Meeting of the Waters

Meeting of the Waters was constructed in the early 1800s by Thomas Hardin Perkins. Perkins had received this land, located in Williamson County, Tennessee, as a land grant for his service in the American Revolution. The land intersected the Big Harpeth and West Harpeth Rivers. This is where the name "Meeting of the Waters" comes from. Perkins constructed his home in the Federal architectural style. He also bricked the house, making Meeting of the Waters one of the first homes in Tennessee to feature brick. The geography of the land is interesting as well. At this time Williamson County was out on the frontier. The nearest city (Franklin) was five miles away. Getting there took the better part of the day. The Perkins family had to grow their own crops, and always be on the lookout for Indians. As the city of Franklin began to grow, Meeting of the Waters remained in rural Williamson County. When Thomas Hardin Perkins died in 1838, Meeting of the Waters was passed down to his daughter, Mary Hardin Perkins, and her husband and cousin Nicholas "Bigbee" Perkins. They operated both Meeting of the Waters, as well as the plantation they had settled, known as Montpier. "Bigbee" became well known in Tennessee for assisting the Federal government in locating and capturing Aaron Burr. "Bigbee" enjoyed elaborate items, and furnished Meeting of the Waters in such a way. Meeting of the Waters has even more historical significance due to the fact that Franklin's founder Abram Maury's granddaughter married Perkins' grandson. In 1864, when the Battle of Franklin occurred, Meeting of the Waters most likely served as a camp site for both sides due to its location beside the two rivers. There are no records that suggest the house or land around it played host to any fighting, or was ever used as a headquarters. Those honors belong to the Carter, and Lotz houses, and the Carnton and Rippavilla plantations. Eventually Meeting of the Waters was sold out of the Perkins family. It has since had various owners, and is currently for sale. In 1982 Meeting of the Waters was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Meeting of the Waters is often referred to as "one of the finest homes built in the county before 1830," and has also been dubbed "queen of Williamson County's historic plantation houses." The Perkins family, and those who have come later deserve much credit for keeping this magnificent home preserved. Hopefully the next owner will continue the great historic preservation success of Meeting of the Waters. At Moore Historical Consulting I am committed to historic preservation and growing the National Register of Historic Places. Do you know of an historic site that needs to be preserved, and/or is eligible for the National Register? If so, contact Moore Historical Consulting today to learn more and get started.

Williamson County Historical Society historical marker at Meeting of the Waters.

Link to Meeting of the Waters real estate listing: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3200-Del-Rio-Pike-Franklin-TN-37069/42621924_zpid/

Be sure to come back next week for another Throwback Thursday courtesy of Moore Historical Consulting. Are you interested in heritage management? historic preservation? or historic litigation? If so contact Moore Historical Consulting today to learn more and get started. I make exploring your past fun and easy!!