Ancient Cave Was Once An Important Source Of Saltpeter Used In Gunpowder

By Mike Steely - 1996

I t was an odd collection of visitors to Rockcastle County's Great Saltpetre Cave back in June, when the ancient cave was opened to the public for a too brief day. Old-timers who played and courted there in their youth, newcomers with electric helmet lights and kneepads, and children led by parents and grandparents took advantage of the free tours of the cavern.

Great Saltpetre Cave has been known to the white man since about 1780 and was "discovered" by John Baker in 1798. Baker and his family promptly got lost in the large cave for several days before finding their way out of one of the two entrances. In 1800 James Kincaid began mining saltpetre there for making gun powder, and Great Saltpetre Cave boomed with that early industry, especially during the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and later during the Civil War. At one time the production there was greater than that of Mammoth Cave.

From the time of the first long hunter poking into the mountain with flaming pine knots, people have left their names and dates inside. More recent visitors used spray paint or lipstick. Some of the dates go back to about 1800, including one of C.A. Stewart. In a narrow bone-white passage near the south mouth is a signature of "D. Boon."

In 1940 John Lair, song writer, performer, and promoter, bought both entrances and created his now famous "Renfro Valley Barn Dance" there, from a natural stone stage in front of rows of chairs in a huge chamber he called "Echo Auditorium."

Photo Caption: Old-timers and new comers relax outside the southern mouth of Rockcastle County's Great Saltpetre Cave. The historic cavern was opened to the public recently. Hundreds came to tour the privately-owned cave. (All Photos By Mike Steely)

Photo Caption: Allan Watts and son, Michael, dressed as Union soldiers, led some of the visitors on tours of the Great Saltpetre Cave. Inside are supposed to be some soldiers' graves.

Photo Caption: People from across the nation visited the old cave last month, signing in before each tour. Two grottos of the National Speleological Society control the historic cave and only open it one day a year.

Photo Caption: Nitrate mining has taken place within the Rockcastle County cave since about 1800. Some early visitors and workers signed their names on the smooth walls. Here "C.A. Stewart, 1802" can be seen. There may be earlier signatures, including "D, Boon." (All photos by Mike Steely)

J.R. French, of Mount Vernon, visited the cave during the brief tour, and running one of the bulldozers inside the cave as Lair was preparing the cavern for shows and tours. French said that, as a child, he visited the cave and bought his first soft-drink, a 7-Up, and drank it sitting on the bluff outside the southern mouth when he was eleven years old.

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