It all started in 1915 when an artist named Warren Wheelock- (Born:1880 - Sutton, Massachusetts Died: 1960 - Albuquerque, New Mexico). Known for: sculptor-abstraction, portrait) came to Linville Falls. Photo to the Left: Warren Wheelock in his his studio with models for General Frederich Von Stueben , Peter A. Juley & Son Collection, Smithsonian American Art Museum J0119394
Wheelock became a painter, sculptor, illustrator, teacher and writer. He was known for his direct carving of geometric shapes to create figures that were non objective, and he also did representational heroic portraits. Exhibition venues included the Corcoran Biennial, the Woodstock Art Association and the American Abstract Artists. He was well-enough known and respected to be referenced in articles in Life Magazine and the New York Times. An heroic bronze by Wheelock of Bronchiole von Steuben is still in Philadelphia.
According to the local historian in Linville Falls, Wheelock came to the community in the early part of the twentieth century. Prior to coming to NC he met Daisy Dean, a woman from Greenwood, SC at an event held in Woodstock, NY. He decided to build a cabin for Daisy and lived in the local schoolhouse until he completed the task in 1915.
They spent the summers in the cabin together and were joined by many of his artisan friends from around the country. The locals said they often set up tents on the property where they practiced their various art forms and the couple became quite the "buzz" in the little mountain village. Wheelock became an active member the community and even served as a teacher, doctor and undertaker while living in Linville Falls.
Guy Huskins purchased the property in 1937 from Warren Wheelock and Daisy Dean's son. The structure has been modified over the years but most of the interior is as it was originally 1915, including two fireplaces, blown glass windows and wormy chestnut paneling.
Guy built the original Linville Falls Lodge (1938) - two rooms at a time - to provide "services" for the "Civilian Conservation Core (CCC) Boys" who were building the Blue Ridge Parkway. Linville Falls had developed quite an active "night scene" during that era with 5 bars, illegal slot machines and free-flowing liquor...some legal and some not! In fact, the community, located in three counties, built a jailhouse for those who partied a little too much. The old jail was located in the basement of what is now the Linville Falls General Store. Prohibition changed the character of the community to the quiet, restful place it is today.
David H. Huskins inherited the property from Guy Huskins in 1970 and his son David Phillips Huskins purchased the property from his father in 1975.
The Wheelock Cabin now serves as the office for the Linville Falls Lodge and is the home of the current owners.