Oakslea Place facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Oakslea Place
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Oakslea Place in 2014
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| Location | 1210 North Highland Avenue, Jackson, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Built | c. 1860; 1900 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival; Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 03001305 |
| Added to NRHP | December 18, 2003 |
Oakslea Place is a historic mansion in Jackson, Tennessee, USA. It was built around 1860, before the American Civil War. Later, in 1900, a second floor was added to the house.
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Where is Oakslea Place?
This interesting mansion is located at 1210 North Highland Avenue in Jackson, Tennessee. Jackson is a city in Madison County, Tennessee. The house is near the Forked Deer River. It sits about halfway between the big cities of Memphis and Nashville. When it was first built, it was in a country area. Now, many other houses surround it.
The Story of Oakslea Place
Oakslea Place has a long and interesting history, with many different owners over the years.
Early Owners and Building the Mansion
The land where Oakslea Place stands was first owned by Mathew Barrow in 1840. William East bought it in 1849. Then, in 1853, Judge John Read became the owner.
The mansion itself was built around 1860 for Judge John Read and his wife, Mary. It was designed in the Greek Revival style. This means it looked like ancient Greek temples. The front porch, called a portico, has four large columns. These columns are in the Doric order, a simple and strong style.
After the Civil War
Judge Read passed away in 1865, right at the end of the American Civil War. His wife, Mary, inherited the mansion. She lived there with her nephew and niece.
Changes and Additions
In 1899, R.V. Hicks bought the mansion. He owned a lot of land in Madison County. Just one year later, in 1900, he added a second floor to the house. This new part was built in the Colonial Revival style. This style often brings back ideas from early American colonial homes.
Later, in 1911, J.D. Hoppers became the owner. Three years after that, in 1914, Thomas Polk bought the house. By 1917, Dr. Jere Crook and his wife, Millian, purchased it. They made some modern updates. They put in a coal furnace in the basement. This furnace sent heat through radiators all over the house, providing central heating. By 1950, the heating system was changed to use gas instead of coal. In 1950, they also added a sunny room, called a sunroom.
For a long time, the property was like a small farm. Until 1950, they kept chickens and two cows on the grounds! In 1952, a large part of the garden behind the house was given to Dr. Crook's son, Dr. William Crook. He built a home for his own family there.
Recent History and Bed & Breakfast
Walton Harrison and his wife, Katherine, bought the mansion in 1958. By 2004, Richard Testani purchased Oakslea Place. He decided to turn it into a bed and breakfast. This means people can pay to stay overnight and have breakfast there. Mr. Testani has shared stories that some believe the house is visited by former residents and servants.
Why Oakslea Place is Important
Oakslea Place is considered very important because of its history and architecture. It has been officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places since December 18, 2003. The National Register is a list of places in the United States that are important to history. Being on this list helps protect these special places.
