Joseph Frederick Baumann was born to Joseph Frederick and Halle (Harwood) Baumann in Knoxville, Tennessee on August 28, 1923. He graduated from Knoxville High School in 1942 and studied at the University of Tennessee before serving in the 52nd Fighter Group of the Army Air Corps as a P-51 pilot during World War II. After being discharged, Baumann completed his studies and graduated with his B.S. in Business Administration in 1948. For most of his professional career, he worked with the J.C. Penney Company in such cities as Knoxville, Jacksonville, Fla., Macon, Ga., and Miami, Fla. Baumann was also an outdoor enthusiast, spending sixty-one summers at his Elkmont cottage and participating actively in the Appalachian Club. In addition, he took an interest in military history and wrote a number of articles for the Air Force Museum Magazine as well as a memoir entitled “From Freshman to Fighter Pilot.” Baumann died in Knoxville on December 22, 2008. He was survived by his wife, Mary (Shankland) Baumann, and children, Beverly (Baumann) Coleman and Joseph Frederick Baumann III.

The village of Elkmont was founded by Little River Lumber Company as a company town 1907. The village housed mill workers, but quickly became a tourist destination, especially for Knoxvillians wanting to spend the weekend in the Smoky Mountains. By 1910, the lumber company began selling land to entrepreneurs, two of which started the Appalachian Club and the Wonderland Club. After decades of success, the Appalachian Club closed its doors around 1950. The Wonderland Club transitioned to a traditional hotel and stayed in business until 1992. Over the years, many families spent summer months or short vacations at the cottages in Elkmont. However, because Elkmont was situated on land that became part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it was officially closed down in 1992. Elkmont was added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1994, and the remaining buildings are in various stages of preservation.