Burra Burra Mine

The Burra Burra Mine takes its name from the famous mine of the same name in Australia. Located in Ducktown, Tennessee, it operated from 1899-1959. The area where the mine is located is at the center of the "copper basin." This basin consists of areas in Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina. The Ocoee River flows through the southwestern portion of this area.  The Burra Burra Mine is located approximately 1,798 feet above sea level. The land that now comprises the "copper basin" were Cherokee lands until 1836, when the Federal Government took control of the basin. In 1843, copper was discovered for the first time. However, it was difficult to access due to the lack of major roads. In 1850, the current US-64 was constructed through the Ocoee Gorge, and in 1860, the Burra Burra Copper Company was established. Mining operations did not last long, due to the outbreak of the Civil War. Following the war, costs of transporting copper out of the mines became so expensive that the Burra Burra Copper Company was forced out of business. By the early 1890s, the Marietta and North Georgia Railroad, and the Knoxville Southern Railroad constructed a rail line that connected the copper basin to both Knoxville and Marietta. This provided an easy way to transport copper, and put the mines back in business. The mines were overseen by the Tennessee Copper Company. The Burra Burra Mine used an open roast smelting method. This method released large amounts of sulfur dioxide. This resulted in the killing of vegetation throughout the central basin. After a lawsuit by local farmers, and the State of Georgia, the Tennessee Copper Company began to recapture the sulfur dioxide, and convert it into sulfuric acid. This sulfuric acid was then sold. In addition to producing copper, and sulfuric acid, the mines also produced copper sulfate, as well as iron, and zinc concentrates. By the time the Burra Burra Mine closed, its vertical shaft was over 2,400 feet deep. This made it one of the largest, and deepest vertical shafts in North America. Even though the Burra Burra Mine closed in 1959, mining continued in the "copper basin" until 1987. In 1988, concerned residents wanted to do something to honor their mining history. They petitioned the state of Tennessee to purchase the old mine site. The state did, and the Ducktown Mining Museum was established. As part of a "re-greening" effort approximately 16 million trees have been planted at the Burra Burra Mine, and the area has been seeded with acid tolerant grass. Only ten structures remain from the original mine. The mine itself has since collapsed, and has filled with water. The site has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The site is currently under the oversight of the Tennessee Historical Commission. The Burra Burra Mine, and its buildings are yet another great example of historic preservation success. At Moore Historical Consulting, historic preservation is, and will remain my #1 priority. For every saved site, there are thousands more that have yet to be saved. Do you know of one? If you answered yes, contact Moore Historical Consulting today.

The Burra Burra Mine today.

A few of the remaining Burra Burra Mine buildings.

The Tennessee Historical Commission puts these signs at all their State Historic Sites.

Be sure to come back next week for another Throwback Thursday presented by Moore Historical Consulting. Christmas is right around the corner. Why not give the gift of heritage management this year? Moore Historical Consulting offers a variety of genealogy, and business, and property history services. Contact me today to learn more. Moore Historical Consulting makes exploring your past fun and easy!!

