Dixona

The historic Dixona home was constructed in 1789 by Tilman Dixon. Dixon had received a 3,840 acre land grant in present day Smith County, Tennessee in return for his service in the Revolutionary War. Dixon constructed his home to the north of what is now Carthage in the community of Dixon Springs. Dixon is considered one of the Upper Cumberland's first settlers. He fought at the Battle of King's Mountain and was also a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. Upon arrival in present day Smith County, Dixon became the first post master, magistrate, and tavern keeper in the area. The first Smith County court met at Dixona in 1799. It was at this court meeting that Smith County was established. Dixona's location along the Walton Road made it a popular stop over for travelers. Among notable guests to spend the night included Territorial Governor William Blount, and Duke of Orleans and later King of France Louis Philippe. According to the Duke's diary he recorded that he "had at Major Dixon's the luxury of coffee and two beds for four." Dixona has the distinction of being the oldest extant home in the Upper Cumberland. The nearby Cowen and Maddux homes were not built for another ten years, Jackson County's Carver home was not built until 1850, and Putnam County's White Plains was not constructed until 1858. Dixona, like most historic homes has seen its fair share of improvements over the years, but each renovation has preserved Dixon's original design. The original construction was simply a log cabin featuring eight rooms. Sometime prior to the Civil War Italianate style "wings" were added to either side of the original log cabin. These wings are connected by a Greek Revival style porch. Inside the original logs are visible, along with the ceiling joists and wrought iron door hinges. The two stone chimneys from 1789 are still extant as well as two from the mid 1800s renovation. When Tilman Dixon passed away in 1816 he was buried on the property. In 1973 Dixona was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2007 Dixona was awarded a permanent conservation easement by the Land Trust of Tennessee. The home and remaining acreage is currently privately owned. Dixona is another great example of historic preservation at its finest. At Moore Historical Consulting I am 100% committed to historic preservation. Do you own an historic home or commercial building that meets the criteria of the National Register of Historic Places? If you answered yes then contact Moore Historical Consulting today to learn more and get started.

Be sure to come back next week for another Throwback Thursday courtesy of Moore Historical Consulting. Whether your need is heritage management, historic litigation, or historic preservation let Moore Historical Consulting work for you. At Moore Historical Consulting I make exploring your past fun and easy!!