose from below.
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This photo, taken before the restoration, shows the stairs from the second floor up to the 3rd floor attic “preaching room.” However, the corner where the first-to-second floor stairs were located had been covered up.
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The dining room fireplace and mantel before restoration.
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The dining room paneling before restoration.
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The dining room after restoration, with the Arts & Crafts Era design elements highlighted and enhanced.
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Another view of the dining room following restoration.
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The third floor attic “preaching room” restored to the character it possessed when Francis Asbury was reputed to preach there.
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A primitive lectern and log benches used for services.
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