“I’ve been married for 49 years and finally got a stove,” said Judy Bailey of Chelsea.

Laughing, she explained that the wood-burning stove was an anniversary gift from her husband Jimmy for the log cabin located behind their K-Springs home.

The Baileys bought the cabin in Tennessee 16 years ago and had it moved to the property where Judy’s grandfather Luther Kendrick had built a cabin in 1867.

According to stories passed down through the family, Luther was 15 when he built the cabin for his mother Elmira Gilbert Kendrick. Luther’s father Isham, a Civil War soldier, had died in 1866 leaving Elmira to give birth to their seventh child in December of that year.

As undergrowth was cleared from around the cabin, several springs were found at the base of the hill where the old K-Springs Church building is located. For many years one of these Kendrick springs provided water for area residents, and for the K-Springs Church and School.

It was from these springs, located on Kendrick property, that the community derived its name. Now the property will become a final resting place for descendants of this early family.

Bailey said she has finished requirements for the Kendrick/Bailey Family Cemetery to be located on one-quarter acre adjacent to the spot where the cabin sits. Although family members are not looking forward to using the cemetery anytime soon, they are looking forward to their annual Christmas celebration in the cabin, an event that has been held there every year since 1992.

And this year, they can cook or warm their Christmas goodies on Judy’s new, old wood-burning stove.