Webb Hotel

What you are about to read is the complete "narrative statement of significance" from the National Register of Historic Places nomination on Rock Island, Tennessee's Webb Hotel. The Webb Hotel was officially entered into the National Register by the United States Department of the Interior on March 27, 2020. The Webb Hotel marks the 23rd National Register site in Warren County, Tennessee and the  4th in Rock Island.

Establishment and Early Development of the Rock Island Community
The Rock Island community traces its history to the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The first activity recorded by Europeans in Rock Island was an exploratory mission in 1769-1770. The group found bones under rocks in caves along the various rivers and creeks. A stock fort mound, possibly built by the Cherokee, was recorded near the Caney Fork River. In 1793, European settlers and the Cherokee engaged in a battle on the north bank of the Caney Fork. The Native Americans were defeated, and the area was opened to European settlers. Settlers accessed this new land via the Old Kentucky Road, and Rock Island became a popular place due to its location at the confluence of the Caney Fork and Collins Rivers. The name of the community was taken from a “rock island” formation in the Caney Fork. The area originally made up the counties of Warren, White, and Van Buren. Joseph Terry is credited with being the first European to settle at Rock Island around the turn of the 19th century.

By the mid-19th century, industry in Rock Island began to boom. Using hydropower from the two rivers saw mills, cotton mills, and grist mills were constructed. Not long after the construction of these mills, the railroad industry became a necessity in order to transport these products out of the community. Perhaps the most famous mill in the Rock Island community was the Great Falls Cotton Mill (NR Listed 8/26/1982). Constructed in 1892 by Clay Faulkner, the mill was one of the most productive in the community for the next ten years. A flood in 1902 permanently closed the mill.

By 1915, construction began on the Great Falls Dam (NR Listed 7/5/1990) located at the confluence of the Caney Fork and Collins Rivers. This dam was designed to control flooding and make sure that another flood, like the one in 1902, would be avoided. The dam also provided electricity to the Rock Island community. The dam later led to the creation of a lake, which led to an increase in tourism to the area. The major attraction was fishing given the large population of large and smallmouth bass, musky, and trout. Fishermen came from all around to try their luck catching these species. With this increase in tourism came the need for restaurants, hotels, and watercraft rentals.

Webb Hotel Historical Information
In 1909, John Webb answered the need for all three tourism necessities. He and his wife built a large Craftsman style house, constructed of sandstone and red cedar shakes, less than a mile south of the dam. The Webbs had operated a hotel in a non-extant structure across the Caney Fork River in the White County community of Walling. In 1909, the Webbs closed that hotel and moved across the river to Rock Island due to the increase in the fishing hobby and the need for lodging for fishermen. The house’s location, within walking distance of the railway depot, made it easy access for rail travelers.

Webb Hotel c.1940

The house contained a large number of rooms on both levels and in a non-extant north wing. The house became known as the Webb Hotel. It did not take long for tourists to tell others about the Webb Hotel, and soon, according to local historian Tim Jones, it became one of the most popular lodging options in Rock Island. Webb’s wife Lyda became famous for her homestyle dinners, especially on Sunday afternoons. The dinners and the accommodations became so popular that country music star and member of the Grand Ole Opry, Uncle Dave Macon, often frequented the Webb Hotel on Sunday afternoons.

Webb Hotel c.1920 showing the non-extant north wing.

The Webb family also owned and operated Rock Island’s first swimming pool. The pool was located on the Collins River to the west of the house, on land that is now no longer part of the property. The pool was supported by floating steel barrels with wood slates that allowed water to flow in. The Webbs also operated a boat dock near the pool. This was the first modern dock built on the Caney Fork or any of its tributaries. Tourists were able to rent watercraft at this dock.

Floating swimming pool on the Collins River owned and operated by the Webb family c.1950.

Picture courtesy of Southern Standard McMinnville, Tennessee.

According to Rock Island historian Tim Jones, the Webb Hotel was Rock Island’s first and therefore oldest hotel facility. The Webbs passed away in the 1930s, and the property was sold. However, the property still operated as a hotel and boarding house until the mid-20th century. The hotel wing was demolished about the same time due to deterioration. The main factor in the hotel’s decline was the lack of marketing by the Rock Island community and even the Webbs themselves. The rural location of the community and hotel meant that it was often difficult to access by car, and the big city newspapers often overlooked the area.

