This ante-bellum home was built in 1840 and originally was a one-story colonial consisting of three rooms, two hallways and a front porch facing the Elk River. The servants utilized a huge fireplace in the basement to do all the cooking and sent the food up to the family via dumb waiter, into the main dining-sitting room. The house is supported by massive, supporting floor joists, cut from single trees. Some of the joists measure 12" square by 24 ' long. The Grigsby family who occupied the house for over 100 years added the second floor and porticos in 1895.

Some of the unique features of the home are the south facing art studio that was once the front porch. The square columns were left in place when this room was enclosed. The deep baseboards throughout the house are also original and were a status symbol during the pre and post Civil War eras. The ceilings in the parlor, front foyer, hall on the second floor and all the bedrooms are pressed tin. Some of these are older than others, and because of neglect and rust some of the pieces had to be replaced, but the installation was so specialized, this cannot be detected. Most of the wood floors are original to the construction. Some of them are heart of pine, some are poplar, and the kitchen floor is American chestnut, dating to 1840. Much of the flooring is nailed with hand wrought square nails. Some of these floors have sustained major damage over time, but all were preserved that could be preserved.

The original property consisted of over 300 acres and has been occupied by a number of interesting people through the years. Some of these were; two (2) Tennessee State Legislators, who served prior to the Civil War, a physician who served with the South during the Civil War and was captured twice, several farmers, older residents, young professionals and currently a retired engineer and an artist.

The house has been a county showplace, a doctor's office and home, a center for parties and entertainment, in disrepair and unoccupied for long periods of time, and in a state of remodeling for many years. According to Giles County Courthouse records, the house has been in and out of litigation throughout its history, due to the death of an owner and the legalities of settling the estate.

Don and Phyllis Brown bought the home at auction in November 1999. Much work had been started, but much was not complete. The chimneys had been rebuilt. The house had been jacked up and the foundation had been reworked, and the plaster had been removed from the original walls and ¾" sheetrock had been installed and finished. Modern plumbing and wiring had also been installed, but much of it was not connected. Almost all original light fixtures had been removed and the west wing of the top floor had not occupied for 50 years. The floors were beyond saving in that portion of the house, but is now the bedroom suite of the current owners.

The Brown's have replaced all shoe molding on the floors, carpeted, tiled, and floored where needed, replaced windows and porches and cleaned and cleared the house and property. They reclaimed as much of the original items as possible. The bathtub in the master bath is over 100 years old and had trash in it and concrete encased on it when the house was purchased. This has been beautifully reclaimed. The Brown's are in the process of replacing as much of the original door hardware as can be found. Many coats of paint and varnish have been removed from the stair banister, and all the mantles have been worked on.

When the Brown's were clearing the basement they found a hand carved tombstone. It read "M. B. Brown, died May 21, 1919". There was no date of birth. Legend has it that the tombstone was from the grave of a former slave who was buried on the farm. Apparently the stone had blown over in a storm and was brought to the house for repairs, but never repaired nor replaced on the grave. The location of the grave has long since been forgotten.

Don and Phyllis Brown have spent many long hours making the house a home. They determined to do as much of the work as they can themselves and to use what they already had to furnish it. Don is a retired engineer and a carpenter and Phyllis is an artist. Their home reflects this. They welcome you to enjoy the history and presence of this old home with them.

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