Rugby Colony

The Rugby Colony is located in the Tennessee counties of Morgan and Scott. The community traces its history back to 1880, when it was established by author Thomas Hughes. Hughes goal was to make the community one that would free its residents from the economic depression in England. People that moved to Rugby would be able to own land and not have to deal with the social and moral corruption in England. The name "Rugby" came from the town in England that Hughes grew up in. After making numerous visits to the United States, Hughes finally decided on the spot in rural Tennessee for his community. Hughes tasked Franklin W. Smith with laying out the colony and established the Rugby Tennessee Company. The first structures to be constructed were a building known as "Pioneer College," a hotel known as "Tabard Inn," several homes, and a tennis and croquet court. Other structures that were built included a church (pictured above) and a library. Each of the buildings feature the same Victorian architectural style. In the Summer of 1881, Rugby was hit hard by an outbreak of Typhoid Fever. Seven residents of the colony succumbed to the illness. These seven were buried in a cemetery, within the Rugby colony. At its peak in 1884, approximately 400 people called Rugby home. In the next few years though a series of lawsuits involving land titles would prove fatal to the community and by 1887, Thomas Hughes left the colony permanently. By 1900, the Rugby Tennessee Company sold off all their land holdings and the Rugby Colony was basically no more. By 1966, a group known as Historic Rugby formed a nonprofit group to preserve the community. In 1972, the community was listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a district. Today, the community serves as a tourist attraction.

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.

Alpine Institute

Overton County, Tennessee's Alpine Institute was first founded in 1821 by John Dillard, but was burned out by Civil War Guerrillas and later the Ku Klux Klan. The school was reestablished in 1880 and the above building was constructed in 1939. Future Tennessee Governor A.H. Roberts served as superintendent of the school. Later the Cumberland Presbyterian Church took over the day to day operations of the school. Between 1917 and 1947, the Alpine Institute became one of the most popular rural schools in Overton County. The school offered both a secondary and collegiate curriculum, and students that could not afford tuition were able to work at the school's dairy farm to pay their way. Most of the school's buildings were constructed out of native sandstone. In 1947, the Overton County school system consolidated all the schools, forcing the Alpine Institute to close. Today the only buildings surviving from the Alpine Institute are the gym, church (pictured above), shop building, house, and a dairy barn. In 2002, all these surviving buildings were listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a district.

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.

Riverwood

Nashville's Riverwood Mansion was built in 1820 in the Federal architectural style by Irish immigrant Alexander Porter. Work on the house began in 1799, with construction of a wing that is now at the rear of the house. In 1850, a third story was constructed as well as a Greek Revival style full height, full facade entry portico. Early guests to Riverwood included Andrew Jackson and his wife Rachel. In later years, United States presidents James K. Polk, Franklin Pierce, Andrew Johnson, Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, and William Howard Taft all visited Riverwood. Under Porter's ownership, the estate was known as Tammany Woods. Following Tennessee Supreme Court Justice, William Frierson Cooper's purchase of the property, the estate was renamed Riverwood. The name pays tribute to the estate's location in close proximity to the Cumberland River. Cooper's heirs owned the estate until 1975 and has seen various owners since then. In 1977 the estate was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Today the estate serves as an event venue for weddings, meetings, and even music videos.

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.