In the “heyday” of railroads, the caboose served many functions for the train crew. It served as their office, restroom, sleeping quarters and sometimes the kitchen. shipping papers called manifests, which detailed what was on board each rail car and where it was to be dropped. The elevated seating area allowed the brakeman or other crew members a bird’s eye view of the train ahead. The red brake valve was close at hand for quick action in the event of an emergency. The restroom was equipped with a pressurized water tank although the caboose, which was built long before environmental concerns, had no waste holding tank. A belt connected to the axles turned a generator that provided electrical power for the multi-purpose caboose. The age of computers for tracking loads and the reduction in the size of train crews brought an end to the service of most cabooses.

The caboose was moved to Fiddlers Grove with the assistance of the Nashville & Eastern Railroad and McCord Crane Service in the spring of 2007. The caboose made its way by truck along the bypass under the escort of the Wilson County Sheriffs Department and the Lebanon Police Department to its present location where it stands as a proud reminder of the Golden Age of Railroads. The train caboose was given to J. D. and Ann Floyd by the Greater Gulf State Fair in Mobile, Alabama. J. D. and Ann Floyd donated the caboose to Fiddlers Grove in memory of Billy Baxter in 2007.

The Cobbler Shop was the shop of Joshua Hudson. In old records of 1883, Mr. Hudson, was listed as a shoe and boot man. His daughter is Marie Hudson Gower and grandson Dr. Herchel Gower of Nashville.

The Cobbler’s Shop was relocated in 2009 and given by Melvin Sloan.

Preparing all the family meals on an open fire in small cabins required a lot of skill and hard work.  Preparing meals in the summer months were almost unbearable to cook, eat and sleep inside.  Poor construction of the chimneys, which were stacked sticks and lined with mud frequently caused the cabin to burn. Consequently, the settlers started building the kitchen separate from the main cabin.

The detached kitchens are disappearing from the old home places and are becoming very rare.  The iron cooking utensils were donated by Mrs. Esther Arrington.  The other artifacts were donated by friends of Fiddlers Grove.

The logs for the kitchen were donated from a farm on Richmond Shop Road in 1993.

Doris Bland was a local businessman in Lebanon and also active in the community.  He was noted for his poetry which he always shared with his friends at Christmas.  Mr. Bland was a charter member and an advisor of the Wilson County Antique Power Association that organized in Fiddlers Grove in 1992.

Mr. Bland made the picnic table using antique iron wheels.  The side chairs and picnic table seats are made using old metal tractor seats, and other antique metal parts.  The pavilion is a rest stop for visitors, or a place to enjoy a picnic or some of the good food served at the Wilson County Fair each year.

Dr. Fisher was born in 1879.  He graduated in 1907 from the University of Nashville Medical School.  It was thesame year he married Vinnie Reynolds and established his practice in this Apothecary Office in the Rome community.  The office still contains many items he used, including medical books, drug bottles, dental equipment, diary, scales, etc.  His practice was primarily house calls, which encompassed all the surroundings counties.  He traveled many miles on poor roads on horseback or buggy and later when the roads were improved, he switched to a T Model Ford.  He was called “Doc” by his friends and patients; many who probably never knew his name. He was noted for his own bookkeeping method of writing the patients name on the office wall and when they paid him, he would simply mark their name off.  There were many names that were not marked off.  It is believed he holds the record for delivering babies during the 44 years of practice.  His last call was to deliver a baby, and at that time he was hospitalized at McFarland Hospital.  He got out of the hospital and delivered the baby and returned to the hospital where he died the following week at the age of 72 on August 10, 1951.

