From Our House to YOURS

The Howarth House

FRANKLIN’S MOST “ACTIVE” OF HAUNTED HOUSES

BY ANNA ROBERTSON HAM

The Howarth House, also known as Cherry Manor, sits at the corner of 3rd Avenue North and Bridge Street in historic downtown Franklin. Many have been made aware of the house’s history and haunts, but we were made more aware of the home’s spooky reputation by Franklin Walking Tour’s owner Alicia King Marshal. During a recent interview with Alicia, she was asked what she considers the most “active” location on her tour. She said, “People have long said that Cherry Manor, on 3rd Avenue North, is the most active building in Franklin…possibly all of Tennessee. After going there thousands of times over the years, I would have to agree. It’s the only negative or dark haunting on any of my routes, and it definitely affects some people physically. While it draws many visitors here, I actually wish it wasn’t so well known because I don’t enjoy being close to the building every night. I stay off the porch and go to the next spot as soon as possible to wait for my guests when they’re ready to move on. The photos people have taken there are chilling, and (after checking them for any signs of tampering), I share them on my tours.”

So, naturally, after hearing this response from Alicia, I had to investigate more. Being a lover of all things spooky, I was completely intrigued with this statement about a house that sits just down the street from my office. I reached out to the house owner, Dori Howarth, to get more information and tour the home. Dori’s parents bought the house in 2003 while looking for a great location for an office for their company, The Howarth Group, Inc. Dori says that the house was named Cherry Manor because it used to have cherry trees along the front and along the Bridge Street side of the house. “Unfortunately, these were removed and replaced with another type of tree when the downtown sidewalk renovations took place,” Dori explains. “They say it was built in 1820, but I’d guess it was built before then as that is only the date of the first known records for this property. From what I know, it has been many

things over the years… We have the flag for a hospital during the Civil War, from the historic commission, to hang at times. It’s been a nursing home, and it was used as classrooms when a local college had a fire.”

“We have not altered the home in the transition as it works very well with individual offices in the bedrooms, conference room in the dining room, and it is great to have a full kitchen available,” says Dori. “There are two sections at the rear of the house that are additions, but I’m not sure when those were made. Otherwise, from what I know, the majority of the actual structure is original. There is no wood framing underneath the brick, and it is not veneer but a solid masonry wall. The wood flooring upstairs is original. The wood floors downstairs were

replaced shortly after the Civil War as, we are told, invading soldiers rode their horses around inside and ruined the original floors.”

Entryway to the old Servant’s Quarters Etched Names From Students

Dori says that the first thing she fell in love with about the home was the garden in the back courtyard. ‘It has some great charm and whimsy to it. I love the house’s history and how they constructed things back then with the very short doorways and very tall ceilings. My office is upstairs and in my door frame is a bullet hole from the Civil War. We have names etched in the window panes of a downstairs window that, from what I understand, were the students taught here. It’s just incredible to see these things that happened so long ago but are still a part of the house. If this house could talk, there is so much amazing history that it has experienced.”

When I asked Dori about how she felt about the house’s reputation of being haunted, she says she gets a kick out of it but that’s easy to say, having owned it since 2003 and she is there so often. “I’ve heard there are haunted tour guides that won’t stop at this house or come on the front porch,” she says. “I’ve heard there are people who will not even park their car in front of it. It wasn’t until recently that I even knew we were apparently the most haunted house in Williamson County, so we’ll see how I do this winter when it starts getting dark at 4:30pm. I’ll be leaving early those days. Still, I honestly haven’t been here after dark very often, and I am sure to have a light on in every room as I walk through the carport because it can feel so haunting. I don’t know if I could ever actually live in it either.”

Dori says she believes the home is haunted by what she and others have experienced. “I’ve known enough sane people who have she was alive today.” worked for us or had office space here that have had their own stories to share. I can’t say I have personally experienced anything other than books being knocked over on my bookshelf occasionally throughout the years. I am familiar with our ghost Margaret ‘Peggy’ Eaton, who had quite the reputation back then of being a hussy and a little too outspoken for her time. She was a model on a cigarette carton, so I like to joke and say we’d probably be friends if

Dori says she has heard many stories from many people about the home and Peggy, who is said to roam 3rd Avenue North. The Shorts owned and lived in the house before the Howarths bought it, and owner Jim Short was said to have woken up in the middle of the night by a feeling of a blast of cold air and saw a misty image above him that appeared to be a woman. He jumped out of bed, bolted down the stairs and out of the house into the street. This was said to have been Peggy. His children were said to have seen Peggy standing at the top of the staircase. “She is rumored to usually only appear to men and mainly stay upstairs,” explains Dori. “An old partner with the company, who at the time his office was downstairs, said there were times when he stayed at the office late and his chandelier would rattle like someone was walking across the floor in the room above him...but everyone was gone.”

