Charm of the Carolines

Remembering those who served...

And the sacrifices that were made for our freedom. God bless America and the men and women of the Armed Forces. With humble gratitude...

 

Blythewood, circa 1859

The Maury County Historical Society held its May meeting at a beautiful, old home near the hospital called Blythewood. What I love about this old home is the French Colonial style in which it was built, not the neo-Grecco style most associate with southern, antebellum homes.

However, the owners contribute the French flair to New Orleans rather than France. Over a century ago New Orleans port channeled mny art treasures from France to middle Tennessee.

Blythewood was constructed between 1857 and 1859 by a Virginian, Colonel Thomas W. Keesee. He moved here when he was nearly 20 and set up shop as a Carriage Maker. 

The house was made of brick with 14-inch thick walls, arched doors and windows, and wrought iron trim from New Orleans.

The home passed hands several times, mostly with owners who used the house as a summer home. However in August 1886 it sold to Mr. Ethelhert Henry Hatcher, a local attorney, who lived here with his wife Mrs. Florence Hatcher, until their deaths in 1917 and 1941, respectively.  The Hatchers were cousins of the Wilson family, the owners during the Civil War.

Mrs. Hatcher brought to Blythewood ti's beautiful gardens and reputation for gentility and southern hospitality.

The Hatcher's daughter-in-law moved in with Mrs. Hatcher after the death of her husband (the Hatcher's only child) and she lived in the house until her death in 1968.

The current owner is Dina Vire, who has restored the home after years of being used as a restaurant, bank, and administrative offices to the Williams Funeral Home.

The french wall paper mural was manufactured by the renowned Alsatian firm of Zuber at Cie and is still beautiful a century later.

The meeting concluded at the Williams Funeral Home, newly opened after the devasting fire just a year ago.

Williams funeral home was renting administrative office space in Blythewood until their new building was completed.

We appreciate them letting us hold our business meeting in their new facility and for the refreshments. I enjoyed a tour of the new facility and found it beautful. My favorite discovery was the choices one has in final arrangements, including the camo casket, a la Duck Dynasty.

What will they think of next??

 

(Photos are my own with the exception of several borrowed from photographer Kathie Fuston. For a complete look at Kathie's photos, please visit the Maury County Historical Society's Facebook Album.)

Maury County and General Nathanael Greene -- Savior of the Continental Army Part Two

Guest blogger Janet Tuhlar shares Part Two of her research on Nathanael Greene, giving us insight to the founding of our country and the South. (Part One, click here.)

 

Properties gifted to General Greene

The tragic, premature death of General Nathanael Greene robbed the fledgling nation of an outstanding leader.  His enormous debt for the supply of his troops now fell on Caty, his thirty-two year old widow, as she struggled to raise five young children.

At the close of the War, properties had been given to General Greene in appreciation for his delivery of the South from British occupation.  Before his death, Nathanael had decided what would be done with the properties.

North Carolina had given 25,000 acres upon its frontier (now Maury County, Tennessee).  This property was sizeable indeed, but of no use to the general at the time.  He did nothing with it, but stated in his will that it was to be divided among his children.

South Carolina presented  a 2,500 acre plantation, which had been abandoned by its Tory owner.  Nathanael quickly sold this property, using the money to temporarily sooth his creditors.

Georgia also gifted the general with a 2,500 acre plantation along the Savannah River, known as the Mulberry Grove Plantation.  He moved his young family to Savannah, Georgia, to begin his new life as a gentleman farmer -- hoping for success with the plantation and the petition he was attempting to present before the United States Congress to have the debt for the supply of the troops in the Southern Campaign paid. 

Mulberry Grove is where Nathanael Greene fell victim to a stroke and died at the age of forty-four.  It is where President George Washington twice paid a visit to Widow Caty Greene, to pay his respects, and, in all likelihood to counsel her in the preparation of her own petition to Congress -- for, Congress had ignored Nathanael’s attempt.  Caty, with the help of the Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton (who drafted the twenty page petition), Congressman (General) Anthony Wayne (who argued the case vehemently before Congress), and President Washington (behind the scene, no doubt) by a very narrow margin, was success in receiving the indemnity of her late husband’s estate. (It was also at Mulberry Grove Plantation that, with Caty Greene’s help, Eli Whitney would invent the Cotton Gin. 

Her name is on the original patent).

Finch Family

This adorable female House Finch has built her next in the fern that hangs from my front porch.

I didn't realize it was there when I moved the fern to the front steps during several days of rain. The only egg in the nest at the time fell out. However, since then I haven't touched the fern and we have many eggs waiting to hatch in the next 2 weeks.

Click here to hear her song.

It's a Great Day to be from Middle Tennessee

Several years ago friends of mine and I would spend our Saturday evenings at the senior center on Broadway in downtown Nashville (that's right, Senior Center) learning how to Swing Dance.

The evening started with an hour of lessons to learn the basic rock step, and was followed by a 1940s USO-style dance (Family-friendsly, Alcohol-free, Smoke-free).   During the summer, it was offered outside at the band shell at Centennial Park with even more people attending. Even babies were feeling the beat and having a good time.

 

 

Having a soul that must have been originally destined for the 1940s, I loved it. I even signed up for Swing Dance lessons at the local YMCA to improve my skills, but with two left feet, no previous dance experience, and local church ladies convinced swing dancing would be a path to lead to destruction, I gave it up. Buh-bye.

 

And I never really thought about it again.

Until this video popped up, I Charleston Nashville, by the Nashville Swing Dance Foundation. The Nashville Swing Dance Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to preserving, promoting & educating the Nashville Community about all forms of vintage (1920ʼs-1940ʼs) swing dancing, including Lindy Hop, Charleston, Balboa & Blues.  

Now the dances are held on Friday evenings, with a cover of $7 you get free lessons, great music, and a fun evening.The NSDF is moving their dances to a new location at 805 Woodland St. in East Nashville, so the next one on May 31 is FREE.

Might be time to check it out again!