The buggy parked next to the doctor’s office was used during this period to make house calls to sick patients. It was donated by his friend, Dr. Sydney Berry.
As a side note, on July 18, 2019, Mrs. Florence Hall of Possum Holler called. She advised her son, Robert Allen Hall, was the last baby Dr. Fisher delivered before his death. Dr. Fisher
passed away a few days after Robert was born. At that time, she lived at Flat Rock, Tennessee.
She advised Dr. Fisher never filled out a birth certificate so when her son was 12 years old, he
wanted to play sports and his coach had to take his school records to Nashville and apply for a
birth certificate. Dr. Fisher delivered four of her five children.

Fiddlers Grove Garage is the home of the Middle Tennessee Region Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America, which was founded in 1935.  There are chapters scattered over the United States.

A chapter is made up of a group of individuals who are dedicated to the preservation and enjoyment of the Antique Automobile.  The members meet to discuss their restoration projects, visit car shows, and share personal stories and information.

It is the Premier Car Club in association with the Smithsonian Institution.

Fiddlers Grove Garage is open and display antique automobiles during the Wilson County Fair.

The building was built in 2000.

The barber shop is the example of an early barber shop in Lebanon.  The barber chair and other items were used in the early 1900’s.  The early barber offered other services in addition to haircuts.  They often groomed the patrons with a shave, haircut and sometimes a shoe shine.

The building was the original office of car dealer Jim Horn Hankins, located on West Main Street.

The building was relocated and restored in 1998.  Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Callis donated the building in memory of her father, Mr. Jim Horn Hankins.

The Fiddlers Grove Blacksmith Association was organized in 1992 and held their first meetings in Mr. Luther’s Blacksmith Shop.  However, the old shop was not adequate to teach and demonstrate to the large number of applicants wanting to learn the ancient art of blacksmithing.

The Association members designed and built the new blacksmith shop in 1998.  The instructors schedule classes and demonstrations on a year round system. The association is very active in all the functions in Fiddlers Grove.  They demonstrate in the new shop and Mr. Luther’s Blacksmith Shop during the Wilson County Fair and on many occasions.

Many of the handmade items are often for sale.

The general stores were the first store to sell ointments, salves and other medical remedies prior to the local drug stores or apothecary shops being established.  The drug stores and shops offered many products in addition to drugs and remedies.  They sold cosmetics and other hygiene and first aid products.

The Drug Store’s Soda Shops became popular in the early 1900’s, offering cold drinks, sodas, ice cream, sandwiches and desserts.  It soon became a hang-out for kids after school and after the movie.

The items on display are donated from families in Wilson County.

The drug store was built in 1998.

The Printing Office is a replica of an early storefront printing office.  Newspapers became one of the greatest tools of communication to inform and promote new ideas to the early pioneers.

The Printing Office houses two printing presses. The large printing press is on permanent loan from the Methodist Publishing House.  The Parthenon Press dated 1832, was shipped from Ohio on a flatboat to the Publishing House, was used until the 1960’s, when it was replaced.  The small printing press came from Castle Heights Military Academy.  It was used to print newsletters and schedules for the school.  It was donated by the Johnson Family of Lebanon.

The construction of the printing office building, the type set and other artifacts were donated by Mr. Sam Hatcher and the Lebanon Democrat in 1992.

The Fiddlers Grove Antique Power Association was organized in 1992 with approximately 30 members.  Each year during the Wilson County Fair, the club exhibits and demonstrates antique tractors and engines.  The sawmill shed was built and the sawmill was restored by the Association in 1994.

The Annual Antique Power Show is held each year in May, drawing large crowds from across the state.

Two International Red Power Shows have been held at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center since the association was organized.

The Antique Power Association meets monthly.

Statesville School and Grange Building built in 1942 in the Statesville Community.

This building was one of the first lunch rooms in the county school system.  The Statesville Grange number 1236 renovated it as a replica of a one-room schoolhouse as their project for the 1986 Tennessee Homecoming.  The Wilson County Board of Education was instrumental in helping to relocate the building to Fiddlers Grove.

Relocated to Fiddlers Grove in 1991.

