Franklin Antebellum Home Burns

By Gregory L. Wade · Originally published November 2016 · p. 21

FRANKLIN, TENN.—An antebellum home finished just as the Civil War ended, recently burned just outside of Franklin, Tennessee, and is considered a total loss. Banker Joseph Wilson, who was blind, started the home’s construction in 1840 and was known to personally feel every board as it was erected. The two-story mansion was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. Standing on the corner of Wilson and Cloverland Pike, itself was the scene of constant troop movements and skirmishes during the war. At one-point construction stopped when on how to take this and draw beauty from ashes.” According to local reports the home had been a focal point of a contentious divorce until it was recently sold for $850,000. There were no injuries in the blaze, and a routine investigation is being conducted by the local fire marshal.

federal troops threatened to burn it down but backed off when local women fed them. When the north to south Franklin Pike that was to the west became too dangerous for federal troops, Wilson Pike was an important alternate route from Brentwood to the Murfreesboro Pike. The home no doubt witnessed a lot of these troubles, and its completion was delayed because of the war. Franklin historian Rick Warwick noted the Greek Revival style was one of the most popular in the area at the time, and the Wilson house was one of the best. “There’s not many of what was that quality left,” he said. The current owners of the home had planned to convert the property into a school of music and the arts. Owner Robin Woalaver said she is hopeful “we will see the way clear