An employee with RyMed Technologies, renting office space in the home, had a view of the bottom of the stairs from his desk and told Dori that he saw a man dressed in military clothes walk around and head up the stairs. “Music has been a thing here with the ghost (or ghosts). Twice at two completely different times, music playing in a room with no one in it cranked up really loud on its own. The ladies(or ghosts). Twice at two completely different times, music that was playing in a room with no one in it cranked up really loud on its own. The first time the ladies just laughed at Peggy and turned it down with the knob on the stereo.

This was before remotes were a thing. The second time she turned it down herself,” says Dori.

I got to tour the home myself, and Dori showed me the old stained glass doors that used to be placed in the entryway but are now stored in an attic space, which used to be the servants’ quarters. These quarters are still intact, with the stairwell and doorway leading from the kitchen’s interior up to the small room. She also showed me the hooks above the kitchen doorway, where several decorative plates once hung but continued to be found broken on the floor several mornings. They said that it must have been Peggy that did not like them and just took them all down. She also mentioned that an older woman is said to haunt the home as well, and the before-mentioned soldier’s haunting. This was brought to their attention when a man was on a tour and peered through the front porch window to see an older woman inside (a then empty home) and yell for him to get off her porch. There have also been several photos taken of the home showing an apparition in the window, second from the right of the home’s second story. There are many more stories and experiences. I could not help myself from crossing my arms due to the chills I was getting. I never felt unwelcome by any force or presence... Just a feeling of a presence being “aware” of new visitors - if that makes sense. Also, a feeling of being watched. Seeing what I did, feeling what I did, and hearing the stories from several people - I genuinely believe that there is a ghost, or a few, that still call Cherry Manor (the Howarth House) home. “We respect and value this amazing house and will continue to do all we can to preserve and care for this great local, state and national treasure - Cherry Manor,” Dori says. “It’s rich history, and it’s age of over

Original Pre-Civil War Door Bell

Now, I know many do not believe in ghosts or hauntings. I completely understand and appreciate that mindset. However, I am NOT one of those people. I believe in ghosts. I believe in hauntings. And I do believe that the Howarth House is haunted, especially after the feelings I got visiting the home. When I first stepped onto the porch steps, I felt a heavy feeling. While standing in the front room, the little hairs on my arms were standing on end…for no apparent reason. I was not cold, but 200 years... It has been through a lot over the years and still stands tall, strong, and hopefully proud. How many conversations have been held on that front porch or walking down the center hallway inside? Fun to sometimes imagine…and reflect on.”

THIS IS HOME

“We bought our first home in Shelton Square when the first street was being developed, and now as our family is growing we are moving up into a bigger home here. We love Shelton Square because of the convenience to everything, the family aspect and the amenities. We are proud to live in Shelton Square, because the name has a great reputation.” – Hunter & Jackie Lee

NEW HOMES FROM THE MID $300s - $900s www.sheltonsquareliving.com

Four States, Five Days, Six Kids

OUR NEW ENGLAND FALL ITINERARY WITH JENNY REIMOLD

FALL BREAK…the one-week break from school that I had never been invited to, having lived most of my life in Florida. Not until we moved to Tennessee did I see those glorious days on the school calendar. Although I thrive in saltwater, and the Gulf Coast is the most popular vacation destination for most of my Nashville friends, I wanted to see FALL!!

FOUR STATES, FIVE DAYS, SIX CHILDREN…. Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine..no real itinerary, no real plan. Just a family of eight, traveling around New England in an industrial passenger van, missing turns and doing circles. Walking under covered bridges, making pies from farm-picked apples, and taking daily, scenic road tips was a refreshing and renewing family experience. So, if you have never been to the Northeast in the fall, plan on it. Don’t be too busy when you’re young to be too tired when you’re old. Book the flight. Rent the van. Follow in our footsteps.