The first jail in Lebanon was erected, circa 1799-1803 on the public square in Lebanon.  The small cedar log cabin consisted of two stories; the upper level for the Sheriff and the lower level for the jail cells.  Samuel Roseborough was elected the first sheriff of Wilson County in 1799-1803. Other jails were built at different locations around the town square.

Fiddlers Grove Jail is equipped with one of the iron jail cells from an early jail near the town square. Wilson County jail workhouse inmates, under the direction of Sheriff Terry Ashe constructed the jail building with recycled lumber and donated it to Fiddlers Grove in 1993.

The Town Hall is in the hub of Fiddlers Grove.  It serves the community year round for small group meetings and training sessions.  During the Wilson County Fair it is used for multiple purposes.  There is wine judging, and displays throughout the hall and used continuously.

It is dedicated to the memory and service of Paul Gentry.  Paul volunteered his time and services for other projects in Fiddlers Grove.

The Log Home Company he owned donated the building in 2002.

The community of Shop Springs was established in the early 1800’s, having a group of stores, blacksmith shops, school, churches, physician, and a cooper shop.  This cabin was built during this era of development, on a hill overlooking the businesses.  The cabin was part of a typical homestead consisting of the cabin, smokehouse, detached kitchen, barns, well house and pens.  When dismantling the cabin, parts of the original split shake roof were still intact, pegged to the roof rafters.  The original construction revealed that pegs were used in the window and door casings.  However, the floors were installed with hand wrought nails.

The furnishings were donated by or on permanent loan by friends of Fiddlers Grove.

The cabin and original chimneys were donated by Mr. and Mrs. Sammy Forbes and family in 1992.

In 1872, the Lebanon Nashville Telegraph Company was organized.  The Cumberland Telephone and Telegraph Company was organized.  On December, 1889, Sam Anderson made a telephone call from his Home.  His telephone number was #1.

The first telephone switchboard was installed in Anderson Drug Store and the first operator was E. E. Adams.

Bellsouth Pioneers, an organization of Retired Telephone Employees, under the direction of Glen Hightower collected early phones, phone booth, phone books and other artifacts and opened the museum in 1998.

The Bellsouth Pioneer members offer tours and demonstrations during the Wilson County Fair and open at other times on request.

Family records show the original cabin was built in 1820 by John Crozier.  John Ewen Hagar acquired the cabin and 12 acres of land in 1823 for $250.00.  Emmett and Nova Hagar, son of John Hagar, inherited the cabin in 1919 and raised 12 children in the dirt floored cabin.  He moved the cabin to a larger farm and added a floor to the cabin and an attached kitchen in 1938.

Mr. Glenn George acquired the cabin in the 1960’s for $50.00 and relocated it to the Lebanon Road in Wilson County.  In 1996, the George Estate sold the property.

Mr. and Mrs. David Braunscheidel donated the cabin to Fiddlers Grove in 1998.

The smokehouse originally stood on the Wharton Place three miles southeast from Lebanon off Sparta Pike.

Jesse Wharton of Davidson County bought the land on May 20, 1811 from John Gray Blount and the State of North Carolina. This land lying in Wilson County contained 912 acres. Jesse Wharton deeded this land to his son, Joseph Philips Wharton, on February 23, 1830. After his marriage to Caroline C. Hewitt in September 1830 in Davidson County, they moved to this place. This smoke house dates back to about this time.

One of the Wharton daughters married a Peyton and in later years the farm was known as Peyton Place.

Circa 1805.

Relocated in 1994.

Hee Haw was a country-themed television variety and musical show filmed in Nashville, Tennessee. The shows first episode aired December 29, 1969 and the final episode aired on May 30, 1992. The show featured musical segments and comedy and became a late-twentieth-century cultural icon. The Hee Haw House is from the set of this popular show.

