Local bed and breakfast offers taste of history

Photo by Abby Morris Antiques such as this poster bed and old-timey furnishings such as the bathtub in the background add charm to the rooms at Gen. Wilder's Bed and Breakfast.

By Abby Morris
Star Staff
amorris@starhq.com

   If you are looking to get away from it all for a few days and possibly take a walk through history, then Gen. Wilder's Bed and Breakfast in Roan Mountain may be just the place for you.
   Named for the house's builder, Gen. John T. Wilder of Civil War fame, the Bed and Breakfast offers all the quaint charm of a Victorian manor while offering the comforts of home which is how Wilder, who had frequent guests at the residence according to the Bed and Breakfast's owner Cathy Hyder, would have wanted it.
   "Gen. Wilder was a very influential man in East Tennessee and by East Tennessee I mean from Chattanooga on up," she said. In addition to being a famous Civil War general, Wilder was also instrumental in getting the Tweetsie Railroad for the region and he also helped get the street car system in Johnson City started which eventually led to the creation of the city's electric system.
   During his time as a Civil War General, Wilder was the leader of the Lightning Brigade of Chickamauga fame. According to historical accounts of the battle, Wilder, who was a Union general, took his own money and bought Spencer repeating rifles for his men and then either bought or commandeered horses for his troops as well, turning them into a mounted infantry unit.
   Now the home built by Wilder in 1880 is listed on the National Register of Historic Places after having been restored by Cathy Hyder and her husband, Sam Hyder.
   Cathy's love of old homes began during her childhood when she and her family would go for Sunday drives. "We would see an old house and Mom and I would say 'Wouldn't it be nice to fix it up?'" she said.
   When Sam and Cathy decided they wanted to open a bed and breakfast, they began looking around for just the right house. "It ended up that we sold our house and bought this one," Cathy said, adding that she and Sam also live at Gen. Wilder's. "We just love this old house. It just needed tender love and care."
   The love and care the house needed is what it got from Cathy and Sam, who restored the house and added additional bathrooms to accommodate guests. The husband and wife team also shopped around for antique furnishings, such as the beds and footed bathtubs, to give Gen. Wilder's the perfect atmosphere.
   When guests make their reservations at Gen. Wilder's there are many unique rooms to choose from and each has a story that goes with it. The Mayor's Quarters are so named after Wilder himself, who was mayor of Chattanooga for a time, while the Sherwood Forest Room is named for Cathy's grandfather. The Garden Room overlooks the gardens and gazebo at Gen. Wilder's while Scarlet's Room is done in a Civil War "Gone With the Wind" theme.
   In addition to the historical aspects, Cathy feels that one of the things that sets Gen. Wilder's apart is that even though it is nestled in a quiet village, it is only a short drive away from several area attractions including Roan Mountain State Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Bristol Motor Speedway, the Carter Mansion, Grandfather Mountain, Rocky Mount, Sycamore Shoals State Park, Fort Watauga, the Tipton-Haynes Farm and Watauga Lake.
   Room rates vary by the room and time of the year, according to Cathy. For more information on Gen. Wilder's Bed and Breakfast, which is located at 200 Main Street in Roan Mountain, call (423) 772-3102 or visit their Web site at www.generalwilder.com.