You are invited to usher in the holiday season with a special Christmastime tour of homes presented by the Halliburton Family on Saturday, December 14TH, 2024 from 4:00PM until 8:00PM. This special holiday tradition will take you through Murfreesboro’s East Main Street Historic District, to some historic homes on adjoining streets and then to Oaklands Mansion. Oaklands Mansion will be dressed in all its holiday splendor. The Middle Tennessee State University Raider Express will make the rounds at no charge to our guests. You are also welcome to drive yourself and park on the street sides following all City of Murfreesboro parking regulations. Free parking is also available at Oaklands Mansion and Oaklands Park. The Visitors Center lot is designated for our guests with ADA needs. The City of Murfreesboro no longer allows parking on the grass at Oaklands Mansion or Oaklands Park.
This year, the 41ST Annual Candlelight Tour of Homes will feature nine homes, a church, and Oaklands Mansion. Below are the addresses of the current homes and church on the 2024 Candlelight Tour. Scroll down or click one of the blue links below to jump to a specific home and view brief descriptions and photographs of each home!
Murfreesboro Little Theatre members will be found throughout the mansion sharing short stories and special tidbits of information about the historic structure. Oaklands staff and board members will also be present to greet you and further discuss this nationally registered historic site and its impact on our community.
Elaine Winters and Rob Pearcy from The Home Sweet Home Band will play Christmas standards and old holiday favorites. Oaklands Museum Shop will be open for unique holiday shopping.
Food trucks will be parked at Oaklands Mansion as well as a self-serve smores bar (weather permitting).
Mrs. Claus will be sharing cookies in Maney Hall and collecting toy donations for Give a Little Christmas. They are a group of artists for community transformation who help spread Christmas magic by providing gifts for kids. They focus on families with last minute emergencies and temporary setbacks.
Admission is $30.00 per adult and $10.00 per student ages 6-12. The evening is free for ages 5 and under. Please purchase admission online or in the museum shop by 4:00PM on Friday, December 13th.
To inquire about including your property, or to sponsor the event, please email events@oaklandsmansion.org or call 615-893-0022.
602 East Main Street was built around 1905 and is a Queen Anne home completed in the Stick style. Stick style features prominent horizontal and vertical lines and was the precursor to the more ornate Queen Anne style. It was built using balloon framework, where the vertical studs extend the full height of the structure. It has served as a single family home, apartments, and the Sigma Nu fraternity House.
450 E Main Street is a historically rich estate, with a variety of structures that each hold their own unique stories. The main residence houses the Spencer Carter family, its architecture and history are rich with historical significance. Included in the tour this year are the estate’s cottage and carriage houses.
The Cottage, owned by Spencer and Denise Carter, is located at 116 S Highland Avenue and has a rich history dating back to the early 20th century. The Darrows, who previously resided at Oaklands Mansion, commissioned the construction of a grand neoclassical mansion in 1910. As part of the construction the cottage that was originally located at 450 E Main Street was moved to its current location on South Highland Avenue. This relocation preserved the struction, which is designed in the italianate style, similar to Oaklands Mansion. The cottage is a smaller, charming structure, perhaps serving as a guest house, a place for family retreats, or a servant’s quarters during its original use. It was later repurposed as a duplex housing MTSU students and then transitioned into an office.
In 2021, the Carter family acquired the estate and by late 2022, they began a careful renovation of the cottage. Completed in 2023, the cottage was then opened. Among the cottage’s most notable features are four original Tiffany Favrile glass pendant lights, which were relocated from the mansion on E Main Street. Additionally, the home contains doors imported from Honduras over three decades ago by Denny and Thesa Hastings. There can also be found remnants of the original hand painted wallpapers as well as other artifacts found during renovations.
The Carriage House, located at 114 S Highland Avenue, was an integral part of the Darrow estate and holds a fascinating history of its own. It once housed the estate’s Ford Model T, the first car in Murfreesboro, which created quite a stir when George Darrow drove it through town at 25 miles per hour – a remarkable speed at the time! The Carriage house features classic design elements from the early 20th century, and was a part of the estate’s transportation infrastructure also housing horses and carriage.
In more recent years, the carriage house has been converted into a speakeasy-style home, however, much of its original charm remains intact. During extensive renovations, a skylight was uncovered, revealing a potential breezeway that once connected the areas of the carriage house that housed the car and the animals. The original flooring and wood paneling have been preserved, and an antique bar front, once part of The Peabody Hotel in Memphis, now serves as a central feature of the space.
319 East Burton Street was originally built in the 1940’s and was a two bedroom, one bathroom house. Purchased by Beth and Alan Morris in 2023, the two decided to renovate the house using the home’s original footprint and foundation. It now has two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
During the renovation process the Morris’ installed a new roof. Discovering that the original ceiling joists were solid oak, the Morris’ decided to repurpose the wood. The kitchen shelves, kitchen island, master closet shelves, and back entry shelves are all made using wood from those original boards. Samples of the original wood and mill work are on the hallway shelf as well.