Relocated in 2008

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The field of Agriculture was his job – the curing of country style hams was his hobby.  James E. Ward, also known by his friends as “Big Jim”, enjoyed hosting his famous Annual Country Ham Breakfast at his home.  He organized the “Ole Time Country Ham Show” at the Tennessee State Fair during the years he served as Superintendent.   Each day during the State Fair, Big Jim demonstrated the correct way to cure and cook country ham.  He was Wilson County’s U.T. Agricultural Extension Service Leader for over 37 years.  He was a member of the Wilson County Chamber of Commerce for over 30 years where he was awarded a Lifetime Membership.

The Smokehouse was donated by the Ward Family and moved to Fiddlers Grove in 1998.

In the late 1860’s, J. A. Lester constructed a log house for his office of the Lebanon Flour Mill, which he had half interest.  However, in 1887, he purchased Cedar City Mill and closed the Lebanon Flour Mill.  He continued to use the log office he constructed on Coles Ferry Pike and North Cumberland Street, where it remained until it was dismantled in 1974.

In 1975, James H. Jordan purchased the logs and built a house on the family farm in the Leeville community.  In 2000, the main portion of the house was moved to Fiddlers Grove to become the home of the Wilson County Fair Museum.

Today, it is the center of activity for meetings and receptions. It contains the history records and also pictorial history, trophies and artifacts of all the fairs held in Wilson County.

It was donated by Mr. and Mrs. James Jordan and family.

Ligon & Bobo Funeral Home is the oldest funeral home in Lebanon.  The business began in 1920 as Ligon & Son Funeral Home, located near the public square in downtown Lebanon.  It was operated by Mr. Charles Horace Ligon and his son, Raymond.

In 1938, Mr. Ligon was joined by his daughter Vera and her husband Alex Bobo. They purchased the present location on West Main Street, which had been a private residence since 1828.  It was the former home of Robert L. Caruthers, founder of the Cumberland University Law School.

In 2003, the Ligon & Bobo Funeral Home – Fiddlers Grove Chapel was built by David Brooks and Clark McKinney, the current owners.  The building showcases a viewing room and embalming room.  Most of the funeral and embalming equipment on display was used by Mr. Ligon and Mr. and Mrs. Bobo.

In 2009, an addition was built on to house the antique horse drawn hearse that was donated in memory of Mr. Alfred McFarland.  The horse drawn hearse was manufactured around 1900 by the Sayers and Scovill Company of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Livesay Mill was built in 1879 on the Clinch River at Kyles Ford near the Tennessee Virginia State Line in Hancock County. The Grist Mill was water powered using a pair of grinding stones to grind corn for meal and wheat for flour.  According to deed records, S. W. Carter and John Livesay along with other family members settled in Sneedville prior to the Civil War.

The Grist Mill was one of the most needed facilities in pioneer days and was always busy.  The millhouse was built in Fiddlers Grove in 2006 and the Grist Mill was installed and became operational during the Wilson County Fair in 2007.

Mr. Jerry McFarland acquired the mill and donated it to Fiddlers Grove in 2005.

The McFarland Infirmary was established in 1914 by Dr. Sam Walker McFarland, President of a Professional Corporation for treatment of Medical and Surgical cases and train nurses.

In 1919, Dr. Sam W. McFarland purchased a lot at Park Avenue and East Spring Street and built a hospital consisting of an operating room, dining room, kitchen and ten patient rooms.  Dr. J. R. Bone assisted Dr. Sam and also other doctors regularly used the hospital, including Dr. James Jerry McFarland, brother of Dr. Sam McFarland.

Lebanon lost its only surgeon at the untimely death of Dr. Sam McFarland in 1920, suffering from a stroke.

In 1932, Dr. Sam Bradshaw McFarland, a fourth generation of doctors, began his practice.

The first addition to the hospital was made in 1938, adding a new surgery and x-ray rooms plus eight additional patient rooms.  The hospital experienced rapid growth through the 1960′ and new additions increased to 74 patient rooms.

