What our family calls “The Lone Mountain House” is the original homestead of the Byrd Payne Family. The mystery of who originally built the house, and when, is yet to be solved, but the house existed in one-story form in a turn of the century photo taken from the ridge above.
Byrd and A rented a home just north of this area before adding a second story and moving their family their in 1909. Other improvements have been made along the way – an indoor bathroom, of course, and an expansion of the dining room in the 1990s to accommodate the large family gatherings that were so common). Otherwise the house is largely as it was during their lifetimes.
In the 1960s Byrd and A’s children joined to establish the Payne Company in order to keep and maintain the house and property. The brothers and sisters worked together in an informal manner only siblings could accomplish to maintain and handle the affairs of the house and property. Those years were filled with many family gatherings at the house for those who lived out of town, and enabled them to stay in close touch with their Claiborne County relatives and friends who still resided nearby.
By 2007, the need for a more formalized support structure was evident. David Rose, Beth Owens, Mike Stockwell, and Mike Perkins led a reorganization of the Payne Company that established Club Payne for those interested in contributing toward that goal. Membership in Club Payne is open only to direct blood descendants of Byrd and A. Besides annual donations paid by Club Members, voluntary donations are also welcomed.
The Lone Mountain House allows the descendants of Byrd and A to stay in the house and visit the area often. For those who cannot visit, Club Payne and this website provide an avenue for those who want to know more about their family history and to contribute to the Payne Family Legacy at Lone Mountain.
Join Club Payne
Visit the House