Significance in Architecture

The Craftsman style was a popular style for residences from 1905-1930. The style is usually characterized by a low-pitched, gabled roof with porches, either full or partial width, and decorative beams, braces, or other woodwork often added under gables. Side gabled examples frequently have dormers. The style also was known for its use of a variety of materials, including stone and wood. In the Upper Cumberland the Craftsman style was popular from 1910 to 1938, with most of these being found in the towns of Cookeville and Livingston. The style was popular in this region due to its low cost of construction and maintenance.

The Webb Hotel is an excellent example of Craftsman architecture. The building maintains much of its design, materials, and workmanship. Original sandstone, red cedar shakes, and a gabled dormer on the facade are all distinguishing features of the house. A full width front porch and side-gabled roof with decorative wood brackets are also intact features of the Webb Hotel and allow it to convey its Craftsman style architecture. The interior features original ceilings, floors, fireplaces, doors, and original windows.

Notice distinguishing features of the Craftsman architectural style on the Webb Hotel such as the single dormer, red cedar shakes, and decorative wood bracketing along the cantilevered roof line. 

Alterations include demolition of a two-story hotel wing on the north elevation due to dilapidation, additions of patios along the north and south elevations, enclosure of a rear porch on the rear elevation, and carpet on the second level. These alterations were all carried out in rear and secondary spaces and do not affect the house’s significant architectural features representative of the Craftsman style. The hotel wing was not built in the Craftsman style and is not considered a significant element of the house’s architectural style. Therefore, its loss does not diminish the building’s integrity to convey its architectural significance.

The Webb Hotel is one of Rock Island’s few examples of Craftsman style architecture. The only other comparable property is the house at 136 Great Falls Rd, which exhibits a different variation of the Craftsman style. Built in 1921, this two-story home features a prominent full width stone entry porch, with a large front gabled second story that stretches almost the entire length of the stone porch. The walls of the second story are almost entirely covered in 15-light windows, suggesting that this space may have been built as a sleeping porch, a common feature on homes built in the early 20th century. The porch is comprised of uncoursed stonework with porch supports that extend beyond the porch’s roofline. The house’s foundation is also uncoursed stone and prominently visible. The first level of the house is sheathed in weatherboard, and the prominent gables on each elevation are clad in shingles. The home exhibits elements of the Craftsman style but in a different variation than the stylistic elements present on the Webb Hotel. For example, the Webb Hotel utilizes a combination of wood and cut stone construction with a front dormer and brackets. In contrast, the house at 136 Great Falls Road utilizes wood and uncoursed stone. Both have prominent stone porches, but the construction of each conveys a different variation of the Craftsman style. In addition, the Webb Hotel has such decorative elements as wide overhanging eaves and brackets.

This house at 136 Great Falls Road is Rock Island's other good example of the Craftsman architectural style. This house has several similarities and differences to the Webb Hotel.

Most of the homes in Rock Island are Ranch, Minimal Traditional, and Colonial Revival. The Webb Hotel is one of the few examples of the Craftsman style in this small, rural, tourist community, and one of the oldest in the Upper Cumberland area. This property is worthy of inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, and should be considered architecturally significant at a local level.

The author would like to thank Rock Island historian Mr. Tim Jones for his assistance with the historical aspects of the Rock Island community as a whole. He would also like to thank the current and past property owners for their careful curation of the historical information and photographs pertaining to the Webb Hotel specifically. 

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.

Cumberland Mountain School

Crossville, Tennessee's Cumberland Mountain School traces its history back to the year 1921. The school was born out of the mind of Methodist minster Robert Hall. Hall felt that the children in the rural Cumberland Plateau needed opportunities for formal education. He wanted the school to combine vocational and liberal arts. The school was located near the confluence of the Obey and Little Obey Rivers, the Tennessee Central Railroad and the new Highway 127. Nashville architect Henry Hibbs was responsible for the construction of Susie Gray Hall (pictured above) and the rest of the school's buildings. The building was constructed of brick, with a short portico on its facade, along with three dormers on its roof. When the school opened in 1921, forty-eight students enrolled. Classes offered ranged from kindergarten to 12th grade. Students were not only taught "the three R's" but were taught a trade, and also social skills. Students paid their tuition by working on the school's 340 acres. By 1922, enrollment had increased to eighty students. Many families relocated to Cumberland County just so their children would have the opportunity to attend school at Cumberland Mountain. Students in the first two graduating classes all went on to be involved in eduction, including one that went on to be a president of Duke University. Throughout the 1920s and into the 1930s enrollment at Cumberland Mountain continued to grow and plateaued at 108 students. By the late 1930s, enrollment began to decrease and by 1938, the school was closed. From 1942-1950, the school was used as an agricultural center. In 1952, the school began use as a Methodist church camp. During its 17 years as a school, 260 students received diplomas and 400 students attended the school. In 1993, the Cumberland Mountain School was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

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.

