George Palmer lived in Buncombe County in 1840. Due to his lack in bad judgment and a game of chance he lost a whole lot of money. Ashamed to face his relatives and friends he packed his family and belongings and set out to find a new home. In the year 1848 the Palmers came to Cataloochee which had a small population and this seemed like a good place to start a new life.

     George and his family became one of the most prosperous families in Cataloochee. George died in 1859 due to a heart attack. His son George Lafayette known as( UNCLE Fate) was 23, single and living at home when his father died, but he eventually started his own family. His brother Jesse was already married and living on his own property.

     The brothers built similar houses around 1869; this one belonged to Uncle Fate. It is a classic "dog-trot" house -two log structures side by side, an open area between and covered with a common roof. On one side you had a living/sleeping space and the other a cooking/eating area.  Uncle Fate died in 1910 and his Jarvis inherited the place. Outbuildings included the large barn, blacksmith shop, springhouse and now absent can house and smokehouse. Members of the Jarvis family owned land and controlled the fishing rights along almost three miles of Cataloochee Creek. They stocked the stream and charged 50 cents per day to fish.

     The Palmers allowed people to camp on their land while fishing. Jarvis built a two-room bunkhouse that would sleep 8-10 people. The bunkhouse was located near the barn that is still standing on the property. A second, larger bunkhouse was soon built near the first one and was furnished with 20 to 24 beds.  Jarvis built a cabin that would sleep 6 to 8 people. This structure still stands across the road. the Palmers charged 50 cents per day to stay in one of the bunkhouses and an additional 50cents per day for meals served at the Palmer house. Jarvis added a two room kitchen and dining wino on to the south end of the house to accommodate people who ate there.