Helen Cabe Wright Wilson and her children hosted more than 50 summers of square dancing and brought visitors and local residents together to enjoy traditional music and dance. After Helen’s death in 1959, her children managed Helen’s Barn until 1984.
Helen’s Barn was built in 1932 on four acres of land bought with the $2,000 received from the Carnegie Institute for the bravery of her husband, Charlie Wright. After his death in 1927, his widow—left with five children—decided to open a square dance hall. The barn was located in the heart of Highlands, on the corner of 1st and Main Streets, but burned suspiciously in 1934. Apparently, not everyone in Highlands appreciated the music, dance, and beer.
Re-built in 1934, the new barn was constructed in the center of Helen’s four acre plot. For 50 years, the site served as a venue for local exhibition teams who danced several times a week at the request of summer visitors. Because there were no other public buildings, roller skating, auctions, plays, craft shows, and reunions were booked into the barn.
The Don Green Band was a typical Mountain String Band with a guitar, fiddle, banjo, and mandolin. Siblings Donald, Dixie, and Mel played at Helen’s Barn along with an unknown mandolin player. Proprietor Helen Wright Wilson can be seen standing at the far right in this photograph. The fiddler in the color photograph is Don Green, accompanied by his brother on guitar.
A caller would call out the steps to keep dancers together. All three types of dances are done to fiddle music and are common throughout the southern Appalachians.
Clogging is a type of step dance in which the dancer strikes the floor to create a rhythm. While clogging is sometimes called Buck Dancing, in the latter dance, performers keep their bodies immobile and their steps low to the floor.
“Fool’s Rock,” less than five feet wide, juts out over the valley floor, 2,000 feet below. Rock outcropping that Gus Baty fell off precipitating the Charlie Wright rescue. Today, a guardrail protects visitors from the sheer drop.
Charlie Wright, Helen's first husband and Highlands hero. He received a gold medal for the rescue of Gus Baty after he tumbled over Fool's Rock. Charlie died young and Helen used the cash award from the Carnegie metal to open Helen's Barn providing a space for the Highlands community and support her five children.
The insurance came when Charlie was dead Leaving Helen with six mouths that had to be fed. She built a barn and painted it red And the townspeople turned to her and said,
"Helen what you're doing just ain't right- Building a dance hall in a town this white. Shoulda' built a church - a roof for your head. But not a dance hall, and painted it red."
Her answer above the jingle of coins firmly clears:
"It takes a lot of cheers To dam a widow's tears."
Helen's Barn opened for dancing on Saturday night. Folks came a-clogging' their feet feeling light. Where many a youth first saw the light Of joy in dancing away fears in the night.
It was Helen's answer to their calls and their jeers:
"It takes a lit of cheers to dam a widow's tears."
Fifty years of Saturday night digging shins with joy As many a man-danced away there from being a boy. Helen's young'uns were schooled, fed and kept warm With money she earned at her old red barn.
As hoe-down music drowned any complaint To answer those who don't recognize a saint.
"It takes a lot of cheers To dam a widow's tears."
A crowd of white dancers square dancing at Helen's Barn. A Group of six individuals, three males, and three females are facing the camera while people in the background dance in groups.
