Old Homes
of Henderson County TN


Sugar Hill Community
William Walker Fesmire Home

The little Log House was constructed before the Civil War. It was home to the William Walker Fesmire family. He was known as "Uncle Billy." It originally was located on the Archie Hamlett farm near Flanagan Road. It was moved and reconstructed on the Hwy. 412 site in the 1940's by Claude and Beadie Fesmire. The hill on which it stood was for some unknown reason called Sugar Hill and was part of the Will Gardner farm, which had been purchased by Claude and Beadie Fesmire. It was later sold to Pete Scott.

William Walker Fesmire was father to Albert Sydney Fesmire as well as other children, two of which were Sam and Alice. Sam was father to Hubert, Fred and Bonnie Cogdell. Alice married Sam Morgan, and was mother to L. C. and Preacher. Albert Sydney married Maggie Green. They had four children, two of which died early in life. The two younger ones being Claude A. and Alton B., or Beadie. Claude was married to Kathrine Threadgill, both are deceased. They had one son, Allen, who lives in Lexington. Beadie married Rena Adams. He is deceased, she is a resident of Lexington Manor. They had two children, Charles A. of Lexington and Paul fo Madison County.

Maggie Green was sister to Wylie, Mack, Ellen Winslow, Mattie Arthur and Lena Gunter. Albert Sydney and Maggie never lived in the log house after they were married. After it was moved, it was used for family get-togethers on special occasions. (This information was furnished by Charles A. Fesmire)

From the Lexington Progress Wednesday July 18, 2001


Built in the early 1900's by Bill Lewis.
It later became the Patton home and was a boarding house during World War II.
In 1994, Shirley McKee completely renovated it
It is now the home of several businesses in Lexington.

From the Lexington Progress - "Spotlight on Homes April 17, 1996"


The home of
Henry M.Powers, built in 1845, has been occupied ever since (as of 1979).

Powers, a Union soldier, was imprisoned at Andersonville Prison in Georgia during the Civil War.

** The McBride Farm **

From the Lexington Progress July 2008
102 Year Old McBride Farm
Becomes Newest Century Farm

The McBride Farm in Henderson County recently was designated as a Tennessee Century Farm reported Caneta S. Hankins, director of the the Century Farms Program at the Center for Historic Preservation, which is located on the MTSU campus.

According to the farm's history, in 1906, James Franklin McBride bought a small farm of 49 acres south ofLexington. Married to Martha Gower McBride, the couple had five children; Lessie, Allie, Jonas, Paul and Phillip. A diverse farming operation, the family raised corn, cotton, beef cattle, swine and hay.

The second and current owner of the farm is the founder's grandson, Charles McBride. He and wife Joyce Presley McBride are the parents of Mickie Ratliff, Tina Hahn and Marsha Crowell. On acreage added over the years, Charles produces corn, beef cattle and hay.

Charles has been an active member of the farm bureau since 1962, and from 1967 to 2002, he served as its advisory director. Since 2002, he has served as the Henderson County Farm Bureau's director. His wife Joyce serves as the Henderson County Farm Bureau women's director chair.

The McBride Farm is the fifth Century Farm to be certified in Henderson County, Hankins noted. The Century Farm Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have continuously owned, and kept in production, family land for at least 100 years. Since 1984, the CHP at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of documentating Tennessee's agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farm Program, and continues to administer this program.

To be considered for eligibility a farm must be owned by the same family for at least 100 years; must prouduce $1,000 revenue annually; must have at least 10 acres of the original farm; and one owner must be a resident of Tennessee.



Old Homes of Henderson County Page 1
Old Homes of Henderson County Page 2