Belle Meade Plantation

Belle Meade traces its history back to 1807, when Virginian John Harding bought land, and a cabin along the Natchez Trace. The land totaled 250 acres. Harding did not use this land for farming. He instead used it for commercial purposes. He operated a blacksmith shop, cotton gin, and a grist and saw mill. By 1816 Harding was boarding horses for area residents such as Andrew Jackson. He also raised racing horses and became a member of the Nashville Jockey Club. He built the Belle Meade house in 1820. The house originally featured federal style architecture. Harding named the house and his land Belle Meade due to its French meaning as "beautiful meadow." In 1839, Harding's son William took over operations of Belle Meade. He expanded the plantation from 250 to 5,000 acres. In 1853 he enlarged the mansion. He also changed the architectural style from Federal to Greek Revival. This was not uncommon in the 19th century, as many homes were converted into the Greek Revival architectural style. The younger Harding felt that the new architectural style reflected the success of the plantation. The fourteen foot high central entrance hall was designed to run east to west, allowing for natural cooling. This same central hall configuration is found on the second and third floors as well. Belle Meade is also unique because it was one of the first homes to be equipped with a basement. Belle Meade functioned normally until 1861 when the Civil War broke out. William Harding was quick to side with the Confederate Army, donating $500,000 to their cause. When Nashville fell to the Union in 1862, Harding was arrested, and sent to Fort Mackinac, Michigan. He was held there for six months. Back at home, Belle Meade was playing a vital role in the Battle of Nashville. Confederate General James Chalmers used the mansion as his headquarters. Union and Confederate armies engaged in a minor skirmish on the front lawn of the plantation. Bullet holes are still visible in the columns on the mansion's main facade. Following the Civil War, Belle Meade once again became a leader in horse training and racing. In 1868, Harding's daughter Selene married former Confederate General William Hicks Jackson. Harding would only let them get married if they agreed to stay on the plantation. The couple agreed, and they helped Harding run Belle Meade. Eventually Harding and Jackson decided to get out of the racing business. They instead decided to focus on breeding. They decided to sell  breeding stock of ponies, Alderney cattle, Cotswold sheep, and Cashmere goats. They also maintained a 600 acre deer park. Belle Meade stayed in the Harding family until William Jackson's death in 1903. Due to adverse financial conditions, the family sold the house and property. Most of the property was purchased and developed into modern residential neighborhoods by the Belle Meade Land Company. In 1938, these new neighborhoods were incorporated into the City of Belle Meade. The Belle Meade mansion saw a slew of different owners. It remained a private residence until 1953, when the State of Tennessee purchased it, and its 30 acres. The state deeded the property to the Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities, who oversee it today. Besides the mansion, other buildings on the grounds include the original cabin from 1807, carriage house, stable, and reconstructed slave quarters. On December 30, 1969 Belle Meade was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Belle Meade is regarded by many historians as the "Queen of Southern Plantations." For every Belle Meade there are thousands of sites just like it that are in need of preservation. At Moore Historical Consulting, historic preservation is my top priority. I am always looking for potential sites to help preserve, and list on the National Register of Historic Places. Do you know of one? If so contact Moore Historical Consulting today to learn more and get started!!

Interior of the Belle Meade mansion.

Original cabin that John Harding purchased in 1807.

Reconstructed slave quarters.

Belle Meade carriage house.

Belle Meade stable.

Many of the modern homes in the Belle Meade community feature much of the same architectural styles as the historic Belle Meade mansion. 

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday next Thursday, there will NOT be a Throwback Thursday. Moore Historical Consulting would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Whether your need is genealogy, property research, historic litigation, historic preservation, or anything in between, put Moore Historical Consulting to work for you today. I make exploring your past fun and easy!!

Rippavilla Plantation

Construction began on the Rippavilla Plantation in 1851, by Nathaniel Cheairs IV. The Cheairs family had lived in the Spring Hill, Tennessee area since 1811. Construction was not complete until 1855, due to the fact that the Cheairs family had construction halted three separate times. Each time, Nathaniel Cheairs was unhappy with how the house was being constructed. While the house was under construction, the Cheairs family lived in a two story log cabin on the property. The family finally moved in in 1855. Once completed, the new home featured a full height entry porch, in the Greek Revival architectural style. The home also featured four fireplaces. The interior was decorated with elaborate wallpaper, flooring, and furnishings. A slave cabin was constructed behind the house. It is unknown how the plantation received its name. Their stay did not last long however. Following the outbreak of the Civil War, in 1861, the family moved out. Nathaniel Cheairs raised two companies of men for the Confederate Army. Cheairs rose to the rank of "major." At the Battle of Fort Donelson, Cheairs delivered General Ulysses Grant's "unconditional surrender" to General Simon Buckner. In 1864, during General John Bell Hood's last gasp effort to take back Tennessee, Rippavilla served as his headquarters before the Battle of Franklin. After the battle, Rippavilla served as a field hospital. The home had also served as headquarters to Union troops. On the front porch of the house, it is believed that Nathan Bedford Forrest threatened to beat up Hood. When the war ended, the Cheairs family moved back to Rippavilla. Nathaniel and his wife Susan continued to reside at Rippavilla until her death in 1893. Nathaniel suffered a stroke while visiting family, and died soon after in 1914. His son William took possession of Rippavilla. The younger Cheairs maintained possession of the home until 1920, when he sold it. Between 1920 and 1997, not much is known about the house, or who occupied it. Large modern developments sprang up on all sides, but the historic Rippavilla home stood the test of time. In 1997 the home was restored by the Saturn Corporation, whose plant was right across the street, the United Auto Workers Association, and the Maury County government. Rippavilla was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. Today the Rippavilla Plantation consists of only 98 acres. The slave cabin is still extant, and many of the slaves who worked on the plantation are interned in a slave cemetery on the property. In May of 2017, the City of Spring Hill accepted the donation of the Rippavilla Plantation, by Rippavilla Incorporated. The city government will oversee the continued preservation and maintenance of the home and grounds, while the Friends of Rippavilla will continue to oversee fundraising efforts. The Rippavilla Plantation is truly a great historic preservation success story. At Moore Historical Consulting, my #1 priority is historic preservation. For every Rippavilla, there are countless other historic properties that need immediate attention. It is also vital to continue to preserve, maintain, and promote historic sites that have already been saved. Do you know of an historic site that needs attention? If so contact Moore Historical Consulting today to get started.

