Animals at Exchange Place

AMERICAN GUINEA HOGS

The American Guinea Hog (not to be confused with the guinea pig) was one of the most common types of hogs found on homesteads in the antebellum South. Often called “yard pigs,” these hogs would roam around farms like wild children, eating snakes, grass, acorns, and whatever else they could root up. Guinea Hogs are solid black and small in size, rarely reaching over 250 pounds (though they are not a miniature or “pot-bellied” breed). Extremely efficient foragers, Guinea Hogs require little supplemental feed when they are on pasture. They are active but mild mannered and well-suited to a hot climate. They produce an enormous amount of fat—a valuable commodity in early America that was used for a variety of purposes from cooking to soap making to cosmetics.

Along with corn, hogs were the major agricultural commodity in Tennessee in the mid-19th century. (The duo inspired the nickname “The Hog and Hominy State” during that time). East Tennessee in particular produced a large number of hogs, which were often driven overland into the Carolinas or Georgia for sale. Pork was undoubtedly the preferred meat of antebellum Southerners, and it was also one of the most important staples of the slave diet—providing high energy and protein for intense field labor. James Preston, who owned Exchange Place during this time, recorded in his ledger book that he salted over 4,000 pounds of pork in December 1850!

COTSWOLD SHEEP

The Cotswold is a longwool sheep breed developed in England and was first brought to America in the early 19th century. The breed’s name reflects the traditional habitat of the sheep: “cots” for the cotes or small sheepfolds where they were sheltered at night on the “wold” or treeless, hilly land.

According to the 1850 agricultural census, James Preston owned 50 sheep—though what breed, we do not know. In 1860, he owned none. He possibly sold his flock because wool was no longer profitable, especially with the rise of cotton production in the deep South. We have chosen to raise Cotswolds at Exchange Place because of their gentle disposition and silky wool, which is a favorite with the Overmountain Weavers Guild members. We have a flock of mixed colors: white, gray, and black.

DOMINIQUE CHICKENS

Chickens were an important part of the antebellum homestead. Often, they would range freely in the yards and pastures and forage for insects, seeds, and plants. (Yes, chickens are omnivores!). In turn, they would provide meat and eggs for the table. At Exchange Place, we keep heritage breeds that are known to have been available in the mid-19th century. To protect them from predators, we confine them to a coop and run covered with netting instead of letting them free-range.

Dominiques, or “Dominikers” as they are commonly called in Appalachia, are a truly American breed, dating back to the early 19th century. Though the origin of the name “Dominique” is unclear, it may come from a French colony in Haiti where some of the birds’ ancestors may have originated. Dominiques have “barred,” or black and white, plumage and are good foragers. The roosters are often spunky and protective of their flock, while the hens are docile and attentive mothers. They are a parent of the Barred Rock breed that gained popularity in the late 19th century.

Though we don’t know for sure if there were Dominiques at Exchange Place in the mid-19th century, we can make an educated guess that these beautiful and now rare birds were pecking around the farmyard while the stagecoaches were traveling through.

SHORTHORN CATTLE

A handsome breed with red, white, and roan coloring, the Shorthorn was common throughout the 19th century. Originating in Durham England (hence the alternate name “Durham cattle”), this breed was first imported to America in the late 1700’s and quickly gained popularity as a dual-purpose breed used for both milk and meat production as well as draft labor. (In the early 20th century, the breed was formally split into the Beef Shorthorn and Milking Shorthorn). The famous “Durham Ox,” which was calved in Durham in 1796 and purportedly weighed over 3,500 pounds at ten years old, brought particular notoriety to the breed as he traveled around England on exhibition.

The agricultural census shows that James Preston owned 8 “Milch” cows and 112 “other cattle” in 1850, and 12 “Milch” cows and 120 “other cattle” in 1860. It is most likely that at least some of these cattle were Shorthorns. Exchange Place currently owns one Shorthorn heifer named Delila.

JERUSALEM DONKEY

Donkeys have been in America for centuries and were commonly bred with horses to create mules, an important draft animal.  Our donkey, Jenny, is classified as a “Jerusalem” donkey because she has the shape of a cross on her back.  An old legend claims that the cross appeared on these donkeys after Christ rode one to his crucifixion. 

BARN CATS

Cats were kept on farms to catch the ubiquitous mice that feasted on grain, silage, and other foodstuffs. Cats could be shy and elusive but would often show up at milking time for a taste of fresh milk. Exchange Place currently has several cats that make their home in the large log cow barn.