In August 1770 Jacob Brown sold his 200 acres of his property in North Carolina and moved to the Nolichucky River in Tennessee. He leased land from the Cherokee and opened up the Nolichucky Trading Post, which was shorted to the Chucky Trading Post before it closed down. When he leased the land, which is actually in Jonesborough (Washington County), the Cherokee Indians told him of a horrible witch that lived in a cave on the property, right across the river from where he built his business. They said that one look from the witch could turn a man to stone. This is reminiscent of the Greek Gorgon Medusa who could turn anyone who looked upon her to stone. One characteristic about Medusa was the serpents in her hair, which ties in with the myth of the mythological Basalisk, or Cockatrice. The name itself comes from the Greek basiliskos meaning "little king,” and describes a creature that was created by allowing a toad to hatch a hens egg, would grow to a monstrous size, have a cocks comb on its head, and be able to turn anyone who looked at it into stone. It is possible that this beast was originally a tale about the Spitting Cobra that sprayed men in the eyes with venom, carried across the globe by early travelers. Also, serpents are supposed to be able to hypnotize pray with their unblinking eyes, and one who is hypnotizes is usually calm and still.
But, just being around the cave was supposed to have ill effects on men. Her presence, it is believed, can drive men mad. This puts one in mind of the Greek myth of the Sirens, or creatures that would lure men on ships with their beautiful voices, only to have the ships wreck on jagged rocks.
Since the Trading Post closed, it has been many things, including the restaurant and bed and breakfast, House of Seven Gables, not to be confused with the historic building in Salem, Massachusetts. Presently, Riverpark Campground owns the land at 3937 Highway 81 South.
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