Craggie Hope, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Craggie Hope, Tennessee
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(Rough) Location of Craggie Hope in Cheatham County, Tennessee.
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 Craggie Hope, Tennessee
Location in Tennessee
Craggie Hope, Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Cheatham |
| Elevation | 522 ft (159 m) |
| Population | |
| • Estimate
(2016)
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2,763 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
37082
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| Area code(s) | 615 |
Craggie Hope, Tennessee is a small, rural community. It is not officially a town or city. You can find it in southern Cheatham County, Tennessee. The community is located along the CSX Transportation railroad line. This line connects Nashville to Memphis.
Around the year 2000, nearby Kingston Springs thought about including Craggie Hope in its growth plans. But people living in Craggie Hope did not want this to happen. They protested at a public meeting. So, the plan to include Craggie Hope was stopped. At that time, Craggie Hope was said to have about 100 residents. However, since it has no official borders, this number is just an estimate.
Contents
A Look Back: Craggie Hope's Story
How Craggie Hope Began
Craggie Hope started around 1870. A man named James Woods moved there from Nashville. He bought land that was mostly thick forest. He built the very first house in the area. By 1872, Craggie Hope was growing. It had several homes, a church, a school, and a store. An elegant hotel was also being built. This hotel was for people looking for a healthy summer getaway. It was known for its good water. The area was also close to Kingston Springs, another resort town.
James Woods's son, James Campbell Woods, was a soldier. He fought in the American Civil War. After the war, the Woods family moved to this new area. They settled near Turnbull Creek. This place later became known as Craggie Hope.
The Name Craggie Hope
The Woods family was important in early Nashville history. James Woods's mother was a Campbell. Her family had a home in Scotland called "Craggie Hope." When the Woods family moved to their new home in Tennessee, Mrs. Elizabeth Campbell Woods named it "Craggie Hope." This was because the rocky hills (crags) there reminded her of Scotland. This name was given in the fall of 1866. It stuck for the new summer resort town.
Craggie Hope as a Resort Town
In the early 1870s, Mrs. Woods opened a hotel in Craggie Hope. Soon, it became a popular summer spot for people from Nashville. They came to escape the summer heat. The train station next to the hotel made it easy for visitors. The hotel had 32 rooms. Mrs. Woods ran it until she passed away in 1886. The hotel continued to operate for many years after her death.
During World War II, most of the hotel was taken apart. Its wood was used to build other homes nearby. Today, only a small part of the original hotel remains. It still has its old fireplace. Many old hotels from that time were either destroyed by fire or taken apart for building materials. Very few still stand in Tennessee.
The Healing Springs and Local Businesses
In the late 1800s, William O. Treanor and his nephew John Bell Treanor moved to the area. They discovered that the local springs had special qualities. John started the Willow Brook water company. This company sent hundreds of gallons of water across the country. The springs made Craggie Hope even more appealing as a resort.
The Treanor family was very important to Craggie Hope. In 1885, they bought a large piece of land from the Woods family. It was about 3,247 acres (1,314 hectares). On this land, they ran Treanors Mills. One mill produced lumber, and another ground grain. They also had a brick factory. The Treanor mill was destroyed by fire in 1952.
Famous Cottages and Homes
As a summer resort, Craggie Hope had a main hotel and many charming cottages. Wealthy families from Nashville stayed in these cottages. One famous cottage was the Bennett-Hunter-Baxter cottage. It was made entirely from local chestnut wood. It was a summer home for important Nashville families.
A few cottages still exist today. They are reminders of the busy resort community. Some cottages had lovely names like Hearts Ease, Brookside, and the Wren's Nest.
Maple Shade: A Unique Home
Maple Shade is one of the best-known homes in Craggie Hope. It is quite unique. It was actually made from two older cottages. These cottages were moved to the current spot around 1915. They were built on piers with a "dog trot" between them. A "dog trot" is a large, open breezeway porch. It connects two parts of a house under one roof. This design allowed cool summer breezes to flow through all the rooms.
Maple Shade served guests until World War II. It still has its original wooden siding and interior walls. For many years, it was home to Nellie Hutton. She taught at the one-room Craggie Hope schoolhouse from 1914 to 1935. That schoolhouse building is now a home. Maple Shade is being restored. It might even be placed on the historic registry.
Other Notable Cottages
Many other well-known Nashville families had cottages in Craggie Hope. These included the McLean Cottage and "The Pines." The largest summer home was the Cheek Cottage. It belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Joel Cheek, who were famous for Maxwell House Coffee.
The John W. Thomas Fresh Air Camp
Craggie Hope also played a role in helping children. The John W. Thomas Fresh Air Camp was located there. Children from less fortunate areas of Nashville came to this camp. They traveled by train to enjoy the countryside and fresh air. A boys' dorm was built in 1909, and a girls' dorm followed. After the Great Depression, the camp changed owners. In 1944, it was bought by Christian Churches of Tennessee. Today, it operates as the Bethany Hills Camp.
The picturesque United Methodist Church was built in 1909. It has been used as a setting for many films and videos. These have often been shown on national television.
