Lotz House

The Lotz House was constructed in 1858 by German immigrants Johann Albert Lotz, and his wife Margaretha. The land that the house was built on was purchased from the Carter family. Johann was a  master carpenter. Much of the house was built by him. The most notable feature that he constructed was the spiral staircase. He wanted his house to be a "show house," to demonstrate his work to potential clients. In addition to architectural work, Lotz also made pianos. When the Civil War broke out, the Lotz family's lives stayed pretty much unchanged until 1864. In 1864, the Battle of Franklin occurred. The Lotz house, as well as the nearby Carter and Carnton houses, were used as army headquarters during the battle. To protect their positions, Union Soldiers cut down many of the trees on the Lotz family's property, and also poisoned the water supply. The Lotz family took refuge in the  Carter House, across the road. When the fighting ended, both families found bodies and other carnage everywhere. The south wall of the Lotz House had been completely blown off. Johann Lotz quickly repaired the home. Once repairs were complete, the Lotz House became a field hospital. Evidence still remains of the Lotz House's role in the Civil War. Inside the home, cannon ball holes, and blood stains are still visible. The Lotz Family continued to live in this house until Johann Lotz constructed a piano that featured a bald eagle holding an American and Confederate Flag. The controversy was with the fact that the bald eagle was holding the Confederate Flag pointing down. This upset many Confederate sympathizers. Many of these people threatened the lives of Johann Lotz and his family. As a result they were forced to flee to San Jose California. The Lotz house has since been purchased by the Battle of Franklin Trust, and is part of a network of three historic homes, associated with the battle, in Franklin, Tennessee. In 1976 the Lotz House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. At Moore Historical Consulting, I am committed to preserving our historic sites. For every Lotz House there are thousands more just like it that have not been preserved. Contact me today to learn more about the preservation services I offer.

The handmade staircase inside the Lotz House.

Damage from cannon balls in the floors of the Lotz House.

Tennessee Historical Commission historical marker at the Lotz House.

Be sure to come back next week for another Throwback Thursday presented by Moore Historical Consulting. I make exploring your past fun!!

Fort Blount

Fort Blount was one of the Upper Cumberland's earliest outposts. Built in 1788 along the Cumberland River, it was an important stop for both merchants and migrants alike. Those traveling on the Avery's Trace, also stopped off at the Fort. Sampson Williams was granted the authority to operate the Fort. The Fort was named for William Blount, who was the governor of the Southwest Territory. The Fort included a ferry service, blockhouse, tavern, and also contained Army garrisons. These Army garrisons were important due to Indian uprisings in the area. No Indian-Settler battles have ever been reported at Fort Blount. Williams was commissioned a lieutenant, and commanded the Fort. When Tennessee became a state in 1796, governor John Sevier discharged the militia garrison at Fort Blount. By 1798, the Fort closed, and was demolished. Following the closure of the Fort, Sampson Williams purchased the land and the entire Fort. He established a large plantation. By 1800, a post office had been established, with Williams as post master. Up until 1805, the Fort Blount land had been in Smith County. Smith County court actually convened in Williams' tavern. When the county lines were redrawn in 1805, Jackson County was established. In 1806, the Tennessee State legislature purchased a 60 acre section of Williams' plantation. This section of land became the county seat for Jackson County, known as Williamsburg. The town included a courthouse, jail, hotel, general store, and at least five houses. The Fort Blount Ferry continued to be one of the major means of transportation to and from Williamsburg. By 1818, citizens of Williamsburg began to complain. They wanted the county seat to be in a more central location. They did not want to have to travel two days or more roundtrip. The issue was put up to a vote, and the citizens of Jackson County voted to move the county seat to a more central location, thus the establishment of Gainesboro. Williamsburg was de-incorporated in 1820. Sampson Williams could not stand for the buildings to be destroyed, so he purchased many of them. He chose the old courthouse as his home, and renovated it. He continued to operate the inn and the Fort Blount Ferry. His plantation grew to several hundred acres, and he owned around 20-30 slaves. When Williams died in 1841, the plantation remained in his family until 1869. The land was sold to John Pruett soon after, then was acquired by his daughter Sallie and her husband John Fox. The land remained in the Fox family until the mid twentieth century. In 1961, the United States Army Corps of Engineers acquired the land due to the construction of the Cordell Hull Dam. The Fort Blount Ferry continued to operate until 1974. The Ferry allowed residents of Granville, Liberty, Nameless, and Flynn's Lick to travel to other parts of Jackson County. In 1974, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Between 1989 and 1994, archeologists uncovered remains of one prehistoric structure, three structures associated with Fort Blount, and also several thousand artifacts. According to the measurements of the structures that would have been associated with Fort Blount, building #1 would have been a block house, building #2 would have been the kitchen, and building #3 would have been the smokehouse. This study also uncovered that the outer wall of Fort Blount, was approximately 120 x 90 feet. When visiting Fort Blount today, one can still see these ruins uncovered during the 1989-1994 archeological study. There is also a cemetery (picture above) located on the site. Sampson Williams is interned therein. Fort Blount was Jackson County's first of five National Register of Historic Places. Moore Historical Consulting is currently working on two potential sites in the county, one of which has been recently approved, and will become the sixth site listed. Fort Blount is truly a great example of early settlement and military history right in our own backyard.