The Morris’ also discovered the chimney during the renovation, assuming it to be from the original boiler in the basement. Much of the furniture and decorations on display in the house are family pieces as well.
710 E. Main Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Smith purchased their home from Mr. Alfred B. and (Mary Helen) Huddleston in June 1973. Mr. and Mrs. Huddleston bought the home from Miss Lura Hale in March 1939. Mr. Walter Hale built his home ( the Murfree home next door) and Miss Lura Hale’s home at about the same time. Miss Hale was Walter Hale’s unmarried sister. A sidewalk was built between Miss Hale’s home and Mr. Walter Hale’s family home. The sidewalk between the homes is still there today. Tommy and Judy have raised four children in the home and have opened it on many occasions for University and community functions over the years.
“Timeless Beauty in Murfreesboro’s East Main Street Historic District”
Situated in the heart of the Downtown Murfreesboro Historical District, 444 E. College St is an exquisite home. Renovated by Brad Chambers, owner of Chambers Construction and Real Estate, it is a masterful blend of historic charm and modern refinement. Every detail has been thoughtfully curated to honor its storied past while offering unparalleled comfort and sophistication. Step through the original front door into a home where history comes alive. Authentic hand-hewn beams, and beautifully preserved original hardwood floors reflect the craftsmanship of a bygone era, while soaring ceilings create an atmosphere of grace and openness. Meticulously renovated, this home seamlessly marries its historic integrity with contemporary living.
The previous owners trace back to the 1930’s but according to tax records the home was built in or before 1900. It was a labor of love to bring back this house. It was once home to a Military Air Force Pilot, County Deputy Clerk, teacher, and many others. We look forward to sharing the home on the 41st Annual Candlelight Tour of Homes.
223 N Academy Street is home to Lisa and Mark Cisco. Built in 1909, the home is a classic four-square style. The house received some damage from the 1913 tornado that hit downtown Murfreesboro. The property was previously a boarding house and more recently a Bed and Breakfast when owned by Ms. Jane Blakey. Ms. Blakey lovingly named it Hastings House for former owners Mr. And Mrs. James Hastings. Purchased 2 years ago at auction, the Ciscos have renovated the kitchen and master bathroom. Great care was given to maintain original features while updating into a traditional design. The Ciscos are enjoying living downtown, attending local events, and plan to make this their forever home.
Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has been a part of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County for over a century. Founded in 1908, the name “Central” was chosen as a reference to the congregation’s support for a centralized missionary society.
Construction of our sanctuary began in May of 1911. Bell Bros. & Co. of Murfreesboro was the builder; W.R. Bell, Jr. was the architect; and Kelley Poff was superintendent of the construction. It took almost two years to complete the construction of the building which was finalized in December of 1912. The structure is a combination of Oriental Byzantine architecture with the Greek classical order of columns. The dome has been likened to that of St. Sophia of Istanbul, Turkey, built between 532 and 537 CE. In the building’s design, the arch of the hemispherical dome is repeated in the sanctuary. A rounded arch is found over the organ pipes. It is made of dark, polished wood with Ionic columns. Another arch is found over the marble baptistery with Ionic columns including the ram’s horns. The baptistery arch has a large keystone at the top. Rounded arches are evidenced in the choir railing, and the pews are arranged in a semi-circle around the chancel area. Rounded corners in the choir loft and overhead ceiling provide the room with excellent acoustics. Both the interior and exterior were renovated to preserve the historical integrity of the building in 2002.
115 North University Street was built in 1910 by philanthropist Simeon B. Christy for whom the Christy – Houston Foundation is named. Mr. Christy also built the home next door which is owned by Dr. Junior Nelson & family. Mr. Christy was an entrepreneur who started Christy Coal Company, Christy-Huggins Ice Company, and later Coca-Cola Bottling. This home also served as the first gathering spot for the Catholic community in Murfreesboro, with services held in the rooms of the first floor. William “Billy” Ledbetter & his wife Sally later bought the house in the early 1960s for their family, including children Chase, Julie, and Jim. The Ledbetter Family members are descendants of Capt. William Lytle – an Officer in the American Revolution. He was given a tract of land for services rendered during the Revolutionary War and later donated his tract of land to start what is now Murfreesboro. He requested the town be named for his Commanding Officer, Col. Hardee Murfree. Captain Lytle also donated land to help build First Presbyterian Church and First Methodist Church. This home is now owned by Chase & his wife Betsy Ledbetter and the house was recently added to the Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities (APTA) registry of historic properties.
