Connor Toll House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Connor Toll House
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| Location | 4212 Anderson Pike, Signal Mountain, Tennessee |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1858 |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001273 |
| Added to NRHP | August 22, 1977 |
Imagine a really old log cabin that played a big part in history! The Connor Toll House is one such special place. It's a historic log cabin located near Signal Mountain, Tennessee. This important building is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's officially recognized for its historical value.
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A Home Built in 1858
The Connor Toll House was built in 1858 by a man named James C. Connor. James Connor had moved from North Carolina to Hamilton County, Tennessee, back in 1842. In 1847, he and George Rogers received 1,000 acres of land on Walden's Ridge. This land was given to them by James's father-in-law, Elisha Rogers. James and his wife, Kizzah, moved their family to Walden's Ridge in July 1858. Soon after, they built this very house.
Civil War Connections
During the American Civil War, the Connor Toll House became a secret message center for the Union army. Soldiers used flashes of fire to send messages from Chattanooga to Signal Point. From there, the message was relayed across Walden's Ridge. Then, another fire flash sent it to Jasper in the Sequatchie Valley.
The land around the Connor House also helped the army in another way. It was a place to rest tired or sick horses and mules. These animals were too exhausted to keep pulling people and supplies up the steep sides of Walden's Ridge. A special pen, called a corral, was built nearby in October 1863. Reports say that by November 1863, nearly 1,500 mules had stayed there!
The Toll Road Story
The Connor Toll House was also important for travel across Walden's Ridge. For many years, the "W" Road was the only good way to get from Chattanooga up to Walden's Ridge. This road was a toll road, meaning people had to pay to use it. Before the Civil War, the toll gate was at Elisha Rogers's home, which was the first house at the top of the road.
After the war, the toll gate moved to the Connor Toll House. It was located on Anderson Pike and stayed there until 1892. This means the Connor family collected money from travelers for many years!
James Connor's Public Service
Besides running the toll gate, James Connor was a busy man. He served in the Tennessee General Assembly, which is like the state's government. He also worked three terms as the sheriff of Hamilton County. A sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer for a county.
Members of the Connor family lived in the house until 1975. In 1976, the Walden's Ridge Historical Association bought and restored the house. It was then listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, recognizing its important history.