WHERE TO START We flew into Boston and rented a 1750’s farmhouse /horse farm in Rowley, Massachusetts, about 45 minutes from the airport. (We went from October 5th – 11th). The house was renovated in 1990 and owned and used as a weekend getaway by a prominent female doctor who was starting riding as an older adult. Although the house had some additions, that very kind property manager let us know that the house had some “character” with sloping floors, low ceilings and was not baby-proofed, which we somewhat expected given the age. We traded some stink bugs for mornings feeding apples to horses on a beautiful farm. Given the size of our family, we prefer staying in homes, and if you are used to more bells and whistles, this may not be for you.

Rowley, Ipswich and Essex are all north of Boston, close to the coast, and are in close proximity for multi-state drives. Rowley was roughly thirty minutes to Salem, thirty-five minutes to Maine, thirty minutes to New Hampshire, and two and a half hours to Vermont.

DAY 1 SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS Most famous for the notorious Witch Trials of 1692 and as the setting for the movie Hocus Pocus. Our family first drove to Salem and tried to explain to my children what happened in this infamous town as a former American Lit teacher. Then, we toured the city’s charming brick streets, ate lunch at Rockafellas (try the mac n’ cheese), visited Nathanial Hawthorn’s House of Seven Gables and took several photos in front of the Hocus Pocus movie sites.

We also went to the Salem Witch Trial Museum, and although I had been there before, I had forgotten how scary it was. The life-size, animatronic Devil beast

and exorcism scenes had us looking for the exit five minutes into the theater. While I think the museum is a must-see in Salem, I don’t think it’s really appropriate for younger children. Same with the ghost and cemetery tours.

The town of Salem really goes all out for Halloween with parades, balls and special tours. Check local calendars for special events during your trip.

PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE Following our morning in Salem, we drove thirty-five minutes north after lunch to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Guided by my friend from NH, we toured Strawberry Banke, a ten-acre settlement on the river bank. Costumed interpreters and artisans demonstrated period crafts, cooking and boat-making techniques. I thought it was interesting, but naturally, my younger kids just wanted to go to Market Square for ice cream.

DAY 2: SMOLAK FARMS IN NORTH ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS Be sure to add this one to your fall road trip! Smolak Farms is a 300-year-old, working family farm transformed into an educational and seasonal destination in New England. Not only is it a popular place for school field trips but also a beautiful wedding venue. With farm tractor tours of apples, plums, berries, pumpkins, Christmas trees and peaches, and orchards where you can pick your own fruit, this is a farm you don’t want to miss!

DAY 3 FRAMINGHAM, BOSTON AND GOAT YOGA We spent day three in downtown Boston, one of my favorite cities in all of the USA! My husband spent most of his MLB career with the Baltimore Orioles, and I NEVER missed a road trip to Fenway. If you are there at the end of September or early October, try to get tickets if they’re in the playoffs. Hands down my favorite ballpark because of the atmosphere, the people and the food!!

The weather proved a bit rough for a Duck Tour, so we opted for the New England Aquarium instead. All of my kids, including my teenage son, loved this one, and we got through it in about an hour and a half, which left us plenty of time to walk the Freedom Trail downtown. As a mother of seven, I cannot recommend the Trolley Tours enough. Hop on and off and see all of Boston’s historical sites that your children will study in school, or just rest your feet and see where Paul Revere rode into town, the site of the Boston Tea Party, Harvard, the Cheers Bar, and Boston Next to Strawberry Banke, Prescott Park has gorgeous foliage and flowers, while the self-guided Black Heritage Trail is an educational must-see. Portsmouth was a landing point for slaves, and the trail begins on Long Wharf, where slaves were auctioned. It walks you through stories of skilled artisans, abolition leaders and free slaves who helped build the town.

Portsmouth is a compact town with a classic white lighthouse; most tourist attractions are close together by the visitor’s center. The coastal drive-in is beautiful and worth adding to your New England bucket list.

After an afternoon on the farm, time spent in the petting zoo talking to llamas, a stop in Smolak’s incredible market, and too many free apple cider donuts, we returned to our rental to bake fresh apple pies. Of course, the horses at our farm rental were also more than happy to snack on our leftover fruit!

Common. There’s so much to do in Boston. Check other blogs and guides for your particular interests.

