"Playtime at the Rebecca Cable House" In Cades Cove

“Playtime at the Rebecca Cable House” in Cades Cove by Steve Norris A Smoky Mountain mother has her paws full with two active and curious young ones that find every reason to play. Winter is just weeks away, and much foraging for food and the building of a winter den is on the mother bear’s mind. One half-grown cub chases a redbird while the other lags behind. Any modern mother can relate to such frustrations. But, as any visitor to Cades Cove already knows, fall in the Smokies is a time for optimistic expectations and for building happy memories. This painting took more hours to complete than any other painting that Steve has done. It is hoped that this beautiful work of art will become one of his top sellers for years to come. Water from the old Cable Mill nearby was used to complete this acrylic painting. The original size is 24” by 48” on canvas. Presently, the prints for this painting have been cropped down to fit standard size frames as shown here; the same as all the other Masters Editions paintings. Please check the Pricing Information page for available sizes and costs. Soon, prints will be available in the panoramic version as shown on the first Masters Editions page. Keep visiting this website for updates on these wide prints. This house was originally built on an acre of land on the old Forge Creek Road in 1879 owned by Leason Gregg. It was just a short hike from the visitor center area in Cades Cove. It is believed that this is the first all-frame house built in the cove. Its lumber was sawed at the Cable Mill. In 1887, Rebecca Cable and her brother Dan bought the house and the acre their father had sold to Gregg eight years earlier. They operated a store there for about eight years before selling their stock of merchandise after which they used the house as a residence and boarding house. After Dan and his wife became ill, Rebecca began taking on the responsibilities of rearing his children, running the boarding house, and taking care of the farm and cattle-raising chores. She lived a long and successful life. She owned more than 600 acres of land. She died in 1940 at the age of 96. A few years later the house was moved from its original site to its present location at the visitor center in Cades Cove in the setting shown here.