Trivia:
Six buildings are made of logs.
Four buildings are timberframe.

So you want to be a self-sufficient farmer in 1850?
What buildings do you need? How are the buildings at Exchange Place used?

The Preston House - a place to eat, sleep, birth babies, hold wakes, entertain guests, have spinning and quilting bees, host husking frolics - to name a few activities. The log house is an unusual “saddlebag style” with a central chimney. What represents the horse and the saddlebags?

The Springhouse - a source of water is essential to life - The house was built near a bold spring. The raceway where crocks of milk and cream are cooled is part of the dairy. Isn’t where you milk the cows, the "dairy”? Not in 1850!

The Cook's Cabin - The slave cabin is where the cook and her family live. Mr. Preston keeps a record of the births of the children of his cook, Mariah. Who sleeps on the corn shuck mats in the loft of this cabin?

The Granary - Each bin in this structure stores a different kind of ground grain; probably wheat and corn. Why does each bin have slats "to close the opening" rather than a door on hinges? What would happen if you open a door to a full bin of cornmeal?

The Store - John S. Gaines and his family lived at Exchange Place from 1816 until 1845. He started a store and established the post office of Eden's Ridge in 1831. How many families did the law require a post office to serve in 1831? Did he make a lot of money on the exchange rate between Virginia and Tennessee currency? What items did he sell in his store? Did Mr. Preston continue to run the store and become the postmaster after he bought Exchange Place? I must know where to get the mail!

The Blacksmith Shop - Mr. Gaines would not recognize this building in its present location. The original shop looked like this but stood about a half mile away. The blacksmith is essential for making and repairing many implements used on the farm. He also shoes the horses. Why does a blacksmith need a bellows? An anvil?

The Woodshed - This shed is post and beam construction. There is not a nail in the framework; it is held together with pegs. It is convenient to the buildings that use the most wood in their fireplaces. What other activity is the woodshed most associated?

The Log Barn - The barn is certainly the largest structure in the farm complex where most of the farm animals are housed, fed, and cared for. Barns are also used for the storage of hay and corn. Drying and rippling flax or flailing wheat and oats are other activities carried out in the shelter of the huge barn roof. Why is Mrs. Preston so protective of the flax crop? What is a flail? Do I need one?

"Exchanges" still take place today at the country store. Instead of exchanging currency, crafts made by local artisans may be purchased.

Exchange Place is open for tours
May through October and by special arrangement for hosting events.


For more information to join, contact:
Exchange Place
4812 Orebank Road
Kingsport, Tennessee 37664
423-288-6071

Step Into the 1850s.