Castle Heights Military Academy Historic District

Lebanon, Tennessee's Castle Heights Military Academy Historic District traces its history back to the year 1902. David Mitchell, president of nearby Cumberland University, led the charge to create a coeducational private school that would prepare young boys and girls for college. Mitchell enlisted architect Tom Chamberlin and W.D. "Bud" Seagraves to build a main administration building. The building was completed in 1902 and was designed in the Collegiate Gothic architectural style. The building is three stories high, sheathed in red brick, and sits on a foundation constructed of Cookeville, Tennessee sandstone. The building functioned as a dormitory, gymnasium, recitation room, dining hall, and kitchen. On the first day that the school was opened for classes, ninety-four boarding students and an additional fifty-nine day students enrolled. The school's headmaster became Dr. Lahan Lacy Rice. Shortly after the construction of the administration building, the Rutherford Parks Library, the Mildred Armstrong Hospital, and the President's House were all constructed in the span of 1902-1905. Shortly before the United States entered World War I, Rice made the decision to convert the school into an all boys military academy. Rice said of the decision "several hundred students volunteered and helped win the war." Rice continued to operate Castle Heights until 1921, when he sold the school to some faculty members. From 1921 to 1928 the school went through a series of financial issues and declared bankruptcy twice. In 1928, the school was sold to book publisher Bernarr McFadden. McFadden emphasized a new culture of athletics and physical fitness for the school. Castle Heights began to compete in athletics, most notably basketball, on a national scale. During a tour of the United States, the Castle Heights team won four of the five games they played including a victory over West Point Military Academy. By the start of the school year, Castle Heights saw the largest enrollment in their history with 200 students. To put this into perspective, no more than fifty students had enrolled at Castle Heights during the previous decade. Under McFadden's watch, the school also expanded with the 1936 purchase of the David Mitchell house and farm, and the 1941 construction of the McFadden Auditorium. McFadden's heirs operated the school until 1974, when it was sold to Lebanon banker J. Roy Wauford Jr., newspaper editor Carl Wallace, and teacher J.B. Leftwich. In 1973 the school opened its doors to girls once again. For the next decade the school functioned as normal, however the outbreak of the Vietnam War and the impact when it was over led to a decline in the school's enrollment. Another factor was the creation of other private schools in close proximity to Castle Heights. By 1986, the school was closed. Perhaps the school's most famous alumni are Gregg and Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band. Upon closure of the school, most of the buildings were either sold or razed. The administration building was sold to the City of Lebanon and now serves as their city hall. Other buildings still extant include the Rutherford Parks Library, Mildred Armstrong Hospital, the Mitchell House, the presidents house, and the laundry room. In 1995 all these buildings, with the exception of the Mitchell House (listed in NR in 1979), 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.

Normandy Dam Project

Coffee County, Tennessee's Normandy Dam Project was completed in 1976 by the Tennessee Valley Authority. The dam was designed for flood control and economic development for communities along the Duck River. The dam led to the creation of Normandy Lake and both the dam and the lake were named for the nearby town of Normandy. Once completed, the dam spanned 2,807 feet across the Duck River Valley, and measured 110 feet in height. Like most TVA dams, Normandy functions as a de facto bridge that can be driven across, is constructed of concrete, and has two metal gates. The Normandy Dam can hold eleven feet of water inside its reservoir. In 2017, the Normandy Dam was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

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.

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.

