Who doesn't love an old historic home. Better yet, who doesn't love an old historic home built out of limestone that heralds back to the pioneer days.
Come along as I walk the grounds around the beautiful Historic Rock Castle situated in Hendersonville, Tennessee. While Hendersonville is famous for being the home of many country music stars, it is more importantly home to the Historic Rock Castle house. Rock Castle was built in the Federal style design and crafted from beautiful limestone.
Daniel Smith, a Virginia surveyor, and a Brigadier General in the Revolutionary War, began construction of Rock Castle in 1784 using land grants awarded him for his service in the military. Later, Smith became a member on the committee that eventually framed the Bill of Rights. He also became a U. S. Senator. Having been a surveyor, he was commissioned to determine the divisional lines between Kentucky and Tennessee which today is still the border between the two states.
The Smith Family occupied Rock Castle for 200 years. The house wasn't actually completed until 1791 due to several Indian attacks that occurred during construction. Smith owned 3,000 acres of land around Rock Castle which he farmed using slaves until after the Revolutionary War, and sharecroppers thereafter. Rock Castle is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The main house sits right next to what was then Drake's Creek. After the Tennessee Valley Authority was formed in modern day, Drake's Creek became Old Hickory Lake. Behind the main house sits a quaint barn with a rusty tin roof made out of the same limestone as the house. Situated next to the house are two flower gardens that were buzzing with bees and butterflies.
Trying to imagine what life was like living in the late 1700's in this historic old home boggles my mind, especially considering during the building of the house there were frequent Indian attacks. Those really were the pioneer days and this literally was one of the first permanent settlements in middle Tennesse at that time. I hope you enjoyed walking the grounds around Historic Rock Castle. I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. I will be back soon. ENJOY!
Come along as I walk the grounds around the beautiful Historic Rock Castle situated in Hendersonville, Tennessee. While Hendersonville is famous for being the home of many country music stars, it is more importantly home to the Historic Rock Castle house. Rock Castle was built in the Federal style design and crafted from beautiful limestone.
Daniel Smith, a Virginia surveyor, and a Brigadier General in the Revolutionary War, began construction of Rock Castle in 1784 using land grants awarded him for his service in the military. Later, Smith became a member on the committee that eventually framed the Bill of Rights. He also became a U. S. Senator. Having been a surveyor, he was commissioned to determine the divisional lines between Kentucky and Tennessee which today is still the border between the two states.
The Smith Family occupied Rock Castle for 200 years. The house wasn't actually completed until 1791 due to several Indian attacks that occurred during construction. Smith owned 3,000 acres of land around Rock Castle which he farmed using slaves until after the Revolutionary War, and sharecroppers thereafter. Rock Castle is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The main house sits right next to what was then Drake's Creek. After the Tennessee Valley Authority was formed in modern day, Drake's Creek became Old Hickory Lake. Behind the main house sits a quaint barn with a rusty tin roof made out of the same limestone as the house. Situated next to the house are two flower gardens that were buzzing with bees and butterflies.
Trying to imagine what life was like living in the late 1700's in this historic old home boggles my mind, especially considering during the building of the house there were frequent Indian attacks. Those really were the pioneer days and this literally was one of the first permanent settlements in middle Tennesse at that time. I hope you enjoyed walking the grounds around Historic Rock Castle. I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. I will be back soon. ENJOY!
imagine the memories inside those stone walls.And what history to remember.
ReplyDeleteI know Jean. Think about what those Indian attacks must have been like. I am trying to envision this house back in the late 1700's. It must have looked like Buckingham Palace to most people that saw it. Carol
DeleteNo I didn't get photos of the inside of the house. They were getting ready for a wedding later that day. But I love stone houses old and new. Carol
ReplyDelete