Welcome to the Forbes-Luther Cabin, a circa 1938 cabin nestled down in the woods, set on 25+ acres ~ once the Livengood Plantation. "Sleepy Hollow" is the name given to this picturesque hide-away in southern Davie County, North Carolina. (The original log home may have been constructed in the mid-1800s, but the get-away home you see today was last updated in the 1930s.)
Proceed down the grassy trail past the massive log barn . . . and into the woods . . . to find the old log house. Then, get ready to step back in time in your new get-away-from-it-all home!
You will enter this picturesque cottage via a small entry porch and into the upper loft that houses three bedrooms and the home's single bath. Knotty pine walls throughout are a signature 1930s feature offering an embracing warmth.
A rustic staircase with fabulous log & twig balustrades, remarkably sturdy, takes you down to the vaulted Great Room ~ an incredible space crowned by the monumental 2-story stone fireplace ~ the Forbes-Luther Cabin’s centerpiece! The fireplace is outfitted with a wood-burning stove. More knotty pine walls envelope this wonderful room, sure to be a favorite gathering space.
Through a Dutch door, enter the expansive wrap-around enclosed screen porch overlooking your private pond and spillway to the creek below. All of the glass windows open to screens for the ultimate in fresh air living! The adjacent porch not only serves as an idyllic spot overlooking views of the nearby pond and creek spillway, but also does double-duty as a dining room. Around the ell of the porch, a charming seating area is warmed by a wood stove connected to the massive stone chimney. Beyond, park benches overlooking the pond offer a chance to listen to nothing but the breeze rustling the trees as the water trickles below.
Off the Great Room, a very rustic kitchenette awaits. Tiny and functional, this cooking space with its antique wood cook stove exudes charm in the simplest of ways.
Overhead beams are decorated with a charming collection of tiny woven baskets.
Another Dutch door leads to the screened-in porch. The serious cook may wish to modernize this space.
As you enter the 25+ acre property, you are first met by the amazing pre-Civil-War log barn ~ an incredible find! This significant historic resource onsite is the imposing hardwood log barn, believed to date back to the mid-19th century, when the property was part of the large Livengood Plantation. This piece of the plantation was sold to a family named Craig; Margaret C. Craig, a widow, sold it in 1936 to Dr. John Selby Forbes (1896-1946) and May Stewart Cuthrell Forbes (1894-1969) of Salisbury. It has been in their family ever since.
This two-story hardwood dogtrot log barn with hip roof and shed porch roof on the east elevation is a historic tangible connection to the 1800s farm place. And look! The barn is loaded with precut firewood for the woodburning stoves in the cabin!
Now here comes some interesting stuff! The sale of the Forbes-Luther Cabin and the Livengood Barn includes all personal property, furniture, and vast collections in and around the buildings. A stately pair of leather chairs are in the Great Room, as well as an array of antique Mission-Style furniture that could be original Stickley brand. A 1975 newspaper article suggests the mission furniture pieces are family heirlooms. The bedrooms are furnished simply with beds and wood dressers; a set of bunk beds is in the smallest of the three bedrooms. The home is filled with lamps, books, pewter candlesticks, and treasured knick-knacks. The dining table alone must be 12' long aligned with ten ladder-back chairs. An array of wicker-ratan seating is arranged on the porch.
A smaller concrete block structure is on the property. We have not gained access to this building that is partially overgrown with greenery and therefore cannot provide further information as to its square footage or interior layout, but the building may provide studio space or another creative use for the new prospective owners. Another nearby wood structure has collapsed upon itself. A small (possible) well house (the cabin is on city water) is on the property, with a bronze plaque from the City of Salisbury.
The Forbes-Luther Cabin and the Livengood Barn come with Historic Preservation of NC covenants and deed restrictions, with room for a future homesite if desired. Roughly 5.2 acres of pasture currently support a small cattle herd, fenced at the road frontage near the barn. The remaining acreage providing mature woodland landscape, rolling hills, and heavy tree canopy. A massive oak tree stands at the oversized 2-car carport. There is an opportunity here for an appropriate new home site. The design and location of a possible new home will require review and approval by Preservation North Carolina.
The Town of Mocksville is one of 74 towns in North Carolina to receive the Tree City USA recognition. The town is a designated “Main Street Community” and recognized as one of the 50 Safest
Cities in North Carolina. Mocksville is home to 3 different vineyards and wineries, 2 golf clubs, a local farmer’s market, and plenty of locally owned antique, boutique, and gift shops. The Forbes-Luther Cabin, in Mocksville, is located just 20 minutes from Salisbury, and only 1 hour from both Charlotte and Greensboro, about 30 minutes to Winston-Salem and High Point, and 2 hours to Raleigh. Cooleemee Mill Village on the banks of the Yadkin River is also nearby.
A rural retreat on 25+ acres of tranquil farmland, the circa 1938 Forbes-Luther Cabin has served for decades as a place of respite and relaxation in the western Piedmont. The Forbes-Luther Cabin and Livengood Barn is not currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places but may be eligible for listing. If listed, it would become eligible for historic preservation tax credits. For more information on Historic Preservation Tax Credits, please contact the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office at 919-807-6570 or at www.hpo.nc.gov.