Furnishings donated by Jerry McFarland, building donated by UMC in 2005.

Melrose Presbyterian Church was built in 1883; held its first worship service in 1885 and closed the doors at the last worship service 102 years later in 1980. The building is constructed of poplar wood grown and milled in Wilson County.

The original windows were replaced with custom designed stained glass windows made by Mr. Robert Atwood of Lebanon, Tennessee. Family members donated the stained glass windows to memorialize the founding members long and faithful service to the church. The windows were designed by James Jordan and Geneva Thomas, members of the Friends of Fiddlers Grove.

Melrose Church is one of the most popular spots in Wilson County for small weddings. It is available for rental year around.

The pews and chairs were donated by Mr. & Mrs. Roy Howell in 1994. The building was donated by Melrose Presbyterian Church Trustees, Deacons and Members in 1994.

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Mr. Luther’s Blacksmith Shop and Broom Factory sat on the bank of Cedar Creek in the heart of the village ofTaylorsville.  The blacksmith shop was built c. 1836.  Mr. Luther Piercey became the proprietor in the early 1900’s and served the community until his failing health caused him to close.

Mr. Luther grew broom corn to make brooms and always had a sweet potato patch out behind the shop.  His prominent family was always active and involved in the Taylorsville and Centerville community affairs.

The blacksmith shop was relocated to Fiddlers grove in 1991.  In 1992, Mr. Tim Ryan and Danny Parsons organized the Fiddlers Grove Blacksmith Association.  The Association is dedicated to teaching the art of iron working.  The membership increased, and a new blacksmith shop was built to teach the art and provide the club space to meet year-round.

Mr. Luther’s shop is used for demonstrations during the Wilson County Fair and other special occasions.

Mr. Luther Piercey’s children donated the building to Fiddlers Grove in 1991.

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Pete Smith opened his original store August 1, 1927, when cokes were a nickel a bottle, a gallon of gas cost 14cents plus 6 cents tax and T.O. “Pete” Smith drove a Model T Ford pickup when he went into business at Doak’s Cross Roads.  He opened the store in 1927 and in 1929 the Great Depression came and nobody had any money.  He said “nobody had any money, people didn’t live much, they just got by.”  The small general store supplied the community with groceries and gas and was a gathering place for checker games and rook.

Because of road improvements to Cainsville Road, Pete’s Store was moved directly across the road in 1959.  In 1980, he sold the store to George Spain.  Pete retired after running the store for 52 years.

Pete Smith’s Store was relocated to Fiddlers Grove on July 15, 2005.

Middle Tennessee Electric displays early electric appliances and early history of electricity in Wilson County.

The petting barn is constructed as a replica of barn designs of the 1800’s.  The two stalls in the back are for horses or mules; overhead storage for hay and feed in the loft.

The overhang roof was designed to pull the wagon under to unload hay or grain, and also to protect the wagon from the weather.

The barn area is used during the Wilson County Fair to house small animals for the young and old alike to pet and enjoy.

The barn was built in 1992.

John Rice moved from Caswell County, North Carolina and purchased 214 acres of land for $214.00 from Andrew Jackson in c. 1796.  This cabin was built about that same year.  The 1804 tax list revealed John Rice, Sr., John Rice, Jr., Benjamin Dobson, John Donelson, and John Kirkpatrick, were the first settlers in the Gladeville – Suggs Creek area of Wilson County.  John Rice descendents lived and worked on parts of this property continuously until the death of his great great great granddaughter, Christene in 2005.

This cabin is donated to Fiddlers Grove in Wilson County in memory of Sam Sherrill and Christene Rice in 2005.

The Barn Museum is reconstructed around the original one and half story log crib build in c.1840.  It was acquired from the State of Tennessee, Department of Transportation located on the Rowland Farm on Leeville Pike.  The museum is filled with artifacts that was used on Wilson County farms for many generations.  Most of the farms were self-sufficient so the family had to make or improvise for all their needs.  Some of the items are handmade to fit specific needs on the farm.  The entire collection has been donated for exhibit, with a few exceptions of items that are on permanent loan.  A lot of the rare items are labeled to help you identify the name.  We are still collecting rare and old tools and items from the early period of frontier days.

