Gwen’s Playhouse moved again! Saving History One Piece at a Time.

August 5, 2008 was a special day for Ruth Gwen Hubbard Sharp because her playhouse found a new home where it can be enjoyed by thousands as they come to visit the Smithsonian Affiliate Museum of Appalachia each year. Those “from around here” will reminisce about the joy and the sorrow that came with TVA. Others will get to experience a little girl’s playhouse built before electricity and other benefits of TVA came to the Tennessee Valley. Mr. John Rice Irwin, Founder and President of the Museum of Appalachia, accepted Gwen’s gift and continues to save our history one piece at a time.

Gwen’s father, the late James C. Hubbard, livestock trader/buyer and Union County Tax Assessor contracted Mr. Will Elkins to build the playhouse for his daughter, Ruth Gwen. This thoughtful father knew the trauma of even the thought of a little girl losing her favorite place to play, so when the time came for those living on the land or in the floodplain of the impoundment of the new Norris Dam in 1935, the Hubbards had to leave their old home in Old Loyston (now under the Loyston Sea widest section of Norris Lake). They were fortunate to find a new home not to far away on Hickory Valley Road in Union County, where the playhouse was gently placed on a knoll behind and to the right of the Hubbard’s new home. Gwen was eleven years old at the time of the move and remembers many of the events surrounding the coming of TVA. The old homeplace was near the George Ferguson Fox Store, and Gwen recalls there were four distinct roads laid out in the town of Loyston, which met at the intersection at Fox’s store. In 1957, during a drought, the waters of Norris Lake receded enough so that people could revisit and drive those streets again. In late 2007, I watched the news daily as the drought took the water down–as I understand it–to within about 20 feet of Old Loyston. As everyone else, I was glad for the drought to end but sorry that I did not get to see the town.

The Hubbards are still well remembered in this area. Mr. Hubbard broke his wrist when he was nine years old. The break was wrapped too tightly cutting off the circulation to his hand. Gangrene developed and he ultimately lost his right hand and arm to his shoulder. He had to retrain himself to write with his left, but the loss of his arm never hindered him being a successful person. At one time he was the Raleigh Products Representative for Union County, and for many years Union County Tax Assessor. I knew Mr. Hubbard and never heard anyone say they felt unfairly treated by him on their taxes. Mr. Hubbard also served for a time as a “Truant Officer” for the Union County School System. “Jim” married Flora Powers February 17, 1918. They had a daughter, Cecil Cornell Hubbard, who died at birth in l921. Cecil and Gwen were their only children. Both Jim and Flora were originally from Powell Valley. Jim’s mother was Ollie Yoakum of the well-known Claiborne County family. Gwen married Frederick Sharp in 1945.
She taught school in Union County for 35 years. They have one son, Fred L. Sharp, who lives with his family at Lawrenceville, Georgia.

I did not personally know Mrs. Hubbard, but I know her through the art work left in her beautiful quilts and in the domestic skills taught to Gwen. The quilting tradition was passed on to Gwen who has been recognized by her awards at various Quilt Shows.

Gwen was active in Homemakers and other community activities. She published a book of her poems, Just Passing Through, in 2000. Thank you, Gwen, for leaving some of your heritage for all who follow. We look forward to revisiting your playhouse in its new home. Sadly, Gwen has now passed away.