As I look around at our world my heart breaks for all we have lost. Our children won't know the beauty of these humble but rich lives. I feel our generation is starving for home, love, community and decency. Thank you for sharing this. My heart is warmed and deeply touched

Boy, John McCaulley was sharp as a tack just before he died. What a treasure trove of info. he gave in this interview. Thank you for that story.

John was my great great grandpa ❤️ I have this recording and lots of family photos. I am proud of the people they were and we still all are. Cades cove is a special place to me and I’m lucky to live just down the rd from it.

I sure bet Mr McCaulley wasnt expecting his interview to still be heard and listened too 62 years later. Thanks Mr Laws for sharing this. Ive subscribed to yours videos for several years and have watched so many of them. Im only in my 30s, but I wished we still lived this way. I love how close these families were and the heart each of them had. Thanks again.

Well, that brought tears to my eyes. Such a matter-of-fact recount of history but told with heart. I especially liked when he told how they took care of each other. I am sure there were hard times but he did not dwell there. It sounds like a wonderful place to have grown up. I long for that kind of community today. Thank you for sharing this gem with us!

Stories about remarkable people like this makes me proud to be a "hillbilly" from the Appalachian mountains. My generation needs to preserve these traditions and stories, even our accent is dying. We've been the butt of a lot of tasteless jokes for decades but it doesn't say anything about us as much as them! At 31 I definitely feel more connected to my heritage than ever especially in these trying times. Some people still have the mindset of "love thy neighbor" especially in our culture. We came from generations of tough, savvy, resilient people. Pioneers, coal miners, many also from native people and former slaves. Nobody will ever make me feel ashamed of my culture.

This is one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. Oh my, when he said 'no idee' i got tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. It was like standing in my Grandparents house listening to them talk. I forgot they said Idee for Idea...until I heard him. How I would love to go back to some of those moments long past just for a little while. This man is THE example of God intended us to be. If anything lost from the past that is so desperately needed today, it was how the loved and helped one another. This is beautiful. Thank you Donny, Thank you to the family for sharing your loved one and reminding us there was a precious, kind time.. Not that far past. Maybe, just maybe, this will instill these values in those listening and we can learn to live and love like Mr John and his people did. Like our people did. Thank you Donny.. This was AMAZING. Be blessed my friend.. Thank you for keeping these times alive. You honor our heritage and families well.

Donnie, this is such a priceless treasure. Many thanks to the McCulley family and to you for sharing this recording. I heard him say $20 for 100# of honey. When I was a beekeeper, my honey went for about $2.30/# in 2000 era. Now I pay a much higher price for local honey. Life was easy because they looked after one another; Oh how I wish we could be like that today!

I work in Aged Care and absolutely love listening to our residents life stories. It's so much better listening to the people telling THEIR stories rather than reading it in a history book. It gives you a better understanding of how things really were. Love this video

Donnie you've had a bunch of good videos and this one ranks near the top. We could learn a lot from these folks. I don't know how we've declined so much in such a short time. This man knew everybody in the cove and we don't know 10 people in our subdivisions and can't trust some of them. It's really a shame.

Mr. McCulley was quite a treasure and sharp as a tack! I have all of the Foxfire books that I treasure because of all of these country secrets. Thank you Donnie for sharing! The pair of socks for Winter was a great story.

To hear the voice of a man born 1800's and died 60 years ago was amazing, hearing what life was like , I just loved every minute of it. What a simple honest life , he was blessed. Thank you for bringing this to life. I live in Australia and will probable never get to see these places in life. You bring them so much to life. Bless you.

What a wonderful man he was!! Such an honest, hardworking, kind and humble man! Thank you so much for sharing this with us Donnie! I truly enjoyed it! God bless!

My grandfather was the doctor in Cades Cove around the turn of the century, Dr Thomas McGill. I so enjoyed listening to this, hearing stories from that time in history. Thank you for putting this together.

