James Crumley moved to Washington County at the time of his second marriage to Elizabeth Caroline King in 1852 and purchased 154 acres from the Michael Krouse heirs on Knob Creek. He was a farmer, blacksmith and served as an enrolling officer for the Confederacy. Homestead carries with it the Civil War story of Confederate soldier Alfred J. King (1839-1865) and brother of Elizabeth King Crumley, and Union soldier, Lafayette Miller (1841-1865) who were both killed at this site. A party of Union men was sent to arrest and bring to justice Mr. King and Jim Crumley for “committing some acts of misdemeanor.” Mr. King was being guarded by Lafayette Miller while the remainder of the party was searching for Crumley. Unexpectedly, King wrenched the pistol from the hands of young Miller and “shot him dead upon the spot.” Friends of Miller heard the pistol and reached the place in time to see King trying to escape at full speed. They fired upon him, killing him. The story is recorded in Brownlow’s Knoxville Whig, on microfilm in the ETSU Library. James Crumley, his wife and five of his children are also buried in the cemetery. The original log cabin, located on the front lawn, has been restored. The barn was built by the great uncle of Frances Leona Crumley, Jacob G. Crumley, (son of John Crumley; grandson of James Crumley). The corn crib and grainery were built in 1880.
The Oakes Family has been involved in farming for three generations in the Corryton community. After years of growing tobacco and raising beef cattle, the Oakes began growing daylilies, a hobby which has grown into a nationwide mail-order nursery, Oakes Daylilies. New to the Oakes family operations in 2004 is Paradise Garden which sells a wide range of specialty plants. Many of these plants are grown right here in East Tennessee. Some of the plants offered are grown by specialists in their "fields" for Paradise Garden.
The farm will host school groups for field trips, church or corporate groups or any other type of groups depending on booking availability. Groups may reserve tents for picnics, meetings or gatherings even on days and hours the farm is not open to the public.Educational programs are available for school groups in a range of topics. Please inquire.Groups of 20 or more receive $2.00 off regular priced maze admission. Larger groups, school groups and daycares are eligible for special pricing, please inquire.
Take the Knoxville Center exit (Exit 8) off I-640.Go north on Washington Pike 10 miles.Turn left onto Corryton Road, go 2.3 miles, and the farm is on the right.Another route is to take I-40 to the Rutledge Pike exit (Exit 392).Go right (north) 8 miles and turn left onto Roberts Road.The 2nd stop sign is Washington Pike.Turn right and go 3 miles.Turn left onto Corryton Road, go 2.3 miles, and the farm is on the right.
In the 1790’s, the McInturf’s and four employees ran a gunsmith shop on the property, manufacturing rifles and handguns. In the 1830’s, the farm was owned by “Doc” Peebles, who migrated from Maryland and chose the spot to settle while his brother went on to Decatur, Alabama.In 1919, Jake Woodward bought the farm. He had a small dairy and orchard here and was also the Registrar of Deeds in Erwin. The original house burned in 1930 and was rebuilt on the same foundation with some of the first machine-made brick in the area.The daughter of the original owner, Pat Lynch, moved into the house with her family and began farming in 1976.They raised beef cattle and market hogs until 1983, when they began alternative farming. Her husband Johnny, a wildlife artist, restored the original log smokehouse which he uses as a studio-gallery. He also designed and built the covered bridge at the entrance to the farm with the help of friends. Also, an 1800’s style blacksmith shop was built using logs salvaged from a barn on the farm and other barns in the area.
