A Civil War dulcimer (or scheitholt) from Georgia

In the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, Tenn., there is a dulcimer that has been traced back to Civil War days. It is a small, obviously homemade instrument in the shape of a long, narrow trapezoid. John Rice Irwin, proprietor of the museum, describes it like this:

"As bitter and relentless as the fighting was, there were long periods of encampment and waiting during the Civil War, and various games and musical instruments provided relief from the boredom. This early dulcimer is made of black walnut, and the entire body, neck and tail piece are carved from a single piece. The top or front portion comprises the second piece of wood in the instrument.
"I bought the dulcimer from my longtime friend, Professor Roddy Moore of Virginia's Ferrum College on May 31, 1994. Roddy had traced its history to the Allen family in Commerce, in Northeast Georgia. Oral tradition passed from one generation to another was that a member of the Allen family had carried this primitively made dulcimer with him while serving in the civil war."

While it can be called a dulcimer, the instrument has features that make it look a lot like a scheitholt or a transitional instrument. Its frets appear to be stapled right onto the soundbox instead of a raised fretboard, and its trapezoidal shape is similar to that of a scheitholt. The Museum of Appalachia is just off Interstate 75 at Norris.