Category Archives: -Tennessee

-Tennessee, Houses, National Register of Historic Places

The Watchmen’s House-Reliance, Tennessee

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The town of Reliance became a rail town when the Louisville and Nashville Railroad purchased the right of way in 1888. In 1891, the railroad watchmen’s house was built. Originally, the house was a simple two-story house. The one-story addition was added at a later time.

The first watchman was named Mr. Pickle, according to the National Register application. Unfortunately, I can’t determine who that was. There are Pickels and Pickelsimers who live in the greater area, but there are zero listed for the 1900 census.

-Tennessee, Houses, National Register of Historic Places

Vaughn-Webb House-Reliance, Tennessee

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Overlooking Highway 30 in Reliance, Tennessee is the oldest structure in the historic district. Built in 1888, this folk Victorian sits in an enviable position of being surrounded by the mountains while being able to see the Hiwassee River. The Vaughn and Webb families were integral to the small town. They ran the local convenience store and post office. (Sadly, I was unable to get a photo of the store. It was surrounded by dozens of motorcyclists and dozens of cars. I avoid these in my photos.)

The information I can find online about this house does not mention that the Victorian ornamentation was added later. It appears this house started as an I-House (plantation plain) with a later addition of the two-level porch and the detailing.

-Tennessee, National Register of Historic Places, Stores

Trew General Merchandise Store-Dentville, Tennessee

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Trew General Merchandise opened in 1890. Located on the Polk and McMinn County lines, the store was opened by John Wesley Trew. The store closed in 1996. The store stayed in the Trew family for its 106 years.

It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

-Tennessee, Churches and Temples, National Register of Historic Places, Schools

Hiwassee Union Church-Reliance, Tennessee

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The Hiwassee Union Missionary Baptist Church evolved over the years to now serve as the Hiwassee Meeting Hall. Built in 1899 along the banks of the Hiwassee River, the church served the community as a church at first and then as a fraternal lodge and schoolhouse. The porch was enclosed to add more space to the facility. Notice the seams along the sides. Today, the building can be rented for events.

-Tennessee, Houses, National Register of Historic Places

William Wiggins House-Benton, Tennessee

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Built in 1840 for the justice of the peace, William Wiggins, this is a rare brick hall and parlor home, especially for the area where timber was more plentiful. Wiggins purchased the land for $205 in April 1840. Benton, Tennessee, is the county seat of Polk County and was founded the same year the home was built.

Dr. J. D. Nuchols purchased the home in 1905. Until the 1920s, the home had a double porch with columns. The porch lines can still be seen between the first and second-floor windows. Nuchols used an attached commercial space as his medical office. It’s the oldest extant commercial building in the county.

The home is now a commercial space called “The Drug Store.”

It was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

The extant commercial building
-Tennessee, Cemeteries

The Gravesite of Nanyehi-Benton, Tennessee

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Overlooking the Ocoee River in Benton, Tennessee are the graves of Nanyehi (known more by her colonized name of Nancy Ward), her son Five Killer, and her brother Longfellow. Nanyehi was known as a Beloved Woman of the Cherokee because of her bravery in a battle and for how she kept her tribe safe during the American Revolutionary War.

By the age of 17, Nanyehi was married to Tsu-la and had two children. She fought alongside her husband against the Creek Nation. When he died during the war, she took his gun and helped in the battle.

In the late 1750s, she married a man named Bryan Ward from South Carolina. Ward was married to another woman in South Carolina. Ward and Nanyehi had one daughter. Ward eventually moved back to South Carolina to be with his other wife and children.

Nanyehi stayed in the area and ran an inn until her death.