This made my heart ache to the point of tears for simpler times. I’ve been to Cades Cove many times without knowing any of it’s history. I live in the Appalachian mountains. The only things we needed from the grocery store were sugar, coffee, salt and pepper. Most communities were just like this even as recent at the 1970’s. I was only a child in the 70’s but I can remember people looking after the elderly. Not much need for nursing homes. Everyone helping their neighbors. Lord help us now.

Donnie thank you for sharing especially the interview with Mr. McCulley. That is a national treasure.

Rest easy Mr. McCaulley! Your work on this earth made a difference in this world. I’m very happy that I was able to hear a bit of your life story. Why can’t people be this way now, work hard, help your neighbors & just be a good human being? Imagine the world we’d be a part of. Times may have been hard, but Mr. McCAulley and people like him lived a rich life beyond measure.

This is an absolute treasure! It should be played in a museum. I'm in Knoxville and have hiked the Smokies my whole life. Love your channel!

I’m crying as I watch this video. Lovely, just lovely. Makes me homesick for a place I’ve never been.

I have such respect for all our ancestors in our great USA. These people were hardworking and took care of their fellow man. Beautiful story and you are a fantastic storyteller Donnie. This interview was fascinating. What a wonderful man Mr. McCully was . I would have loved to have known him.RIP. ✌️❤️

My husbands great great grandfather was Big Will Walker. Big Will was raised in the Cove but later moved to Walker Valley…now known as Tremont. He’s in all the history books you’ll find in the visitors center and his claim to fame is having 37 kids lol. He used to stay in the valley and do handyman work while the husbands of all the ladies in the valley went to Maryville and Knoxville to work. Hence the 37 kids by a whole lot of women. My own favorite story of the Cove was when I was a little girl and me and my friend rode our bikes around the loop while our parents were back at the campground. I met Kermit Caughron that day…he still lived in the Cove and I’m pretty sure he was the last to leave. They tore his house down…it was back up behind the Lawson Place. Kermit kept bees and he let me help him that day with his bees and one other time after that. I even got to wear one of those screened hats of his. I’ve loved bees ever since. He was nice to me…a kid doesn’t forget that. He wasn’t part of any tourist attraction sort of things…it was just me, him, and my friend up by the barn working with his bees. Every time I pull through the gate I look to the left over the horse field at that big horse shoe shape on the mountain. That’s Kermit’s Horseshoe…it was his favorite part of the Cove. I’ve spent a lot of my life up there…we’re from Townsend and we were as poor as dirt when our 3 boys were kids. They never even realized it though. They had such a good time riding their bikes down to the river and sitting in the woods with bears when they were kids that they tell me today they had no idea we were poor people. I love your videos and the things they make me think of. I love them with all my heart.

What an amazing story!!! I was raised to know and believe CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME, in our own neighborhoods, communities, towns, cities and states NOT halfway around the world first and your own countrymen LAST. John McCulley said the exact same thing, he just worded it differently. How can anyone in good conscience donate money to help people in other countries but ignore the people in need where they live? If people think, "Well, the is the US, surely someone will take care of the people here." I've got news - EACH ONE OF US IS THAT SOMEONE. If you do not help folks where you live but send donations everywhere else, why? This Nation, our home, is no different than any other country. We are only as strong as every American citizen combined. Any chain is only as strong as the weakest link in it; the very same is true of people. Abraham Lincoln once said that "A house divided can not stand". He wasn't wrong! Thanks so much for sharing this Donnie!!! ❤ I shared it on my Facebook News Feed as well! ~ APRIL LIPKE

Beautiful story. Most enjoyable. Thank you for sharing this.

I am in my late sixties and I remember my Grandparents talking about times like this in the Mountains of West Virginia. Grandpa and his sons had a Sawmill and built their own homes helping each other. I really enjoy your videos. I am glad I found your videos.