To end our day, we gifted my husband a birthday surprise of GOAT YOGA at Goats to Go. On my Instagram, I have a habit of putting my professional 6’4” athlete husband in situations a bit out of his comfort zone, and I thought this sounded like the “perfect” present. So, complete with matching family headbands and a special spandex workout outfit for dad, we laughed for 2 hours as we posed and giggled through our goat yoga session and then took the goats on a sunset hike on the farm! This was a once-in-alifetime experience that had my family laughing for hours!

DAY 4 VERMONT This was the farthest destination from our rental. We left around 7 am to get the most out of our day in Vermont. We started our day in Woodstock, a town named as one of the best places to visit at Christmas and one of the best towns in America. Home to the Woodstock Middle Bridge, a beautiful covered bridge in the center of town, this quintessential Northeastern town looks like the backdrop for any Hallmark movie. The charming downtown is home to many small boutiques, restaurants and specialty shops like The Red Wagon Toy Company, a children’s shop favorited by our family. In addition, Billings Farm and Museum is a top-rated family attraction in Woodstock that you should also add to your itinerary.

While in Woodstock, be sure to stop (or even stay) at the Woodstock Inn. Set in the heart of Main Street, the historic, luxury resort features farm-fresh cuisine, wood-beamed ceilings, impressive gardens and golf. For lunch, we stopped at Mon Vert Café, a popular breakfast and lunch spot known for sourcing its ingredients locally. Finally, on our way out of town, I had to see Farmhouse Pottery. You’ve probably seen their pieces all over Instagram. Their pottery is all made by local artisans, and while you’re shopping, you can see each piece being made. While I shopped for unique items for my kitchen, my children stood at the windows of the pottery studio and watched how these gorgeous pieces were made. One last stop in Vermont….the famous pink house on Pinterest that a grandfather painted pink for his first granddaughter. Located across from Faulkner Park on Mountain Ave, we saw the owner pull up, and it was clear that he was accustomed to people taking photos of his beautiful Dutch Colonial home.

Next in Vermont, an educational detour to President Calvin Coolidge’s homestead in Plymouth. This small, hidden village in the Green Mountains and the drive-in alone is worth the trip. Not only can you see where Coolidge was born, but you can also see where his father, a notary public, swore in his son as president in the family parlor when they learned of President Harding’s death. Also on-site, Plymouth Artisan Cheese, the second oldest cheese factory in the country, was founded by Colonel John Coolidge, father of President Coolidge. We also went to Coolidge’s gravesite just a few miles away, where the entire family was buried.

To end our day in Vermont, we drove to Sleepy Hollow Farm in Pomfret, one of the most photographed farms in the country. The 115-acre farm is located on Cloudland Road and was recently sold by the previous owner, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, for 2.2 million. We conveniently arrived at sunset, and there was a long line of cars parked along the side of the road to take family photos. This farm was listed on every fall foliage tour on Pinterest and is an incredible way to end the day in Vermont! On the way out, look for the red, Taftsville covered bridge. We pulled over to enjoy one last memory of our day in Vermont.

DAY 5 MAINE Our final full day in the Northeast was spent in Kennebunkport, Maine, famously home to the Bush family compound on Walker’s Point. This incredible coastal town in Southern Maine is known for fishing, shipbuilding and outdoor activities. Spend the day in Dock Square picking up local souvenirs, join a food tour with Maine Foodie Tours or hop on Rugosa lobster tour for a scenic tour of the beautiful coastline. Watch them haul lobster traps or join in the fun! (Unfortunately, the tour was booked, and my husband missed out on my idea of turning him into a lobster fisherman for the day. Our favorite part of Kennebunkport was the shorelines, where my family spent hours exploring the tide pools amongst the rocks. We followed suit with other tourists, pulled over on the side of the road near the Bush compound, and followed the sidewalk to some trails that allowed us to walk down to the shore. The views were incredible, and we left Maine with plans to return for a longer trip.

The Dalai Lama suggests, “Once a year, go somewhere you’ve never been before.” Who are we to argue with that wisdom? A plane ticket or road trip to New England is the answer. Who cares what the question is?

JENNY REIMOLD, Designer & Media Stylist Writer and Franklin resident, Jenny Reimold, is a local designer who serves as HomeGoods’ “Style Expert.” Her work has been featured in House Beautiful, HGTV, People Magazine online, Property Brothers and Good Morning America. To follow her work, visit her Instagram @jennyreimold.