Mount Vernon

George Washington's Mount Vernon estate was constructed in 1758 on the banks of the Potomac River in Fairfax County, Virginia. The land that Mount Vernon sits on had been in the Washington family since 1674. The plantation was first known as Little Hunting Creek Plantation. When George Washington's older half brother inherited the property, he renamed the land Mount Vernon, in honor of Vice Admiral Edward Vernon. The original dwelling was constructed where the current home sits, by Washington's father Augustine. When George inherited the plantation, he set to work constructing the current dwelling. Construction began in 1758 and was completed in 1778. The home was constructed in seven phases. The main facade faces the Potomac River and features a full height, full facade entry porch. The home also features a cupola on the roof, as well as dormers. The rear of the home does not feature the fancy ornamentation that the main facade does. What is unique about the rear elevation is that there are wings on either side, but these wings do not run parallel to the main house like most do. Instead they wrap around a driveway, known as "mansion circle." The two wings house the servants quarters and kitchen. The entire home is constructed in the Palladian architectural style, and the unique "wing" layout is known as a cour d'honneur. It is unknown who designed Mount Vernon. Most of the trees surrounding the home were planted by George Washington. Before and after the Revolutionary War, Washington grew tobacco at Mount Vernon. He also experimented with crops such as cotton and silk. Washington and his family used Mount Vernon as the executive mansion during his time as president, as the White House had not been constructed yet. December 12, 1799 was the last time Washington would see Mount Vernon. He rode his horse around the plantation viewing the different crops. When he returned home, he ate his supper and went to bed. The next morning he woke with a sore throat. All the medications that he took failed to cure his sore throat, and on December 14, 1799 he passed away at his home. His funeral was held at Mount Vernon and he was buried in his family's tomb, which was located on the grounds. As stipulated in Washington's will, Mount Vernon was passed through multiple generations of the Washington family. By the mid 19th century, the cost of maintaining the estate had grown expensive. George Washington's great-grandnephew John Augustine Washington III petitioned to the State of Virginia to purchase Mount Vernon. The appeal was unsuccessful. Finally in 1858 a group of ladies known as the Mount Vernon Ladies Association purchased a portion of Mount Vernon. Included in the portion of the estate purchased was the Mount Vernon home. The home had fallen into a dilapidated state. The Ladies Association, led by Ann Pamela Cunningham were able to raise enough funds to restore the historic home. During the Civil War Mount Vernon served as neutral ground. Soldiers were invited to tour the mansion, as long as they covered their respective uniform. In 1885 Harrison Howell Dodge became superintendent of Mount Vernon. In his tenure he was able to double the estate's acreage, improve the grounds, and reclaim many of the historic artifacts that had been "lost." In the early 20th century Charles Wall became superintendent. In his tenure he further restored the mansion and grounds. On November 7, 2007 President George W. Bush hosted French President Nicolas Sarkozy at Mount Vernon. As of 2012 Mount Vernon has seen over 80 million visitors. The Mount Vernon Ladies Association continues to oversee the daily operations of the estate, and receive no Federal or State funding. In 1960 Mount Vernon was added to the National Register of Historic Places. That same year it was given the distinction of being listed as a National Historic Landmark, due to it being the residence of George Washington. Mount Vernon is one of the first examples of historic preservation, and is truly an historic preservation success story. At Moore Historical Consulting my #1 priority is historic preservation. Do you own an historic home, commercial building, or farm? If so contact me today to learn more about the historic preservation strategies I offer. These include nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, nominations for a Permanent Conservation Easement, and nominations to the Century Farms program. At Moore Historical Consulting I make exploring and preserving your past fun and easy.

Rear elevation of Mount Vernon. Note the "wings" on either side of the home, as well as the Potomac River in the background.

Washington Family tomb at Mount Vernon.

Be sure to come back next week for another Throwback Thursday courtesy of Moore Historical Consulting.

