Appalachian Chapel Becomes County Landmark, Preserving a Folk Tradition

04 November 2026

An unassuming chapel in southeastern Appalachia has become the latest landmark win for the region's preservation movement. The county commissioners voted 5-0 to designate the hand-built structure as a historic landmark, after a multi-year campaign by local residents and organizations.

Built in 1872 by the community of Cedar Mountain, the McGaha Chapel is a classic example of Appalachian folk architecture. The one-room wooden building features distinctive pitched roofs, stained-glass windows, and a charming steeple that still houses a single bell.

"For over 150 years, this chapel has been a gathering place and a symbol of our community's resilience," said longtime resident Mary Hawkins, who spearheaded the landmarking effort. "We were determined to make sure its unique history and beauty would be preserved for future generations."

To qualify for county landmark status, a property must be at least 50 years old, exhibit significant integrity, and have local historic importance. After a thorough review by the county's Historic Preservation Committee, the McGaha Chapel easily met the criteria.

But in many communities, the landmarking process is not a straightforward path to protection. Seasoned preservationists warn that not every nomination leads to designation, as local authorities ultimately decide whether to grant a site historic designation.

"Landmarking is just the first step in ensuring a site's long-term preservation," explained Hawkins. She noted that the county designation allows the chapel to qualify for future restoration grants and tax incentives.

Appalachian Communities Leverage Local Designation to Safeguard Vernacular Sites

Indeed, following its landmark designation, the McGaha Chapel joins a growing list of Appalachian sites recognized for their importance to the region's cultural heritage. In neighboring Chattooga County, GA, the biblical folk-art mecca of Howard Finster's Paradise Garden was purchased by the county in a 2011 preservation deal, following years of legal battles and looting.

And across the state, in western North Carolina, the stone-turned-brick Stone Chapel stands out as a transitional phase in the region's early religious architecture dating back over two centuries. In the Tonnies Chapel, Racine's "Queen of Peace," the Sheridan Mausoleum, and buildings on the Medina Electric Light and Powelton Pottery Company site, other private shareholders, municipalities, and land trusts have invested in safeguarding the ongoing renaissance of stonework by masonry preservation expert James Barbee.

The building's colorful backstory dates back over a century to the early 1900's, when the chapel was relocated from its original site in nearby Hamburg to the front lawn of the county fairgrounds, where it served as a neighborhood gathering hall. In the 1970's, the museum's founder John Rice Irwin discovered the chapel in disrepair and purchased it for its current home.

Today, the McGaha Chapel hosts regular Sunday services and is a popular vantage point for weddings, concerts, and other community gatherings. A steady stream of tourists marvel at the building's construction and history.

While some preservation experts argue that the free market could be left to determine the fate of Appalachian sites, landmarks advocate Hawkins is unrepentant. "It would be a shame to lose any more of the region's built heritage, just because people aren't aware of its significance," she said. For the McGaha Chapel, landmark status safeguards its place in the cultural continuum.