My heart jumped for joy. In the cemetery pic I saw my grandmother's family's name Sands. Thank you for sharing this!! Cades Cove is where my family is from. I've never been there, my grandmother moved to California. Some day soon I will be in Tennessee, where my sister lives. To walk where my ancestors walked. Again thank you!!!!

It's one thing to read about history, but to actually hear people from the distant past telling their stories directly adds a dimension that is really under appreciated. On some level, it also serves as a reminder of our own mortality and that one day, we will be looked upon as one of those "people from the distant past". Enjoy every day and live it to the fullest. Time is finite. Thank you for uploading this interview and for your channel in general.

Thank you for a beautiful video, Donnie! There is so much proud history in your country! No wonder many of the americans take such pride in it! I live in Denmark, and our story isn't nearly as defined as yours. Thank you for these beautiful presentations!

THANK YOU ! ❤ That was so TOUCHING... I love these old stories. They make me wish I could have lived there during those years, When neighbors were neighbors, your word meant something, Sunday School and church gatherings were a love festival, sharing the GOOD and bad times of all and when really HARD WORK FELT GOOD !!! ❤😍😘

I love it when he says "they had a big time". My momma talked that way. We're losing it day by day. Makes me sad. There's nothing better to me than listening to stories that those who came before me tell with such enthusiasm. Love the pictures! Thank you. God bless.

Hi Donnie, - This conversation with Mr. McCulley was a great find! I loved hearing him talk about the times back then and how people treated each other. So different today. His perspective on life was also very interesting - he had what he needed so life was fine. Thanks for the top-shelf video! You have outdone yourself- this video should be at the Library of Congress if it isn’t already. Thanks for all you do.

Cades Cove is absolutely gorgeous, the scenery is breathtaking.

Hello Donnie thanks for another great post. I don't know if you realise but your videos are very soothing in a world gone mad with corruption, depravity and of course greed $$$. God bless you and yours, Mr Donnie Laws...

WOW .....What a Wonderful Life he lived and the kindness he shared in his community that was probably one of the most BEAUTIFUL Stories of History I've ever had the pleasure of hearing Thank you Mr. Donnie...time's seen to be so simple back them 🐻🐾🐾

What a treat to hear this interview and hear his story! Thank u Donnie!

"As good a cow as I ever laid a bucket under." This whole interview made me smile. Thanks Donnie.

As a society we've made so much progress, but in the process we've lost so much more.

Thanx Mr Donnie for taking me on a trip back in time, which was the sweetest yrs I ever lived.

This recording is truly a treasure. Thanks for sharing.

I'm planning my first trip to Cades Cove in October (2024) and came across this wonderful history lesson. What a treat this audio exists.

I got married in 1999 and we went to Cades Cove on our honeymoon, ten years later God called my wife home. We both loved it down there and I'd sure like to go there again but I'm 78 years old and have some health problems so it probably isn't gonna happen. Thanks so much for sharing this.

that was very interesting to hear his story of life in Cade's Cove from his original interview

Such a neat interview Donnie ....everyone in that cove was like family even if they weren't related....they looked after each other cradle to grave...Thank you for the video Brother.

Phenomenal! This is 2022, and I’m listening to a man who was born before the 19th century!

Thanks for sharing! I wrote a poem once about the happiness I felt of just being poor, but we had plenty to eat, clothes on our back, and a roof over our head. My dad was content, we were God fearing people and he would say what else does anyone need, we have plenty! How right he was!

Wow, Donnie. You're absolutely right about sharing a treat. That was awesome. Mr. McCulley reminds me of my late father. He was born in 1929 in Ashland, Kentucky and passed December of 2021, still in Ashland. I have heard many sermons based on what Mr. McCulley was living out. Love your neighbor, treat others as you want to be treated, take care of widows and orphans, don't let those in need go without, etc. Great video. I think it's my favorite so far, though they have all been good. Thank you so much for sharing this interview!

