Hey CF,
I didn't know you were such a big fan of the gulf. My driveway is part of the original Stagecoach Rd. When I was a child I would walk down it (south toward Chattanooga) to my Grandparents house. There is a large flat sandstone outcropping in front of the house where the depot was situated. The roadbed is clearly visible for most of the two miles or so coming out of the head of the gulf. The Savage family(s) moved here from NC in the mid 1800s. They were Brandiers by trade and utilized the climate to produce mainly the apple variety. Some of the old trees still reside on the farm. Most, including some reported extinct varieties have been regrafted / budded over the years from original stock by my father, his father, and his father. After much persistence, my uncle found someone who could settle a matter, which had eluded us for almost a century. Why did the Post Office and later the community, became known as Gage (as per early 1900 maps). "That's where they kept it." the old curmudgeon responded. "Kept what?" said a bewildered uncle. "Why, the gage!" as if this somehow brought it all together. The brandiers(licensed) and moonshiners alike were quite particular about their product and the community shared one specific-gravity-meter used to measure the "proof" or percentage of alcohol in the local exports. It apparently belonged to the community, to be borrowed and returned to the P.O. for many years. Anyway, I didn't mean to write a novel. Let's get together some time and I will show you a few points of interest. My grandmother still possesses the original land grant written to Sterling Savage in 1860 (at least I think that was the year and the Savage). The faded document (still quite legible though now under lock and key) bears the signature of Sam Houston, then governor of Tennessee. One of the few remaining points of interest is a cemetery complete with unknown confederate soldier. Witnesses told of a regiment coming through, probably from one of the battles around Chatt., digging a grave, performing a short ceremony, firing off an unspecified number of rounds, and leaving without so much as a "How do you do?" to the locals. Hard times indeed. - - Man! I really should have sent a candy-gram. Instead, you have my little piece of Americana. js

That's great stuff Joe! The reason I got interested in the gulf wasn't really the scenery (though it's excellent see the Gallery for proof all you skeptics) it was the history. I saw mention of the Stagecoach Road in a trail book that a friend has and decided I'd like to hike out there someday... I still haven't. We'll have to get together, like you say. I might be visiting Dunlap this weekend actually. You can email me for details.

Oh, and how do you fit into the Savage line? I have a Sterling Savage in the genealogy section. He's located here:

http://www.pr3d4t0r.com/roots/getperson.php?personID=I3357&tree=Main

Hey Guys!

Unfortunately, I need to let ya'll know that the Hike-about site as well and the selling of hiking DVD's associated with the South Cumberland State Park was an unsuccessfule venture. However that has not squelched my interest in the history of the Gulf and especially, the Old Stagecoach Road. I would love to get permission to come out and visit Casey sometime for conversation and exploring.

Is there a map available that shows the entire route of this historic road from Chattanooga to McMinville? I know there was a stage coach station at the foot of the plateau in Myers cove near McMinville in what would now be in between HWY 56 and HWY 8. I don't know if this was part of the stagecoach road or not. I also know there is a story that one of the Trail of Tears detachements stopped at this stage coach station on their way down off the plateau and then proceeded through McMinnville on their way through Nashville and on into Hopkinsville, KY, etc. I also know that Taylors detachment ascended the plateau from the Sequatchie Valley in the area of Dunlap. I also know that a detachment came by Cardwell Mountain and crossed the Collins River at Shells Ford, and that the leader preached at the Baptist Church there, and that there are some Cherokees buried there who died along the way. My mission is to try to put all these pieces together. Thanks for your help.

Jim Schroeder