Falcon Rest

Warren County, Tennessee's Clay Faulkner House, or Falcon Rest was constructed in 1896 and is a wonderful intact example of the Late Victorian Architectural style. The Faulkner family had come to McMinnville to establish mills on the Caney Fork and Collins Rivers. Perhaps their most famous mill was located in Rock Island. The mill, which is still intact, was one of the largest for its time. It only operated from 1892 until 1902, when it was damaged during the Good Friday McMinnville Flood. The mill never reopened and has sat vacant ever since. Following the flood Faulkner focused his sole attention on his Mountain City Cotton Mill. During the 1890s, Faulkner began having bladder trouble. He discovered that mineral water was a remedy for this ailment. He discovered mineral water on his land in northern Warren County (present day Bluff Springs, Dibrell areas). Always looking to turn a profit, Faulkner decided to construct a hotel on his land. The hotel would serve as a resort for tourists looking to take advantage of the mineral water craze. Also in the 1890s, Faulkner put plans in motion for a new house. Faulkner had lived in downtown McMinnville, and the horse and buggy ride to work was beginning to become to much for him. He set out to build the "finest house in the county." The house was constructed of solid brick, and Faulkner told his contractor to "dig down to the bedrock," when digging the basement and footers. When finished, the home indeed became one of the finest in Warren County. The home features a wrap around porch and gingerbread wood trim. Like most 19th century homes, Falcon Rest features an open air floor plan, in order to keep the home cool in the Summer and warm in the Winter. Falcon Rest was one of the first homes in Warren County to have electricity. In 1916 Clay Faulkner died and his widow, Mary, sold Falcon Rest in 1929. The home was passed through a number of owners, but sometime after 1943, the home was purchased by Dr. J.P. Dietrich, who opened a hospital and sanitarium in the home. The home became known as Faulkner Springs Hospital and Sanitarium. Until 1968, Falcon Rest was Warren County's only hospital facility. By 1968, a new more modern hospital was constructed in McMinnville, forcing the Faulkner Springs Hospital and Sanitarium to close. This aspect of Falcon Rest's history has led to speculation that it might be haunted, but of course this is untrue!! The home sat empty until 1983 when it was purchased and restoration began. The current owners purchased the home in 1989 and completed the restoration. Today Falcon Rest operates as a historic house museum, and has been dubbed "Tennessee's Biltmore." In 1992 Falcon Rest was listed in the National Register of Historic Places under Criteria B for its association with Clay Faulkner, and Criteria C for its architectural significance and integrity. FalconRest continues to be a significant part of Warren County and Tennessee history.

At Moore Historical Consulting my #1 priority is historic preservation. Do you own a 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, nominations to the Century Farms program, and writing text for historic makers. At Moore Historical Consulting I make exploring and preserving your past fun and easy.

Smith-Carter House

Nashville's Smith-Carter House was constructed in 1925. The home is a rare example of an intact, minimally altered Monterey Revival architectural style home. The home was acquired by Carl and June Carter Smith in 1952. June Carter eventually divorced Smith, and remarried a Nix. June Carter was performing with her mother, Maybelle, and her sisters. Their group eventually became known as The Carter Family. The group performed on the Grand Ole Opry and later toured with Elvis Presley. June Carter's songwriting was all carried out at this home, and she also invited other musicians to the home to write songs. In the early 1960s, The Carter Family was invited to perform on The Johnny Cash Show. June and Johnny eventually fell in love and were married in 1968. Johnny and June Carter Cash later moved to a nearby home in Hendersonville, Tennessee. That home burned in 2007. June Carter's mother, Maybelle, lived in this home until she passed away in 1978. The home is still privately owned. The Smith-Carter House is one of Tennessee's newest additions to the National Register of Historic Places. The home was officially listed in the National Register on November 29, 2018. The home was listed under Criteria B, for its association with June Carter Cash, and Criteria C, for its architectural significance. The Smith-Carter House is another piece of Nashville's Country Music History that has been preserved and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

For more on this property, visit: https://www.nps.gov/places/smith-carter-house.htm

At Moore Historical Consulting my #1 priority is historic preservation. Do you own a 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, nominations to the Century Farms program, and writing text for historic makers. At Moore Historical Consulting I make exploring and preserving your past fun and easy.

Joseph Daniel Walling House

McMinnville, Tennessee's Joseph Daniel Walling House was constructed in 1856. The home is a great mixture of the Federal and Greek Revival architectural styles. The home is situated on a hill overlooking the Barren Fork of the Collins River, just south of McMinnville. The home features a central hall open air floor plan. The Federal details are evident in the way the brick is laid, and in the three bay construction of the home. The Greek Revival style full height entry porch is a nice added touch. Like most homes of this day, the floor plan was designed with efficient heating and cooling in mind. Joseph Daniel Walling was originally from Sparta, Tennessee, but by 1850 he had purchased 900 acres of land in Warren County. Shortly after moving to Warren County and constructing this house, Walling was elected Warren County Magistrate, and eventually founded the First National Bank of Warren County. Walling's agricultural operation included corn, wheat, oats, apples, and livestock. When Walling died in 1888, most of the land around the home was sold, and in 1893 the house was sold out of the Walling family. Today the Walling House is surrounded by newer more modern homes, but it still stands proudly overlooking the Barren Fork of the Collins River and the village of McMinnville. In 1980 the Joseph Daniel Walling House was listed in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C for its local significance in architecture. The nomination was prepared by Walling's great great grandson Thomas Walling.

At Moore Historical Consulting my #1 priority is historic preservation. Do you own a 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, nominations to the Century Farms program, and writing text for historic makers. At Moore Historical Consulting I make exploring and preserving your past fun and easy.