Johns-King Home

The Johns-King Home, or Liberty Hill, as it was historically known was built around 1807 on land that was given as a land grant to Colonel Robert Weakley for his service in the Revolutionary War. Weakley was a member of Tennessee's First General Assembly. The home was built along Old Jefferson Pike in Smyrna, Tennessee which was one of the major thoroughfares in the area. The house began its life as a log cabin and evolved through the years into a beautiful example of Greek Revival style architecture. Throughout much of the 19th century Liberty Hill functioned as a working plantation, and was one of the area's largest producers of cash crops. Liberty Hill also served as the first county seat of Rutherford County. What differentiates Liberty Hill from other antebellum plantations is the fact that not only did it witness the Civil War, but it also witnessed the Trail of Tears. In 1838 President Andrew Jackson ordered the Indian Removal Act. Cherokee Indians living throughout Tennessee were forced to pack up their lives and move westward. One of the routes that the Cherokees had to follow was Old Jefferson Pike. That meant that they had to pass right by Liberty Hill on their journey westward. Liberty Hill, or the Johns-King House is one of less then ten structures remaining in the area that witnessed the Trail of Tears. In 1840 Liberty Hill was sold out of the Weakley family. The home and property were purchased by Thomas Johns. By all accounts, this family continued to run the plantation much like the Weakley family had. During the Civil War, the Johns-King House served as a field hospital. Its location along Old Jefferson Pike made it an important position for both sides. On December 30, 1862 Confederate General Joseph Wheeler blocked Old Jefferson Pike. His goal was to delay the arrival of the approaching Union forces so that he had ample time to invade a Union supply train. The supply train stretched from Old Jefferson Pike to Stewart's Creek. Many of the supply wagons were located on the Liberty Hill property. Wheeler and his forces burned approximately sixty-five supply wagons. The minor skirmish became known as the Battle of Espey Chapel. Following the Civil War, Liberty Hill was sold out of the Johns family. Benjamin Seawell King, a relative of the Johns family, purchased the home and property. By all accounts the farm returned to normal operation following the war. Throughout the 20th century, the home was inhabited by members of both the Johns and King families. In 1998 the resident of the home passed away and the historic home has sat empty ever since. Due to reasons unknown, the home has never been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Johns-King home has consistently been listed as one of the most endangered historic sites in Tennessee. Modern subdivision developments have threatened the home in recent years. Are you the owner of an historic home or commercial building? If so do not let it become like the Johns-King home. Contact Moore Historical Consulting today to learn more about the historic preservation strategies that I offer. These include nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, nominations for a Permanent Conservation Easement, and nominations to the Century Farms program. At Moore Historical Consulting I make exploring and preserving your past fun and easy.

For more on the Johns-King home check out this link from the Rutherford County Historical Society: http://rutherfordtnhistory.org/liberty-hill-bore-witness-to-trail-of-tears-civil-war/

Be sure to come back next week for another Throwback Thursday courtesy of Moore Historical Consulting.

Wynnewood

Wynnewood, also known as Castalian Springs, is the largest extant log structure in the state of Tennessee. The log home was not built until 1828, but the area around it had been inhabited hundreds of years prior. The area around Wynnewood was well known among early Tennessee settlers for its rich mineral springs. These mineral springs were enticing not only to early settlers, but wildlife as well. Long hunters knew that they could use the mineral springs to lure animals like buffalo. Many of  these hunters grew wealthy due to the high demand for buffalo hides. The first to discover these mineral springs was Isaac Bledsoe in 1772. From 1778- 1779 Thomas Sharp Spencer lived in a hollowed out Sycamore tree hunting buffalo. The Native Americans living in the area were afraid of Spencer due to his large size and refused to bother him. By the turn of the century an increasing number of settlers began to come to Tennessee. Pioneer roads such as the Walton and the Kentucky Stock Roads served travelers and their families well. Most of these roads were carved out with natural resources in mind. In 1828 A.R. Wynne, William Cage, and Stephen Roberts constructed a large log cabin that would serve as a stagecoach stop along the Nashville-Knoxville Road. The inn was originally called Castalian Springs, and was popular among travelers because many felt that the mineral springs served a medicinal purpose. In 1834 Wynne bought out his two partners and moved his family into the log cabin. He continued to operate his home as a stagecoach stop. The family also sold mineral water. When the Civil War broke out, Wynne remained loyal to the Union. His four sons however enlisted in the Confederate army. Surprisingly the log home was not harmed by either army during the war. Union troops did use Wynne's surrounding farmland as a camp site. Wynnewood's location, approximately halfway between Gallatin and Hartsville, made the site valuable to both armies. Following the war Wynnewood ceased to be a stagecoach stop and a mineral springs business. Instead it served as a private residence for the Wynne family. In 1893 A.R. Wynne died. In 1899 his two daughters leased the log cabin to an outside party. This new party converted the log cabin into a resort. The resort included a pool hall, and a dance pavilion among other amenities. Activities such as horseback riding were popular among guests. The main selling point to tourists was the mineral springs. The resort continued to operate until 1914. From 1914 to 1971 the Wynne family focused on progressive farming. In 1971 the Tennessee Historical Commission purchased Wynnewood from the Wynne family. In 1972 the site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was also listed as a National Historic Landmark. The National Historic Landmark designation is the highest honor an historic site can receive. By being designated a National Historic Landmark, it shows that a site maintains exceptional value in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States. This distinction is the most difficult honor for historic preservationists to obtain for an historic site. Wynnewood has the distinction of being one of only twenty-nine National Historic Landmarks in Tennessee. In 2008 a tornado ripped the roof off the historic log cabin and knocked the structure partially off its foundation. The site had to undergo significant repairs and was closed until 2012. Since its reopening Wynnewood has seen numerous visitors. It has been designated a state historic site by the Tennessee Historical Commission. Wynnewood is yet another great example of historic preservation success. At Moore Historical Consulting my #1 priority is historic preservation. Do you own an historic home, commercial building, or farm? If so contact me today to learn more about the historic preservation strategies I offer. These include nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, nominations for a Permanent Conservation Easement, and nominations to the Century Farms program. At Moore Historical Consulting I make exploring and preserving your past fun and easy.

Plaque affixed to the Wynnewood log cabin designating it a National Historic Landmark. One of only twenty-nine in the state of Tennessee.

Be sure and come back next week for another Throwback Thursday courtesy of Moore Historical Consulting.