Cloyd/Thomas House Hotel

Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee's Cloyd Hotel, now known as the Thomas House Hotel was built in 1890 by Zack and Clay Cloyd. The hotel was designed to accommodate the increasing number of tourists to the area looking to take advantage of the nearby mineral springs. The original structure consisted of two-stories and was sheathed in weatherboard. This structure caught fire and was severely damaged in 1924. The current structure was built a few years later in 1927. The new structure was constructed of red brick, with two-stories. Following the decline of the mineral springs industry in 1952, the Thomas House Hotel and the Donoho and Counts Hotels remained open and continued to function as hotels. Perhaps the Thomas House Hotel is most well known for being allegedly haunted. In the early 2010s, the hotel was featured in ghost hunter TV shows. Allegedly the hotel is haunted by Sarah Cloyd, the daughter of one of the Cloyd brothers. Another ghost that allegedly haunts the hotel is a guest that allegedly fell off a horse and into a nearby stream. Ghost hunters claim all the activity is based in room #37. This has led to new life for the Thomas House and tourism becomes extremely popular around Halloween. In 1986, the Thomas House Hotel was nominated and listed in the National Register of Historic Places under the name Cloyd Hotel.

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.

National Teacher's Normal and Business College Administration Building

Henderson, Tennessee's National Teacher's Normal and Business College Administration Building was constructed in 1908 along the Main Street in Henderson. The building is a mixture of the Renaissance and Italianate architectural styles. The building was designed by noted Memphis architect Hubert T. McGee. The building is constructed primarily of sandstone with three dormers on the facade and a cupola, housing a bell, at its top. The National Teacher's Normal and Business College was incorporated in 1907 and replaced the West Tennessee Christian College. By 1919 the school was renamed Freed-Hardeman College and in 1990, Freed-Hardeman University. In 2012, the building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and continues to serve as the administration building for Freed-Hardeman University.

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.

Martin Cheairs House

Spring Hill, Tennessee's Martin Cheairs House was constructed in the 1850s in the Greek Revival style. The home is patterned after the nearby Rippavilla House, built by Martin Cheairs brother Nathan. The Cheairs family had come to Spring Hill in 1810 and quickly began buying up land in the area. Martin Cheairs' house was built much like Rippavilla, with full height entry porticos on two of its four elevations, sheathed in red hewn brick, fired on the property. The house features a central hall, open air floor plan with an equal number of rooms on each story. The house is perhaps most known for what happened inside of it during the Civil War. In 1863, Confederate general Earl Van Dorn was murdered in the front room of the Cheairs house. Van Dorn was using the house as his headquarters, and was confronted by Spring Hill physician Dr. George B. Peters. The two got into an argument and Peters shot and killed Van Dorn. The argument was believed to have been about a rumored romance between Peter's wife and Van Dorn. In 1891, the Cheairs house was sold to the Spring Hill Male College. The house was named "Ferguson Hall," and dormitories were built on the property to house students. In 1934, the property was sold to the Tennessee Children's Home, sponsored by the churches of Christ. Five additional dormitories were constructed along with a kitchen and dining hall.  Today, the Martin Cheairs House is still owned and is a part of the Tennessee Children's Home. In 1976, the house was listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its historical and architectural significance.

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.

Readyville Mill

Cannon County, Tennessee's Readyville Mill is located in the Readyville Community on the eastern bank of the Stones River. The mill building is constructed in the crib style, sheathed in metal, and sits on a wood foundation, reinforced by steel "I-beams." Milling operations in Readyville began in 1812 by Charles Ready. The original mill was burned during the Civil War and the current one was constructed shortly after the war. In 1889, the mill was sold out of the Ready family and purchased by W.B. Haynes and his son Samuel. Around the turn of the century, Samuel Haynes' brother-in-law, Arthur McFerrin developed an ice plant and an electric plant to power it. This electric plant provided power for the entire Readyville Community. At the time, Readyville was one of the first rural communities in Tennessee to have access to electricity. In 1973 the Readyville Mill was listed in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion A for its overall historical significance. According to the mill's National Register nomination, as of 1973, the mill was still operational.

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.

