Rolling Acres Century Farm

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the construction of railroad spur lines which served heretofore isolated farming communities often brought about a transformation of the rural landscape. Farms whose management techniques remained those of 50 and 100 years earlier suddenly became more modern commercial enterprises. Grainger County's Rolling Acres Farm, located just six miles west of Rutledge, is a good example of this transportation phenomenon. The property dates to 1866 when it served as a local stagecoach stop as well as a farm. In 1907 another family inherited 185 acres of the original farm. They practiced general farming and managed a store, which also served as the community post office. When the Southern railroad established the Knoxville to Bristol "peavine" spur line through their property at the turn of the century, Rolling Acres became even more productive because the railroad " made it possible to market timber, cattle, milk, and other farm products." This farm was sold in 2006.