McLemore House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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McLemore House
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McLemore House, September 2014.
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | 447 11th Ave. N., Franklin, Tennessee |
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| Area | 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) |
| Built | 1880 and 1910 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 99001372 |
| Added to NRHP | November 18, 1999 |
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The McLemore House is a special historic home in Franklin, Tennessee. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. This means it's an important place worth protecting.
This house has been a key part of an African-American neighborhood since the 1880s. It is also known as the Harvey McLemore House. Harvey McLemore was born into slavery. After gaining his freedom, he worked hard and became very successful. He bought land and built this house. He was a successful farmer.
The house is also sometimes called the House and Estate of Maggie Matthews. Maggie was Harvey McLemore's daughter. She inherited the house and lived there after her parents. The McLemore House was built in an area called Hard Bargain. This area was once 15 acres of land. An attorney named William S. McLemore owned it. He divided the land into smaller lots after 1873 for people to build homes. Many of the first people to live here were African-American freedmen and their families. They created a strong community that still exists today.
Contents
The Story of the McLemore House
Building a New Life
The McLemore House was built around 1880. It shows parts of Colonial Revival style. Harvey McLemore, born around 1835, and his family owned this house for many years. They kept it from 1880 until 1997, for five generations.
In 1859, Harvey McLemore was sold as a slave to attorney William S. McLemore. William S. McLemore lived in Franklin and worked as a county clerk. He later became a judge. Before this, Harvey had been held by William's mother.
After the Civil War ended, slavery was abolished. Harvey McLemore became a freedman, meaning he was a free man. He also gained the right to vote.
Creating a Community
In 1873, Judge William S. McLemore bought 15 acres of land. He planned to divide it into smaller plots for homes. Some say he named the area "Hard Bargain" because it was a tough deal to make.
In 1880, Harvey McLemore bought four lots from Judge McLemore. He built his house there, making it one of the first homes in this new area. Harvey McLemore was the third African American to buy property in Hard Bargain. He and other freedmen built a new African-American community. This community has continued to thrive into the 21st century.
The McLemore House Today
In 1997, Habitat for Humanity bought the McLemore House. In 1998, the house began to be fixed up. It was being prepared to become a museum. During this work, many secrets about the house's original design were discovered.
Today, the McLemore House is a museum. It is known as the McLemore House African-American Museum. It is also called the McLemore House Museum. It helps people learn about the history of African Americans in Franklin, Tennessee.
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