LONESOME HISTORIC SITE

2006 TN-96  •  Burns, TN 37029  •  615-804-5851

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The Lonesome Cabin
Built circa 1819 as a wedding present for William Green Austin (1790-1876) and his bride Delilah “Dicy” Horner Austin, The Lonesome Cabin is a prime example of how a pioneer log dwelling changed over time.  Originally two separate log pens with a “dog trot” breezeway between a living area and kitchen, the original kitchen was removed circa 1890 and replaced with a new frame kitchen wing to utilize the new technology of a cast-iron wood stove.  Eventually, the cabin made the transition from a full-time dwelling to family retreat center and was further modified in 1960 to add the screened porch and indoor plumbing.  Lonesome Historic Site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021.  Keeping historic standards in mind, The Lonesome Cabin underwent restoration work in 2022-23 to replace rotten logs, the roof, and repair siding on the kitchen and porch.