MAURY CHRISTMAS HOME TOUR 2022

By Katie Baker

PHOTOS BY HOLLY DOBBS PHOTOGRAPHY

The most wonderful time of the year is almost here! The first weekend of December, the 2nd and 3rd, the Maury Christmas Historic Home Tour will feature eight historic sites. The event started in 1951 as the “Majestic Middle Tennessee Tour of Homes” and was originally held annually in the Fall. Over the years, it has evolved into the Maury Christmas Historic Home Tour and includes a mix of personal homes, historic churches, and landmark homes. Visitors will enjoy an inside look into some of Maury County’s most architecturally significant homes.

The tour is a fund-raiser for the Athenaeum in Columbia, Tennessee, and the proceeds fund the annual operating costs of this historic site. This annual event is presented by the Maury County Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities (APTA). Tour visitors will receive a map of eight properties to drive and visit over two days. Tickets can be purchased at maurychristmas.org.

WILLIAMSPORT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

PHOTOS BY HOLLY DOBBS PHOTOGRAPHY

WILLIAMSPORT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

The congregation at Williamsport United Methodist Church dates back to 1813 and were housed in two locations before settling into their current brick building in 1859 after merging with Cook’s Chapel. The church entrance originally faced east, but in 1920 the entrance was changed to the west.

CAINLAND

PHOTOS BY HOLLY DOBBS PHOTOGRAPHY

CAINLAND

Cainland Farms was built in 1822. Underneath the clapboard exterior of Cainland, the original 1822 log cabin is protected from the elements. The interior of the home is an exquisite blend of historic elements with modern touches. In 2014, Cainland Farms was the site of the James K Polk Memorial Ball. Visitors should note that entrance posts to the home are made of foundation stones from Cook’s Chapel (later merged with Williamsport United Methodist Church).

CLAIBORN CHAPEL AME CHURCH

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CLAIBORN CHAPEL AME CHURCH

The congregation at Claiborn Chapel AME Church started as early as 1875 but is possibly older. The current church is said to be the fourth church on this site and was constructed in 1923. The octagon entrance is a unique feature welcoming parishioners and guests.

ELM SPRINGS

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ELM SPRINGS

Two brothers built Elm Springs as a gift to their only sister. Named for the elm trees and fresh water springs once abundant on the property, Elm Springs is on the National Register of Historic Places.

SKIPWITH HARLAN HILL

PHOTOS BY HOLLY DOBBS PHOTOGRAPHY

SKIPWITH HARLAN HILL

Skipwith Hall was a 950 acre farm established in 1807 as part of a Revolutionary War land grant issued by George Washington. The mansion was built in 1815 and was home to Maury County’s first piano. In the late 1830s, Nathan Vaught, Maury County’s Master Builder, was hired to add the 6 columns and a sweeping veranda across the front.

THE ATHANAEUM

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THE ATHANAEUM

The Athenaeum is all that remains of two famous all-girl schools that flourished in Columbia from 1835 until the 1920s. The home’s architecture, described as Moorish-Gothic, is very unique for this area. This, along with the amazing history of the site, makes the Athenaeum Columbia’s hidden jewel.

DAVIS-ESSLINGER HOME

Built in the spring of 1914, this home was built as a traditional “American Foursquare.” This style or form of home is also called a “Prairie Box,” since it shared many similarities with Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie architecture. The Davis family changed the outward appearance of the home by adding the Juliet balcony and the four-columned portico, changing the outside to look more like a Natchez-style home instead of a foursquare. This beautiful home is sure to turn heads on historic West 7th Street.

DAVIS-ESSLINGER HOME

PHOTOS BY HOLLY DOBBS PHOTOGRAPHY

JAMES K. POLK HOME

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JAMES K. POLK HOME

The Ancestral Home of James K. Polk is the only surviving residence of President James K. Polk other than the White House. This home features many items once used by the Polks in the White House and in their Nashville Home, Polk Place. The gardens feature English boxwoods and the fountain from Polk Place.

KATIE BAKER is a local Realtor and owner of the Katie Baker Group with RE/MAX Encore in downtown Columbia. Katie and her team of professional agents work to elevate the real estate experience while overseeing every aspect of a sale using the right mix of technology and exceptional service. Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.