Wilks Brooks House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Wilks Brooks House
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2000 Old Oak Dr., Memphis, Tennessee |
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| Area | 0.7 acres (0.28 ha) |
| Built | 1834 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80003859 |
| Added to NRHP | May 16, 1980 |
The Wilks Brooks House is a historic home located in Memphis, Tennessee. It is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important place in American history. Wilks Brooks and his 15-year-old son, Joseph Brooks, built this house. They started building in October 1834 and finished in 1835.
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Building the Wilks Brooks House
The Wilks Brooks House is the oldest example of Greek Revival architecture in the Shelby County, Tennessee area. This style of building looks like ancient Greek temples. It has an L-shape and two stories.
Unique Design Features
The house has a special central hallway called a "dog-trot." This hallway runs through the middle of the house. Rooms are located on both the left and right sides of this hallway.
Materials Used
The builders used wood from the property itself. They used elm, poplar, and cedar trees to construct the home. Even the bricks and nails were made right there on the property. Inside the walls, they used plaster mixed with horsehair to make it strong.
Life at the Plantation
The Brooks family moved into their new home in 1836. The house was the center of a large farm, known as a plantation. It was located on the Cherokee Trace.
An Important Trade Route
The Cherokee Trace was an old trail. American Indians used this trail as a major trading route.
Growing Cotton
The plantation grew cotton. This cotton was taken to Memphis to be sold. At first, mules pulled wagons to carry the cotton. Later, after the Memphis and Charleston Railroad was finished in 1853, trains shipped the cotton.
The House Through History
Members of the Brooks family lived in the home until 1898. The house saw many changes during these years.
During the Civil War
During the American Civil War, the Wilks Brooks House played a different role. It was used as a hospital for soldiers from the Confederate army. Later, soldiers from the Union army used the house. The 7th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry made it their headquarters. They also camped on the grounds around the house. These soldiers used miles of fences for firewood. They also used the hogs and cattle on the farm to feed their troops.
A New Chapter
In 1898, Agnes Nelson Brooks passed away. After this, no family members lived in the house. It stayed empty for many years. Then, in 1973, some of Wilks Brooks' descendants decided to move the house. They moved it to another spot on the property. They then began to rebuild and restore it. The reconstruction was finished in 2002. Since then, people have rented and lived in the home. It is currently owned by a private individual.