Belle Vue

Nashville's Belle Vue House was constructed as a log cabin in 1818 by Abraham DeMoss. While on a business trip to New Orleans, DeMoss's wife and slaves enlarged the log cabin into a Colonial design. The house and surrounding plantation was given the name "Belle Vue" as this is the French term for "beautiful view." The interior of the house contains French elements, such as wallpaper. The interior of the house is also equipped with large fireplaces, and wood trim cut from native trees. In later years the exterior has been covered with weatherboard siding and a front portico has been added. In addition to their farming operation, the DeMoss family operated a grist mill and saw mill on the Big Harpeth River. Just prior to the Civil War, the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad setup a station near the DeMoss plantation known as "Belleview Station." Following the Civil War, the granddaughter in law of Abraham DeMoss purchased a nearby general store and rented it for use as a post office and dry goods store. These post-war commercial entities contributed largely to the development of the present day community of Bellevue. Belle Vue remained in the ownership of the DeMoss family until 1972 when the last descendant passed away. In 1973, Belle Vue was listed in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion A for its overall history and Criterion C for its architectural significance. Today the house remains privately owned and is at the center of the Bellevue community.

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.

Winstead Hill

Located just south of Franklin, Tennessee, Winstead Hill, played a vital role during the Civil War in Middle Tennessee. The 840 foot tall hill was once part of the Samuel Winstead Farm. The hill is 200 feet higher than the City of Franklin. In November 1864, Confederate General John Bell Hood set up an observation post on top of the hill. This allowed Hood to maintain his position during the battle. From this post, Hood was able to watch his Army of Tennessee charge and get thrown back thirteen times by the Union forces. By the time the battle was over, the Confederates had lost 6,000 of the 18,000 they started out with. This marked the beginning of the end for the Confederate Army in Middle Tennessee. Historians have labeled Winstead Hill as the place where the Battle of Franklin began. Following the Civil War, the hill became used for agricultural purposes once again. In 1948, approximately nine acres of the Winstead Farm were given to the local United Daughters of the Confederacy Chapter. This group installed interpretive materials on the property and today Winstead Hill is part of the City of Franklin Park System. In 1974 Winstead Hill was listed in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion A for its historical significance.

   View from the top of Winstead Hill today.

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.

Harrison House

The William Harrison House located in southern Franklin, Tennessee, was built in 1848. William Harrison and his family settled in Williamson County after leaving Virginia. Harrison served as the sheriff of Williamson County from 1836-1842. The house replaced a structure that had been built on the property around 1810. This structure and the newer structure have been able to coexist, as the older one now serves as additional living space at the rear of its newer counterpart. Both structures are sheathed in brick, with the older one being built in the Federal architectural style and the new one built in the Colonial Revival style, with a Greek Revival style full height entry portico. Inside the house features include an open air, central hall floor plan with a total of ten rooms. While carrying out a renovation, a secret room in the upstairs portion of the house was discovered. The room was unfinished and no one knows its purpose. Like so many historic houses in Franklin, the Harrison House witnessed combat during the Civil War. Due to the house's location between the cities of Franklin and Spring Hill, the Harrison House was often used as a headquarters by both sides. In 1864 a small skirmish occurred at Perry's Station. The wounded were taken to the Harrison House, due to its close proximity to the skirmish site. Among the wounded was General John Herbert Kelly. Kelly was the youngest Brigadier-General in the Confederate Army. Kelly was tended to inside the Harrison House for two days before succumbing to his injuries. He was buried in the front yard of the house, but was exhumed a few years later and moved to a cemetery. Later in 1864, General John Bell Hood used the Harrison House as his headquarters during the Battle of Franklin. After surveying the city from the top of Winstead Hill, Hood gave the order to attack Franklin from the front parlor of the Harrison House. Following the war, the house was owned by several members of the William Harrison family, until eventually being sold. In 1975, the Harrison House was listed in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion A and C for its significance in history and architecture respectively. Today the house remains privately owned. The Harrison House is yet another key component of the City of Franklin's history and their great efforts in the field of historic preservation.

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.

The Cedars

Jackson, Tennessee's The Cedars was constructed in 1930 by automobile executive William H. Collier. Collier was responsible for the design of the Marathon Automobile that was assembled at a plant in Nashville. Collier also served as the vice president of the Southern Engine and Boiler Works Company in Jackson. Collier purchased the Adam Huntsman Home and Farm making Jackson his permanent home. On Christmas Day, 1929, the Huntsman House burned. In its place Collier built a Colonial Revival style house. The unique thing about this new house was that Collier labeled it "fireproof." Upon examining its construction elements, one can see why he labeled it as such. The house features concrete walls fourteen to eighteen inches thick, load bearing, reinforced with steel, railroad rails in the footings, concrete floors, and a slate roof. The house features an open air central hall floor plan, a full height entry portico, and a dogleg staircase. The house was dubbed "The Cedars" because of the cedar trees lining the driveway up to the house. Legend says that David (Davy) Crockett planted these cedar trees to pay off a gambling debt owed to Adam Huntsman. Collier never completed The Cedars due to an increasing amount of debt. Finally in 1942, the property was foreclosed on. For the next few years the house was owned by a variety of people. In 1999 The Cedars was listed in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C for its significance in architecture. Today the house remains privately owned and based on pictures and Google Street View, appears vacant.