Marmon Spence, a name synonymous with success during the days of antebellum Murfreesboro, was successful in terms of material gain that has been handed down and transferred from generation to generation until present time. The south side of the town square was for many years known as the Spence block due to the ownership by the family of many of the business houses located there.
Mr. Spence was born in 1798 of Irish ancestry. Little is known of his childhood or early adulthood. He was married in 1826 to Sarah Wasson of Murfreesboro. He and his wife were the parents of three daughters and two sons. He was active in local governmental affairs, serving four terms as alderman and six terms as the town’s treasurer during the 1830s and 1840s. He also served as the mayor of the town from 1834-1835. Spence not only left a legacy of property ownership on the town square, but it is believed he also built the two-story brick house which is the subject of this writing that is presently located at 406 North Academy Street. Constructed circa 1840, that house has endured the test of time and stands today as a fine representation of the architecture of that day.
Following the death of Mr. Spence at the young age of 48, his wife and family continued to live in the home until the death of Mrs. Spence in 1857. The home was then purchased at a chancery court sale of the estate by John D. Alexander.
John D. Alexander as born in the Milton community of Rutherford County in 1813 to Andrew M. Alexander Sr. and Nancy Doran Alexander, early settlers of that community. He was married to Mary R. Baird in 1837 and six children were born of that union. Alexander was a successful planter in his community and represented the Trimble (17th) district of Rutherford County as a magistrate in the county court from 1842-1848. His wife died in the 1851 and he married his wife’s sister Violet L. Baird, the following year. The second wife died a year later and a third woman, Emelia Moore, was persuaded to marry him in 1857. Son after that marriage, Alexander purchased the Academy Street house, perhaps for his new bride.
It is not clear how long the Alexander family resided in the house. By 1860, he and his family were living in Franklin County, Tennessee and he was living there at the time of his death in 1870. This begs the question: Who lived in this house from 1860 until 1865, when he sold the house to his son-in-law. Did Alexander live in Franklin County briefly and move back into the house during those years? It likely served as a military hospital following the Battle of Murfreesboro in January 1863. Union officers may have commandeered the place as headquarters as so often happened. Sometimes, white refugees and former slaves took over abandoned homes during the war if it was indeed abandoned by Alexander and his family. Whatever the case may have been, it is recorded in deed records that Mr. Alexander sold the place to John Liburn McGaughey, the husband of his daughter, Abigale Minerva Alexander, in 1865, around the time of the couple’s marriage.
McGaughey was a native of Knox County Tennessee. It is believed that he came to Murfreesboro following the war and became involved in a furniture retail business in that town. He also served as town alderman in 1875. He and Abigale were the parents of six children. He later moved his family to Atlanta, Georgia where he worked a butcher and lumber dealer. He sold the house to Allen B. and Louisa Hall Crockett in 1873. Allen Battle Crockett was a descendant of one of Rutherford County’s notable early families. His father, Overton Washington Crockett, was a War of 1812 soldier, and his mother was Evalina Augusta Smith of the Springfield plantation, located near the Blackman community. Allen and Louisa Crockett were married in 1851. After spending many years in his native Salem community, Crockett and his family moved to Murfreesboro where he became a town merchant. The house was sold by the Crockett family to H. H. Kerr in 1896 following the death of Mrs. Crockett in 1894.
When Kerr purchased the house, he likely had no inclination of thought that it would be the home of four generations of his family that would span 122 years into the future. Henry Harrison Kerr was born a couple of miles southeast of Murfreesboro in 1840 to Wilson Hugh Kerr and Mary Ann Edwards Kerr. He served in Company F, 4th (Starnes’) Tennessee Cavalry Regiment, CSA, during the Civil War. He married Alice Elizabeth Jenkins of the Marymont plantation in 1866. He was the proprietor of a grocery and liquor business on the town square for many years. Active in local political affairs, he served as town alderman from 1874-1875 and as mayor of Murfreesboro in 1876. He married his second wife, Elizabeth Jordan Wilson, in 1884 and they became the parents of five children. Following the death of Elizabeth in 1938, the house was inherited by one of their daughters, Kathrin, and her husband, Albert Derry Riggs.
Albert Derry Riggs was a native of the Salem community of Rutherford County. He moved to Murfreesboro during the 1920s and became an assistant manager of the United Freightliners Company. He later became the manager of the Production Credit Company, located in the old Jordan Hotel/Apartments building on East Main Street. His wife, Kathrin, lived in her family’s home for 93 years before moving into a nursing home. She sold the home to her grandson, Neil McClain, in 1997. Neil has the distinction of being a member of the last graduated class of the Murfreesboro Central High School in 1972. He and his wife, Beth Anna, were the last generation of the Kerr family to reside in the house. The place was sold to Alan and Beth Morris in 2018 and the couple have done a remarkable job in restoring one of the town’s most historical houses.