Breeden Cabin

Breeden Cabin is the oldest cabin in Skyline Lakes.  It was built circa 1922, making it over 100 years old.

Elmer Lloyd Breeden was born in 1902 and Nealie Jane Cave was born in 1903.  Elmer and Nealie married and built this cabin around 1922.  They went on to have eight children—most of whom lived in this small cabin as children.

Elmer died in 1984 at the age of 81, and Nealie died in 1991 at the age of 88.  They had 8 children, 25 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.  Their  8 children, all deceased today, were Ethel Mae Breeden Brockmeyer (1925-1967), Richard Aldine Breeden (1928-2010), Esther Grace Breeden Nace (1930-2012), Virgil Hunter Breeden (1932-2016), Reginald Allen Breeden (1939-2009), Garland Matthew Breeden (1942-2009), David L. Breeden (1944-2001), and Delmer Michael Breeden (1949-2006).

Delmer Breeden was the final Breeden owner of the Breeden Cabin and an active member of the community. He was our security guard for many years, touring the area regularly on his favorite horse to inspect for any signs of intruders.  He served two terms on our Board of Directors, from 1997 to 2003, and was elected for another term in 2006.  Delmer’s love of horses was known to all.  He was the stable manager at Skyland for 44 years.  Delmer is pictured here at an annual meeting of the association doing what he loved — horseback riding.

Delmer was a great friend and neighbor in Skyline Lakes. Many older residents spoke fondly of him, including Orv Lee — himself a pillar of the community who helped document our first 50 years of history.

Delmer, his parents, and most of his siblings are laid to rest at the Tanner’s Ridge Cemetery, a private cemetery created for the families that were displaced in the 1930s, when Shenandoah National Park was being established.