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.

Cumberland Homesteads

Located just east of Crossville, Tennessee the Cumberland Homesteads is a collection of 251 houses, on 27,802 acres of land that make up one of the four New Deal low income housing districts in the United States. The homestead program was designed in 1934 by the Federal government to be a way for low income people to get "back-to-the-land." In Cumberland County, applications were received from Cumberland, Fentress, Putnam, and Morgan counties. Each of the nearly 2,500 applicants were screened in depth based on age, ability, and desire to work. The average homesteader that was chosen was thirty-four years old, married, with three children. Each homesteader was given anywhere from four to thirty-five acres of land. Each homesteader was responsible for the construction of their own house and outbuildings, some were even paid to construct their house. The houses were all designed by William Macy Stanton. Each house would have roughly the same floor plan, and architectural design. The homesteader would eventually be give the opportunity to purchase the home by agreeing to give up two thirds of his wages to go toward the purchase price. Each house was constructed of Crab Orchard sandstone, in the Craftsman architectural style. Other notable buildings in the Cumberland Homesteads community include the Homestead Tower (pictured above), with a cross shaped building at its base. The octagonal shaped tower was used historically to house water for the settlement. The building at its base was used historically for administrative offices. The original Homestead Elementary School is located near the water tower and administration building and like the other structures in the district, is constructed of native Crab Orchard Sandstone. The community also had a general store and mill. By the mid 1940s and early 1950s, the Cumberland Homesteads community began to decline. The Federal Government's hope was to attract large mining, and milling industries, but were unable to do so due to the area's remote location. The Federal Government were forced to pull their support of the community and all the homesteaders were given the opportunity to purchase their property, which most of them did if they hadn't done so already. Today most of the houses remain privately owned, with one having been opened to the public as a museum by the Homestead Tower Association. This association also operates a museum in the tower and the school. Land around the Homesteads has been converted into Cumberland Mountain State Park. In 1988, the Cumberland Homesteads was listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a district. The district was listed under Criterion A for its overall history in community planing and development, agriculture, and social history and C for its significance in architecture.

An average Cumberland Homestead house.

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.

Cordell Hull Birthplace

The Cordell Hull Birthplace is a small modest single pen log cabin, with a separate outdoor kitchen at its rear, both constructed of yellow poplar logs. No exact date of construction for the cabin is known, but historians suggest that it was built sometime before Cordell Hull's birth in 1871. The cabin is located in the rural area of Pickett County in northern Middle Tennessee, near the Tennessee-Kentucky state line. Hull served as United States Secretary of State from 1933-1944 and still holds the record for the longest term in that office in United States history. In 1945, Hull won the Nobel Peace Prize for his establishment of the United Nations. Hull's story was very much one of "rags to riches." By the turn of the century, Hull's parents moved to a much larger Victorian/Gable Front and Wing style home in Carthage, Tennessee. The family's home in Pickett County was left to fall into a state of disrepair. In 1952 a group of concerned citizens successfully petitioned the State of Tennessee to purchase and restore the cabin. The structure  actually had to be razed and rebuilt on its original foundation in order to properly stabilize the original logs. During the 1970s and 1980s, operation of the historic cabin bounced between Standing Stone and Pickett State Parks. Finally in 1986, Tennessee Tech University intervened and listed the cabin in their most endangered places list. This report led to the rebuilding of the cabin once again in 1996. This rebuild was again carried out using the original logs and foundation, but this time being more sensitive to establishing historical accuracy. By 1997 the Tennessee State Legislature approved funding for a fully staffed park, leading to the creation of the Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park. Even though the cabin has been rebuilt on two separate occasions, its 1972 listing in the National Register of Historic Places has been unaffected. The Cordell Hull Birthplace is listed in the National Register under Criterion A and C for its historical and architectural significance.

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.