The barn was dismantled and relocated to Fiddlers Grove in 1993.

At the closing of Cooksey Bro. Hardware Store on Main Street, Mr. S. N. Cook opened a hardware store at this location of East Main and College Streets.  S. N. Cook Hardware Company moved to the Public Square and during the store’s tenure on the Public Square, they relocated from 108 to 111 Public Square, then to the Southeast corner where Roses Five and Dime Store had been.  Mr. Sam Cook stayed at this location until his move to West Main Street and merged the two S.N. Cook Hardware Stores.

Sam Cook became a partner in his father’s hardware business in 1956 and remained the only hardware store in the downtown area until his death in 2000.  The store was closed in 2001.

Mary Ann Cook Spears and husband James donated the historical items, including a desk and cash register from the Hardware store and donated the building to Fiddlers Grove in 2002.

In 1818, after studying law for six months under Judge James Trimble, Sam Houston passed the bar to practice law.  He came to Wilson County to practice law.  Mr. Frederick Golladay befriended Mr. Houston and furnished him a splendid wardrobe and rented him a small log cabin for an office near the Lebanon Town Square.  Mr. Golladay charged him a dollar per month rent; then lent him the dollar.  Sam Houston practiced law for ten months; at which time he was appointed Adjutant General with the rank of Colonel in October, 1819.

In 1827, Sam Houston was elected Governor of Tennessee and served approximately two years of his term before resigning in 1829.

He later moved to Texas where he was elected to the Republic’s Presidency, followed by being elected Texas’ first U.S. Senator.  After serving thirteen years, he became Governor of Texas.

Sam Houston is the only person to serve as Governor of two states.

This pre-civil war cabin was originally on the property of Judge Nathan Green, who was known as the Father of Jurisprudence of the State of Tennessee, served as Professor of Law at Cumberland University.

The family of Judge Sam Gilreath donated the cabin to Fiddlers Grove in 1994.  The Wilson County Bar Association assisted in funding the reconstruction.

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William Brannon Barrow built this cabin in 1795.  According to family records, the land was one of the last Land Grants issued from North Carolina prior to the Statehood of Tennessee in 1796.

The cedar log cabin changed ownership many times and the last land owner was Frank Stewart of the Martha Community.

The original structure with two pens and a dog trot with stone chimneys at each end was moved to Fiddlers Grove in 1997.  Today, it contains a museum in each pen. The left museum houses the personal items of James E. Ward. His personal items and artifacts used for curing ham and also win barrels and items from his other hobby of wine making.

The right museum is filled with civil war artifacts and other memorabilia of early life in Wilson County.

The cabin was donated by the Stewart Family and Pam Cooper in 1997.

Mr. Asa John Rogers built the store in 1872 in the Stringtown Community on Leeville Road.  The store served as a Post Office until 1904, at which time rural mail carriers delivered the mail.  In a separate room on the back of the store, Mr. Rogers made string and twine from hemp.

The store was stocked with many household items ranging from stovepipes to flavoring and bolts of material stacked along the wall. Kerosene was sold for oil lamps and other uses.  The popular area was the long candy showcase where penny candy was sold or given to the young children.  The country store was also the first fast food restaurants; you could stop in anytime and get a sandwich made in the store or buy slices of cheese and crackers or cans of sardines for a quick meal.

The store claimed other owners; the Hargiss Family, the Gibson Family being the last family to operate the store.  The store is furnished with many of the original items, in addition to items donated by the Cracker Barrel and individuals.  Several businesses volunteered items for the relocation and reconstruction cost to move the store to Fiddlers Grove in 1992.

