McLemore House

The McLemore House is a property in Franklin, Tennessee that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

McLemore House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
McLemore House, September 2014.
Location	447 11th Ave. N., Franklin, Tennessee
Coordinates	35°55′31″N 86°52′47″W
Area	0.8 acres (0.32 ha)
Built	1880 and 1910
Architectural style	Colonial Revival
NRHP reference No.	99001372 [1]
Added to NRHP	November 18, 1999

Williamson County Historical Society Marker for the Hard Bargain (McLemore House.)

It is also known as the Harvey McLemore House, as it was the home of former slave Harvey McLemore, who became a successful farmer. It has also been known as the House and Estate of Maggie Matthews. It dates from 1880 and it includes Colonial Revival architecture.[1][2] For five (or seven[3]) generations, from 1880 to 1997, it was owned by the same family.[4]

In 1998 the house was under renovation for use as a museum.[3] It is now a museum, the McLemore House African-American Museum or the McLemore House Museum.[2]

Harvey McLemore was sold as "a slave for life" in 1859 to William S. McLemore, who was then the county clerk, and who later became a judge. He was previously owned by Bethenia J. McLemore, the mother of William. In 1880, Harvey McLemore purchased four lots from Judge William S. McLemore, and built his house as one of the first residences in the subdivision. Harvey was just the third African-American to purchase property in Hard Bargain.[3]

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. metromix
3. Rozanne Folk Wright; Thelma Battle (July 1998). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: McLemore House / Harvey McLemore House and Estate of Matthews, Maggie / African-American Museum". National Park Service. Retrieved January 10, 2020. With accompanying 18 photos
4. McLemore House Museum