06/14/2026
I stayed at Town Creek Farm on Adair Mill for 4 hours Saturday morning with hopes to get a few images that might reflect the feel of the Appalachian region for a project I'm working on this summer. To my delight I met the owner of the property, Thomas Lott. We enjoyed a long and interesting conversation. I quickly realized how much this pioneer log village meant to him. He gave me permission to photograph inside. Thomas began building these primitive structures in about 1994 because he wanted to build an authentic Appalachia log cabin. He enjoyed the process so much that he continued adding a church, tool shed, well house, carriage house and 4 barns, about 20 structures. He traveled extensively learning the primitive techniques and visiting other villages around the country. He designed his own lathes and tools to build the structures and gave demostrations and instruction to others who wanted to learn the craft. He hired historians and craftsmen to hewn timber and notch logs. Tom made all the wooden pegs. Did you notice the stained glass window in the church? Tom remembers a local pastor who came numerous times early in the morning to pray and meditate as he waited for the sun to come shining through the stained glass of Jesus kneeling to pray in the garden. There has been weddings there and sadly, just about a month ago, his wife's memorial. Tom’s lungs were wrecked by covid and he is legally blind by that doesn’t slow him down. With oxygen tank in tow, he drives around the property with speed and confidence relying soley on his memory and the outlines of dark shapes that he recognizes. He drove me to my truck with no problem! Meeting Tom was the highlight of my trip to Lott Mill.