I'm from North GA near the Appalachian Trail. I've been to Cades Cove and the Smokies. So many stories from that area. Its rich in the culture of our Scot Irish people.

Thanks again Donnie that was special. what a life.

Thank you, Donnie. My husband and I love this video. Many blessings, God bless. ❤

I really enjoy listening to this interview. It sounds a lot like the stories my grandmother used to tell about her life in NE Alabama. They worked hard, but had a good life. Thank you for sharing Mr. Donnie!

My mom told me I could get married in a Cades Cove church if I wanted since we have Tiptons in our lineage. I opted for a Knoxville church. But my cousin was doubly eligible. She was a Tipton who married a Gregory! We love Cades Cove and pray it remains for my child and grandchildren to enjoy. I'm new to your channel. I love it! Thank you so much for this wonderful treat! Your picture choices were perfect! One of the Wagon reminded me of my grandmother, "Mammaw," who met Pappaw at singing school, decided to get married, wore a hat and her best dress, rode in a buckboard to the grocery store where the grocer/justice of the peace married them in 1920.

My late wife and I visited Cades Cove usually twice a year for almost 20 years. Visiting the old cabins, churches and cemetaries took us back in time to a simpler, self sufficient way of life. Wonderful interview with Mr. McCaully... thank you...

Loved hearing this interview. It was as if you were stepping back in time. What a wonderful attitude he had regarding the life he and his family lived. He was thankful for all that he had. I loved that all the people worked together and helped one another. We need to have that same sense of community to get us though the days I feel we have ahead of us.

What he thought as of a good life today's generation couldn't handle it, a story that definitely deserves to be told thanks Donnie. I also wanted to say he seamed like such a kind and generous man thanks again Donnie great story

Such a lovely story; peacefully living in the cove. The abundance of the land feeding all those generations of family. Thank you McCaulley for sharing your beautifully rich heritage with the world.

I love the way the narrator talks. And no it’s not just the sweet southern accent. It’s his calm soft voice and a way of saying things and stories.

What a wonderful video! We enjoyed it so much, hearing the gentleman tell about his life in Cade’s Cove. Thank you for your interesting videos. We appreciate you so much.

Thank you from my heart. I loved and enjoyed this all heart. I go to Cades Cove every time I go to the mountains. I found my grandfather grave in Maggie Valley. I love listening to anything I can about the people from the Cove or the mountains.

“A funeral for $2 or $200.” I have a small home just down the road from Townsend, on the Little River, toward Maryville. My people were from just off the Hiwassee River, in Calhoun, Bradley County, TN. Mr. MacCaulley’s speaks very much like my grandparents and their friends, reminds me of my early days. Folks helped one another. Just buried my little sister, last week. It cost a bit more, now. I bought my place because I enjoy visiting Cades Cove and the Smokies. This recording is a precious blessing. Thank you for sharing.

We have a dear friend in Maryville who’s a McCulley descendant. Her granddad was Dr. McCulley who provided care for the early families in the Maryville area & surrounding communities.

I so enjoy hearing about history from you Mr. Donnie. And thank you for the breathtaking views of the gorgeous mountains. Just beautiful!

"I was borned in Cades Cove in 18 and 80". I remember people commonly talking like that. My own father was borned only 25 year later. 'and' was always used in the date. I remember seeing a gravestone in a cemetery that was crudely carved out by hand. It had the word 'borned' carved into it. It was an ordinary flat rock to serve as a marker for the grave of a young girl. I can imagine a father laboring to inscribe the stone the best he could, out of love for his daughter.

This family is amazing. Mr. John McCaulley was a hard worker his whole life like his daddy. He learned so much from his father. Love this interview. A good neighbor, and did a variety of tasks helping others. Like making coffins for free. A very godly man.