Building donated by the Gibson Family.

This Train Flag Station was in use at Tates Crossing near Mt. Juliet, Tennessee from 1870 until 1935.  During this 65 years it was owned by two different railroads, The Tennessee and Pacific Railroad and the Nashville Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad.

In 1992, Dean Robinson gave the Tates Crossing Flag Station to the West Wilson Historical Society.  The Flag Station was restored by N. C. Hibbett, Thebart, Evelyn and Jimmy Powell.  This took a total of 417 hours of labor.  It is the only known station still in existence in the Middle Tennessee area.

This Flag Station was closed down because a new railroad was built right beside it that went a farther distance.  The old railroad was removed and is now a street called Division Street or Old Railroad Bed Road.

The West Wilson Historical Society donated the Flag Station to Fiddlers Grove in 1998.

The historic log cabin and smokehouse were relocated from the Century Farm of Walter Partlow and Lucy Logue Thompson Partlow.  They are descendants of pioneers that came to Wilson County in a covered wagon.  This is probably the original cabin that was the Partlow’s first home in Wilson County.

Many of the items in the cabin were donated by the Thompson family; the rocking chair, table, lamps and other items.  We also have on loan from the family, the four wood staves used on the frame of the covered wagon the family traveled in, which is very rare they have survived.

The smokehouse was used to store the family meat and dried foods such as vegetables and herbs.

The cabin was donated for the specific purpose for a Century Farm Museum.  The museum contains information on all the Century Farms in Wilson County.

The cabin and smokehouse were donated by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Thompson and family in 2002.    

The Train Museum in Fiddlers Grove opened its doors in August 2013 during the Wilson County Fair.  The train layout belonged to Mr. Ben Pulley, a retired L&N Railroad employee.  After his passing in 2012, the family donated some of his collection to Fiddlers Grove for everyone to enjoy.  The museum also houses other train memorabilia.  The Fiddlers Grove Foundation was responsible for building exhibits and retrofitting the outside of the building.

Train enthusiasts, young and young at heart will enjoy seeing multiple model trains chugging around their metal tracks.

Trains and railroad collections have been donated to become a part of this large exhibit.

Don’t miss seeing your children’s eyes light up as they visit our newest premier train museum!

John Bell Tarver donated the rights-of-way on his farm for the railroad and also the land on which the depot was built in c-1870.

Mr. Tarver was the Postmaster at the Post Office, which was located inside the depot, until his death in 1906.  Nannie Tarver, daughter of John Bell Tarver, brought eggs, dairy products, vegetables and cut flowers from the farm to sell at the station.

A legendary tale about Nannie Tarver; upon hearing the train whistle at the “cut”; the hill was cut into halves for a flat track; she would change into her “good clothes” and run to meet the train when it reached the depot.

In 1909, the railroad first placed the Nashville to Lebanon Stage Coach Line, and finally the last section of the original stage coach line from Watertown to Smithville.

The Tuckers Gap Depot was bought at auction in 2005 and moved to Fiddlers Grove.

Mr. Hamblen operated a sawmill in the Martha community for many years in the early 1900’s.  He used this house as an office on South Cumberland Street and shipped hardwood lumber and red cedar all over the United States by rail.  Mr. Hamblen also played an important role in WWII supplying the lumber for manufacturing gunstocks for the rifles.

The Hamblen house was relocated to Fiddlers Grove in 1993 and was donated by the Estate of W. W. Hamblen.

WCOR AM 900 Wilson County’s own radio station began in September, 1949 as a 250 watt commercial radio station.  The founder, Warren Gilpin, was the owner, manager and engineer.  The studios were on the town square, with the transmitter tower and antenna at the current location on Trousdale Ferry Pike

During the past 58 years, the ownership has changed many times.  The current owner, Susie Bay James, purchased the radio station in 1993 and has made significant changes.  A sister station WANT FM 98.9 was added to WCOR AM, that covers the community as Wilson County’s own radio station.  This satellite station was built in 2005 and dedicated to Bill Barry, the first voice broadcast on WCOR in 1949, and Mark Dyer, the originator of the Fiddlers Grove Bluegrass Show in 1995.