The layout of Fort Blount as determined in the 1989-1994 archeological study.

Artist's drawing of what Fort Blount looked like based on findings from the 1989-1994 archeological study.

Fort Blount/Williamsburg site today.

Fort Blount Ferry site today.

Be sure to come back next week for another installment of Throwback Thursday courtesy of Moore Historical Consulting. Whether your need is genealogy, historic litigation, preservation, or anything in between, put Moore Historical Consulting to work for you today!!

Carter House

The Carter House was built in 1830 by Fountain Branch Carter, in present day Franklin, Tennessee. The house was built in the Federal style. Carter also constructed a kitchen, farm office, and smokehouse. In 1850 Carter built a cotton gin on the property. The Carter house, and its outbuildings are best remembered for the role that they played during the Civil War. The Battle of Franklin was one of the Confederacy's last gasp attempts to take back Tennessee. This battle occurred on November 30, 1864. The main Confederate army, led by General John Bell Hood, marched to Franklin from Florence, Alabama. Along the way they engaged in skirmishes in Pulaski, and Spring Hill, Tennessee. Once the forces reached Franklin, they set up camp on the grounds of the Carter House, and nearby Carnton Plantation. The Union forces were the first to arrive, with Brigadier General Jacob D. Cox setting up his headquarters inside the Carter House. The Carter House became the center of the Union Position. The goals for both sides were simple: the Union had to protect Nashville, and the Confederate had to launch an all out frontal assault on the Union and march on to Nashville. While battle raged outside their home, the Carter family took refuge in their basement. Bullets whizzed into and out of the Carter house. Fighting continued throughout the night, and by the next morning, there were numerous injured, and fallen soldiers in the Carter House yard, as well as numerous bullet holes in the walls of the house, and outbuildings. Among the injured, included Captain "Tod" Carter. Carter was the son of Fountain Branch Carter. He was brought into his childhood home, where he lived for a few hours, before passing away. This was the first time the Carter family had seen their son, since he had left for war. A cannon that had been fired at some time during the night, caused damage to the roof of Carter House. To the east and west of the house, approximately thirteen charges were carried out. The biggest of these charges involved six Confederate infantry divisions, containing eighteen brigades, with 100 regiments, totaling almost 20,000 men decided to charge right for the Union headquarters at the Carter House. As a result, fourteen generals were killed wounded, or captured. A total of 55 regimental commanders were killed. This became known as "Pickett's charge of the West." By the time the fighting was over, the Confederates had suffered 6,252 casualties. The Union only suffered 2,326 casualties. The Battle of Franklin has gone down in history as one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. John Bell Hood, despite his losses, still took his army to Nashville for one last attempt to take the state back. At the Carter house, three more generations of Fountain Branch Carter continued to inhabit the home. The family, for whatever reason, chose not to repair the bullet holes that had penetrated the house and outbuildings. It is safe to say that they felt as though those bullet holes represented a part of their heritage. The Carter family continued to reside in the house until the early 1950s. In 1953, the house was put on a list for demolition. Plans called for a gas station to be constructed on the site. The state of Tennessee quickly stepped in and saved the Carter house, its outbuildings, and grounds. The Civil War Trust, based out of Washington D.C., has been instrumental in saving numerous acres of land. This group was involved in the purchase of a Pizza Hut, which had been built over the site where Confederate General Patrick Cleburne was killed. The restaurant was razed, and the site became part of the Battle of Franklin Trust. Other efforts to reclaim developed land, vital in the battle, are still under way. The Carter House is still owned by the state of Tennessee, and overseen by the Tennessee Historical Commission. The Battle of Franklin Trust operates the site on the state's behalf. Carter House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. It has been since recognized as a contributing property, and the centerpiece of the Franklin Battlefield U.S. National Historic District. The Carter House is truly another great example of historic preservation at its finest.