Rippavilla home during the Civil War.

Interior of the Rippavilla home.

Slave cabin at Rippavilla.

Slave cemetery at Rippavilla.

Tennessee Historical Commission historical marker at the Rippavilla Plantation.

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

Sabine Hill

The Sabine Hill historic home was constructed by War of 1812 hero Nathaniel Taylor in 1818. Taylor was one of Elizabethton, Tennessee's earliest settlers. He was the one of the first officers in the state militia, and he also served as the first sheriff of Carter County. Taylor later served in the Tennessee General Assembly. When searching out a plot of land in which to construct his home, he chose land on a hill that would overlook Sycamore Shoals, and the western portion of Elizabethton. Taylor hired a Philadelphia architect to design his home. Instead of the Greek Revival style that had been gaining popularity, Federal style architecture was chosen. The name Sabine Hill comes from Sabine Hall, the Virginia estate of prominent planter Landon Carter. Sadly Taylor passed away before his house was completed. His wife Mary "Polly" Taylor oversaw the house's completion. Polly Taylor ran Sabine Hill until her death in 1853. Sabine Hill has some very unique architectural features. These include a five bay front facade, clapboard siding exterior walls, hand-hewn timber floor joists, a fanlight transom over the front door, and a native limestone foundation. Sabine Hill is unique in the fact that it was never remodeled into a different architectural style, like many other historic homes in Tennessee have been. Sabine Hill remained in the Taylor family until 1947. By this time it had become extremely dilapidated. Family members had ceased inhabiting the house sometime in the late 19th century, resulting in it being left neglected. James L. Reynolds acquired the home in 1949. He was interested in preserving the home. He repaired the chimneys, and foundation, and installed new window sashes. He also got Sabine Hill listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. After Reynolds' death in 1999, Sabine Hill's future was in question yet again. Reynolds' heir wanted to sell the property. The City of Elizabethon wanted to purchase the property, but were unsuccessful. The property was sold to a Johnson City, Tennessee couple who wanted to preserve the house, but for whatever reason were unable to do so. The property was then optioned to a land developer. The developer wanted to raze the house and build condominiums. In 2007 a group of concerned citizens were able to purchase the home and hold on to it until the Tennessee Historical Commission purchased it in 2008. The house had to sit idle until the Tennessee General Assembly awarded $1.1 million to the Historical Commission for research and restoration of Sabine Hill. During its preservation, everything from the wallpaper and paint, to the driveway has been studied and renovated accordingly. The entire process took five years, and on November 1, 2017 Sabine Hill was opened to the public for tours. It was designated a state historic site by the Tennessee Historical Commission. It will be overseen by the Sycamore Shoals state park. At Moore Historical Consulting, my #1 priority is historic preservation. I am happy to be working currently one two National Register of Historic Places nominations. One of which has been recently approved by the Tennessee Historical Commission. There is still work to do. As homes, commercial buildings, and churches continue to get older, they must be preserved for future generations. For every Sabine Hill there are thousands of other sites just like it that have yet to be preserved. Do you know of one? If so contact me today at Moore Historical Consulting to get started.

A neglected Sabine Hill in 1936.

A more recent view of Sabine Hill pre-restoration.

Tennessee Historical Commission Historical Marker at Sabine Hill.

Be sure to come back next week for another Throwback Thursday courtesy of Moore Historical Consulting. At Moore Historical Consulting I make exploring your past fun and easy!!