Carole Fields

Carnton Concert: July 26

The Historic Carnton Plantation in Franklin, TN is featuring a concert series to raise money for some of their programs and projects.  

Date:  Sunday, July 26th, 6-8 PM

Where:  Historic Carnton Plantation, Franklin, TN

Cost:  $10 for adults, $ 5 for children, ages 6-12

Featured Group:  Sixty-Four Band, a Beatles Tribute Band 

Food: Bring your own or purchase on site

We have heard great reviews for the band.  Sounds like a fun evening, plus you are helping one of Franklin's treasured historic sites.  Hope to see you there.  

Town and Country Tour of Homes

The 33rd annual Town and Country Tour sponsored by the Heritage Foundation is scheduled for this  weekend. Ticket holders can visit 9 homes in Franklin, and see many architectural and design details.

The following homes are on the tour:

*Watson House, 214 Third Aveneu

*Moore Browntown, 145 Second Ave., S

*Apple House, 902 W. Main Street

*Warren House, 1011 W. Main Street

*Upstairs on Main, 424 B Main Street

*Hutcheson-Tanner HOuse, 111 Lewisburg Ave

*Fowlkes-Mayberry House, 114 Lewisburg Ave.

*Young-Dannenfelser Cottage, 801 Fair Street

*Look Away Farm, 1850 Lewisburg Pike

WHEN:  Saturday, June 7 :  10 a.m. to 5 p. m.

             Sunday, June 8 :   1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets are $25 each in advance and $30 each at any of the participating homes. 

The proceeds benefit the projects of the Heritage Foundation.

A Visit to The James K. Polk Home

  While in Columbia, TN, I had the opportunity to visit the ancestral home of James K. Polk, the eleventh President of the United States. This National  Historic Landmark is a modest home that reflects the architecture of Middle Tennessee in the early 1800's.

The docent gave a very informative tour of the facilities. They are rightfully proud of President Polk's legacy and mention that he kept his promises to the electorate.  What a refreshing and novel idea!

The Museum shop has a nice selection of memorabilia.  Winterthur Museum ( The Henry Francis duPont Winterthur Museum in Wilmington, Delaware)  commissioned the reproduction of certain pieces of the Polk White House China several years ago.  Many consider it to be one of the most beautiful china patterns commissioned for The White House. Some dessert plates , cups and saucers are available in the museum store. A representation of the china is pictured above.

A charming cookbook, "Provisions and Politics--Recipes Honoring First Lady Sarah Childress Polk," is available. It was a National Community Cookbook Winner in 2003 and would make a delightful addition to a cookbook collection.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Polk home and would encourage you to take time for a tour when you are in the area.

www.jameskpolk.com 

303 West 7th Street

Columbia, TN 38401

931-388-2354

Rippavilla Plantation

Rippavilla Plantation is a charming antebellum home in Spring Hill, TN. I recently took a friend for a tour and we learned some interesting facts about the area. Rippavilla was in the middle of The Battle of Spring Hill which was fought on November 29, 1864. This was the day before the Battle of Franklin where there were over 9000 casualties--a major turning point in the War.

Maury County Commissioner Ty Cobb is working to preserve the land around Rippavilla.  It is hoped that it could be added to the National Register of Historic Places and used for "heritage tourism" rather than strip malls or residential development. This is an exciting time for preservationists.

Do take time to visit this interesting site.  Find out why the owner, Nathaniel Frances Cheairs, IV, a Confederate officer, was pardoned by the Union general the night before Cheairs was scheduled to be hanged.  Very interesting!

Also, there is a corn maze that is open to the public on Thursday-Sunday through November 4.  It should be great fun for the family! The corn has grown exceedingly  well during the drought.  That is a story in itself. For more information on Rippavilla please visit their web site at: www.rippavilla.org

Jill Cecil Wiersma, Staff Writer for "The Tennessean" has some interesting articles about recent developments at Rippavilla.  Click here.