Cowan Depot

Cowan, Tennessee's Cowan Depot was constructed in 1904 by the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railroad. The building is a simple wood frame, weatherboarded building with a gabled roof. According to the building's National Register of Historic Places nomination form, the gabled roof once featured ornate bracketing, but was removed in the 1940s or 1950s. The building is painted green and gold to reflect the company colors of the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railroad. Perhaps the most unique feature of the building is its two story wing on its southern elevation. This wing was designed to allow the yardmaster to oversee the switching operations and placement of the rolling stock from the comfort of his own office. The Cowan Depot was designed to serve passengers on the main line, and serve as a terminus on the spur line from Tracy City to Monteagle. Cowan also served as the headquarters for the "pusher" or "helper" engines. These engines were tasked with assisting trains on the mainline get over Monteagle Mountain on their descent to Chattanooga. As railway service began to decline with the construction of U.S. Route 41A in the 1940s and Interstate 24 in the 1970s, the Cowan Depot was closed. Not long after its closure, the Cowan Beautification group were able to purchase the building from the Louisville and Nashville Railroad for one dollar. The L&N's only stipulation was that the building had to be moved to the other side of the railroad tracks and moved back one hundred feet from said tracks. Once this was carried out, the Cowan Beautification group restored the building and reopened it to the public as a museum. In 1977 the Cowan Depot was listed in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion A and C for its historical and architectural significance.

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.

Cumberland Mountain Tunnel

Cowan, Tennessee's Cumberland Mountain Tunnel was constructed from 1849 to 1852. The construction crew was made up of English and Irish immigrant laborers, African-American Slaves, and local residents. The tunnel is part of a 150 mile route from Nashville to Chattanooga. Once completed, the result was a 2,228 foot long tunnel through the Cumberland Mountain. The Cumberland Mountain Tunnel has the distinction as Middle Tennessee's oldest and longest tunnel. It is interesting to note that the tunnel was completed in only three years, without the use of any heavy machinery, in an extremely difficult area to work. By 1853, tracks were laid and the tunnel was placed into service. During the Civil War, the tunnel became a major landmark, that both sides wanted control of. In 1863, Confederate troops led by General Joe Wheeler, attacked a Union garrison that had been protecting the tunnel. Wheeler's Confederates were able to rout the Union stronghold. Later that same year, a Union supply train was blown up just outside the entrance of the tunnel. There are no accounts of damage to the tunnel during the Civil War. In 1915 a freight train and a railroad crew train collided head on at the Cumberland Mountain Tunnel killing eleven people. In 1918, one crewman was killed and several others injured when the boiler of a locomotive exploded just outside the tunnel. In 1977 the Cumberland Mountain Tunnel was listed in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion A for its historical significance. Today the tunnel remains in service as part of a freight line owned by CSX Transportation.

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.

Grassmere

Nashville's Grassmere Mansion was constructed around 1815 as a five bay Federal style structure. The home also has elements of the Italianate style in the ornamental trim on the portico and the curved windows on the facade. Those features were added in the late 19th century. The home features an "I" shaped floor plan. The home features a gabled roof with chimneys on each of the side elevations, and sits on a stone foundation. The home sits on land that was part of a 640 acre land grant that was issued from North Carolina. In 1810, Michael C. Dunn purchased 272 acres of that grant and built a log cabin for himself and his family. Soon after he had a larger home constructed that he dubbed Grassmere. This home would remain in the ownership of Dunn's descendants until 1964. In 1964, the home and 200 acres were deeded to the Cumberland Museum to be developed and operated as a nature study center. When the final Dunn descendant passed away in 1985, the plans for this nature center were put in motion. The land opened to the public that same year as Grassmere Wildlife Park. In 1994 the park closed and the City of Nashville purchased the home and land. The Metro Council decided that there were two options for the property. They would either relocate the Nashville Zoo from Joelton, or simply make Grassmere a city park. The former option was chosen and in 1998 the Nashville Zoo officially relocated from Joelton to Grassmere and has remained there ever since. The Grassmere Mansion remains a vital part of the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. Archaeological resources such as the Dunn Family cemetery remain intact on the property, even after the bodies were relocated  closer to the family home in 2013. In 1984 the Grassmere Mansion was listed in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion B and C for its association with prominent Nashville citizens and also for its significance in architecture. The Grassmere Mansion is a great example of adaptive reuse of a historic property.

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.