Watching this video makes my heart feel heavy. I can only imagine if people today still lived by the biblical principels, morals & values of life as men/women of Mr. McCaulley's generation where they truly Loved thy neighbor. What a wonderful world it would be today. "United we stand, divided we fall." Thank you for sharing this beautiful historic interview. 🙏❤️ 🇺🇲

Thank you brother for that one. That's my area of the hills I miss so much. Those people had a value way above this world now. Hearing him say, we cared for one another, we helped one another and we worked for one another. That's living a useful life.

You know when it's good when you have folks commenting it brought tears to their eyes and lump in throat . It leaves us with such a longing almost painful feeling to be back where life was when people cared and helped one another and you could count on your neighbors. Oh to just to stand in some of these homesteads would be so beautiful and sad, it would bring me to my knees

How wonderful to hear first hand about life in Cade's Cove. I feel a bit sad it had to end for all those people and now it's for tourists. Thank you for an educational, interesting and insightful post. ❣️

I had an Aunt that lived to be 2 months short of 104 & passed in 2016. She started out on a homestead Farm in rural New Brunswick Canada 🇨🇦. She lived in Flushing New York raised a family there & retired to Rhode Island then spent her last years in Brighton & Monroe Michigan. I loved to listen to her life history too.

Great to hear this history! Thank you, Donnie! God bless you! 🤗♥️

Yes Sir , we still take care of our own in the coal region of the Appalachian Trail my friend . What a pleasure to hear these stories and know it goes back to communication at Sunday School , thank you very much for posting this ! God is still good 😊

Thank you for sharing. Mr. McCauley sounds JUST LIKE my Grandad💗 Stayed with my Grandparents a lot, during childhood and adulthood, I shared in the care of both when they got old. My Grandparents were great story tellers and I loved to listen!! The same morals and standards and "love thy neighbor" practice was handed down and distilled in me. I thank God for my Grandparents and their love and life lessons that has made me who I am.💗🙏💗

Mr McCulley,sure sounds like a fellar I'd like to sit down with and share some time with. Thanks Donnie for sharing the interview with us of Mr.McCulley and his Home in Cades Cove,what a real treat. God Bless and have a Good Evening 🙂.

Hey Donnie, I enjoy every episode you make. But this one was special. That interview with Mr McCaulley was so informative. I could hear my grand parents talking again. Thanks for all you do Wes

Love history Donnie I remember my grandfather and my mom telling when they moved from Illinois to the Missouri ozarks it was a long trip in a wagon back then Thank you for the memories again Donnie God-bless you look forward to the next one

Can't tell you how much I enjoyed this bit of Smoky Mtn. history. Even during the Great Depression these good people were shielded from hard times and took care of each other. I pray one day we can return to.

Thank you so much for sharing, Mr Donnie. This interview is such a treasure, and so are you, sir. God Bless you and your family. 😘💋😍❤️☮️✨

My Granny and her family came from Cades Cove they were Garlands, she met my Grandad and moved couple hrs away in NC. Cades Cove has always been a special place to me and my family ❤️

This is so interesting. I love pioneer history. Have done genealogy research on my families for 40 years.

This was so lovely to here the stories of yester years pls keep bringing them to life again I love things like this I'm from shrewsbury UK Thank you

Thank you, Donnie, for sharing these priceless pictures and Mr. McCaulley's story. Getting to hear the way his life was lived from his own words is a treasure! A history that should not be forgotten! How much better life would be lived if we all cared for and looked after one another now like they did back then. ❤

I love these stories and how you tell them. TY☺️

Love Cades Cove, great story, thanks, Donnie

Love Cades Cove....Been going there since 1969 and i am 58 years old....When i went there when in elementary school nobody was there.Great movie Mr Law ...Thank you..

I watch this about a year ago. Incredible history, enjoy the just as much the second time. Sheridan with some friends. John McCauley was a heck of a human being. Smart people to have the sense, to record this gentleman.