The smokehouse and farm office at Carter House today. These two buildings are recognized by historic preservationists as the two most heavily damaged buildings to survive the Civil War.

The Carter House and outbuildings as they looked during the Civil War.

Bullet holes in the side of Carter House.

Be sure and come back next week for another installment of Throwback Thursday courtesy of Moore Historical Consulting. Whether your need is genealogy, historic litigation, preservation, or anything in between, contact Moore Historical Consulting and put me to work for you today!!

Rock Castle

Rock Castle was constructed in 1784, by Daniel Smith. Smith had been a captain in Lord Dunmore's War, colonel in the American Revolution, and Brigadier General of the militia in the Metro District. Smith was also a United States Senator, and later surveyed land boundaries in Middle Tennessee. In 1788, he acquired 4,722 acres of land along the Cumberland River in Sumner County, Tennessee. This acreage of land was added on to the land he had already received for his service in the Revolutionary War. Smith wanted to use limestone, to make his mansion "fireproof." The entire structure was built in three sections over the course of twelve years. The rocks were quarried on site. The only materials that were not manufactured on site were glass for the windows, and hinges and nails. The cement used to hold the stone blocks together was made out of lime mortar and sand. Limestone chimneys were added to both elevations, and a full height entry porch was built on the main facade. Additional outbuildings and landscape features included a herb garden, and peach orchard, as well as a smokehouse constructed much like the main house. Once completed the Rock Castle mansion and plantation became one of the largest in Middle Tennessee. Main crops included wheat and cotton. It is unknown exactly how many slaves lived at Rock Castle. Some reports state that as many as ninety-eight were enslaved there, while others state that only two were enslaved. Like many plantation owning families of this time, the Smith family chose to bury their deceased loved ones in their own private cemetery, on their own property. Over fifty family members are interned in this cemetery. Rock Castle, perhaps, was the inspiration for many other antebellum style homes in Tennessee. It is the only one of note to be constructed entirely of limestone. Others were constructed primarily of brick, or wood frame. Rock Castle remained in the Daniel Smith family, until 1969, when it was purchased by the State of Tennessee. Today the Tennessee Historical Commission overseas operations, grant funding, and maintenance of Rock Castle. Rock Castle is truly another great example of historic preservation at its finest.

The limestone blocks of Rock Castle were intricately cut and installed.

The smokehouse at Rock Castle was constructed in much the same was as the main house.

The Herb Garden at Rock Castle. Note Old Hickory Lake in the background.

The family cemetery at Rock Castle.

Be sure to come back next week for another Throwback Thursday courtesy of Moore Historical Consulting. Whether your need is genealogy, historic litigation, preservation, or anything in between, put Moore Historical Consulting to work for you today!!