Donated to Fiddlers Grove in 2005.

In its first life, the Weaving House was used as a smokehouse and a corn crib.  It was built c.1920 on the family farm of Mrs. Eddie Conrad.

During the Wilson County Fair, an itinerant weaver occupies the weaving house to demonstrate weaving and the dying art of dying wool and yarn in black pots over an open fire.

Many of the small items made on the loom during the fair are for sale.  Other weavers often set up small looms on the side porch to demonstrate weaving socks and other things.

The building was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Conrad and relocated in 1991.

Wheeler School, a one room school, was built in the late 1860’s on the farm currently owned by the Harrison Family near Alexandria.  Mr. W. E. B. DuBois became the first instructor at the school.  In fact, it was the beginning of his long successful career in the education field.  He traveled the world promoting education.  The school represents the historical significance of early education for the period following the Civil War.

The building and artifacts exemplifies what one would expect in a one room school in the rural community.

Wheeler School was reconstructed in Fiddlers Grove in 1994 by the Wilson County Civic League.

As early as 1800, businesses were beginning to build around the Town Spring and shortly thereafter the town lots were being sold.

There was an immediate need for a bank for the merchants. A local bank was organized as early as 1818 to serve Lebanon and Wilson County.  Wilson Bank of Wilson County represents early banking in the county.

The Teller Window is an authentic Teller Window from an old bank in Watertown.

The handwritten ledger books and the pot bellied stove are familiar things you would see in an early bank.  The Bank is open during the Wilson County Fair and on request for tours.

The bank was build in 1993 and donated by Wilson Bank and Trust.

The Wilson County Master Gardener Program boasts over 100 active members who are actively involved in the community including maintaining the Arboretum and Gardens in Fiddlers Grove.  Numerous volunteer projects and educational opportunities are available each year to suit your gardening interests.  Master Gardener intern classes are available annually and consist of 13 weeks of study, covering a wide range of topics.  For more information about becoming a Wilson County Master Gardener, contact Lucas Holman at the phone number or email address provided below.

Tennessee Master Gardener Program

The Tennessee Master Gardener Program is a volunteer service program provided by the University of Tennessee Extension. The program serves Tennesseans with home horticulture information and recruits new volunteers for training, certification and service through the local Extension offices.

Mission

In support of the University of Tennessee mission and the University of Tennessee Extension Service mission; the Master Gardener Program promotes environmental stewardship through a network of volunteers to provide researched based information and education to Tennessee communities in home gardening and related areas. As part of our mission the program supports the continued education and development for committed volunteers.

Vision

To provide innovative, researched based, progressive home horticulture education to all Tennessee communities.

Objectives

• Disseminate horticultural information

• To develop community programs related to horticulture

• Enhance 4-H club programs

• Recruit and train interested volunteers

Values

• Providing home horticulture education in a responsive and timely manner

• Collaborating with local non-profit and municipal groups to offer leadership in education for better gardening practices in area communities.

• Fostering a learning environment for volunteers who promote environmental stewardship while representing the University of Tennessee.

• Encouraging continued education and the recruitment and training of new Master Gardener volunteers

• Offering information through innovative programs providing information and education to the general public with creative and new approaches.

To learn more about the University of Tennessee Master Gardener Program, visit the Tennessee Master Gardener website at:  Tennessee Master Gardener  or contact your local UT/TSU Extension Agent:  Local Extension Offices

The UT/TSU Extension Agent for Wilson County is:

Lucas Holman
c/o UT/TSU Wilson County Extension Office
925 East Baddour Parkway, Suite 100
Lebanon,  TN  37087
(615) 444-9584
lholman1@utk.edu

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