This is where my Father and all of his family grew up. They were there until at least the 60’s. My Grandfather Nathan Everett work at the CC camp. Some of these people mentioned were my family too. So much beautiful memories. ❤️ My Father’s homestead if the barn still set’s on the National Park. I don’t think a one of us would know how to live like they did. ❤️

Such a lovely video. Wonderful story, it sure would be nice to back to those times when family's and neighbors stuck together for survival and fun etc. Thank you Donnie for sharing this and also to the McCulley family. Just Beautiful.

Thank you for a great story! My grandmothers people lived up in the mountains a few generations ago. Her dad bought a farm in the Alder branch area (late 1800’s I think)close to some of the Catlett family (Bob Catlett). I begged her for more stories as I grew up and until she passed. They were a great people. Wish I knew more.

Donnie has done a great portion to preserve our history. Man alive it takes money time and study to do this stuff but if somebody didn't do it it would be lost forever thank you Donnie thank you very much

Thank you for the history on Cades Cove Donnie that's always been one of my favorite pieces of Earth. Have a great day and stay safe and keep you tired of dry and may God bless!

Wow! What an interview. That how it was in the old days. It’s a shame the government came in and bought them out. I really love the way he talked about the range cattle. Can’t wait to to share this with my husband. Thanks Donnie

I LOVE YOUR KZfaq CHANNEL! My first trip to THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK was in 1963 and I was in High School in Miami Florida then. I fell in love with those beautiful mountains and the wonderful people that lived there. I somehow knew that one day I would be living there and now we are! After living in Miami for over 60 years it was time to move to our real home Tennessee. I am now 77 years old and my only regret is that I we waited so long to move here! My wife of over 55 years and my 2 daughters are now officially resident of the great state of TENNESSEE for over 12 years now. I will be happy to be buried here and become part of the area that I love so much…IT’S GOOD TO BE HOME AT LAST!🙏❤️🙏 I

Those were salt of earth good godly people. We could learn a lot from times gone by. Thanks for the great content Donnie 😊

That’s Donnie, what a great story. Really enjoyed hearing about how the families looked out for each other.

Oh my goodness! Mr. McCaulley brought back so many memories of my ancestors. He was an hones, hard working, wonderful family man who told it like it was in his life. Families then worked together as a unit in those days unlike many families today. I would have loved to have met this gentleman. Thank you Donnie for this wonderful awesome video,. I love oral history. When I was a college professor who taught Social Studies Methods for Elementary School, one of the students' assignments was to complete an oral history project with someone over 60 years old. They had a choice of topics based on the experiences of the people chosen to interview. It was my very favorite assignment.

I just moved out here to East TN recently. Visiting Cades cove was a great experience. I like learning about the history from your videos, thanks for making them. Mr. McChauley reminds me of one of my neighbors, he's an older man, salt of the earth, kind as can be and always wanting to help. It's a great culture out here.

A wonderful story of simpler times, where folks enjoy country life. Thanks for a reminder of when we helped our families and neighbors. A bountiful area with crops, wildlife and the natural beauty.

This was fantastic, Donnie. We loved it so much. Thank you for this and for all your videos! We always watch every one. This reminded me of the Foxfire documentaries...I think it was in the 70's...I could listen to people tell these stories all day.

it's sad they made all these families leave. i know when they built the blue ridge parkway here they had to leave or they sent in the pinkertons and you left or were killed. thank you for this video. you take care, be safe and well.

That's great video there Mr Donnie. I sure did enjoy that one. I would sure have loved to meet Mr McCulley and his family. That was a fine fellow there my friend. Tending to all the burials and all. I want to thank you again Mr Donnie, sure do appreciate you my friend. Be safe and cool with the heat

That was awesome . So much history, and that's how my parents were raised, but in Kansas. I was raised the same way, to help where and when I could, and over 60 years later, I'm still that way. Thank you so much for sharing this Donnie. ❤️

Donnie, you really outdid yourself with this one! I love all your videos and always look forward to them but this one has to be my favorite. Thank you for sharing that old interview and your hard work on making these videos!