Friends of the Latimer House

Friends of the Latimer House Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Friends of the Latimer House, Landmark & historical place, 400 Wolfpack Wy, Gallatin, TN.

Dedicated to the restoration and preservation of the historic Latimer House at the William and Martha Brown Park, envisioned as a house museum for the people of Sumner County, Tennessee.

Jonathan and two sons are honored on the new Revolutionary monument which was just dedicated. Thanks to all those who fo...
07/11/2026

Jonathan and two sons are honored on the new Revolutionary monument which was just dedicated. Thanks to all those who fought and sacrificed for our Republic.

From what I am being advised, the house has been removed from the budget for next year. Not sure what is up with this, ...
06/29/2026

From what I am being advised, the house has been removed from the budget for next year. Not sure what is up with this, as we have been working to get preservation underway. It is coming up on 9 years since Mr. Brown passed. He created a generous pathway to ensure this historic home would be preserved for future generations.

The commission budget meeting is scheduled at 7 p.m. tonight. It will be held in the Belvedere Drive main chamber. Please plan to attend and make your voice heard. We don’t need to sleep on this.

Built in the 1790s by Charles Latimer, son of Revolutionary War Colonel Jonathan Latimer, this home is one of the oldest...
06/23/2026

Built in the 1790s by Charles Latimer, son of Revolutionary War Colonel Jonathan Latimer, this home is one of the oldest standing structures in Sumner County and a tangible link to our nation’s founding. See the plan below, completed in June 2025, which lays the foundation for carrying out Mr. Brown’s wishes, as outlined in his Will/Codicil.

Here is a photo of the historic home when Mr. and Mrs. Brown resided on the property. The Polaroid inset was taken befor...
05/31/2026

Here is a photo of the historic home when Mr. and Mrs. Brown resided on the property. The Polaroid inset was taken before the house had a brick overlay applied. Seeing the home in it’s current, uncared for, condition is jarring. Mr. Brown provided for the preservation of this historic structure, as well as gifting the largest bequest ever to the Sumner County School System. Should not his final wishes count for something. Should not his wonderful gift be honored? Nine years and counting. Roadblocks at ever turn.

The home will be on the agenda at the monthly GenOps meeting tomorrow night. Belvedere County Administration Building. Room 112 at 6 P.M. This structure has strong ties to both Republic and State history. Located on the Liberty Creek campus, it could be a treasure for historians and students.

The ADHOc Committee has been dissolved, so the future path will lie with the sitting GenOps members. The architects will update their plans and recommendations for the property in the upcoming meeting. I would encourage all those interested in U.S. history, State History, and the preservation of County landmarks to attend and make your feelings known. A path was provided for this house. One it is lost, there will be no scene chances. Much better to have the living structure than a sign stating what once stood on this spot.

Just a quick update on where things stand with the house. The GenOps Committee met this past Monday. It was proposed tha...
05/08/2026

Just a quick update on where things stand with the house. The GenOps Committee met this past Monday. It was proposed that the current ADHOc Committee be dissolved. This motion passed by a vote of 4 to 3. The ADHOc had done some positive work in planning for the preservation of this historic structure. Commissioners Genung, Klein, and Jones mentioned this, and proposed keeping it in place. Such was not to be. The GenOps Committee will now handle things going forward. I trust that preservation of the home will be the guiding principle behind any moves they make.

The next GenOps meeting will be held on June 1, at the Belvedere Administration building. The architectural firm will be there to present their further refined plans for the project. This home can be a historical centerpiece in our community, something that future generations can experience and learn from. I would encourage anyone interested in seeing it preserved attend these upcoming meetings, and voice their opinions.

The combined GenOps/ADHOc meeting was held tonight. The chosen architects made an initial presentation on the preservati...
03/20/2026

The combined GenOps/ADHOc meeting was held tonight. The chosen architects made an initial presentation on the preservation of the home. They feel that it is remarkable example of frontier architecture, and well worthy of being preserved for future generations. Many points were discussed. There will be another combined meeting in April. At that point, the architects will give more detail on their vision for the home. I would encourage all interested to attend. Small steps, but we are making progress.

Plans are to remove the brick facade and restore the home to the original log appearance. Should anyone have photos of the home, pre brick, they would be invaluable in this preservation effort. Please reach out to us if you hold any photos of that period.

As always, thanks to Mr. Brown for creating the path for preservation of the home. It can be a historical treasure for our country.

02/18/2026

📹 VIDEO 8: The 1830s Addition — A Hidden Architectural Gem

In this latest video, Commissioners Jeremy Mansfield and David Klein walk us through what may be the most unique architectural feature of any home in Sumner County, and perhaps even the state of Tennessee.

This 1830s to 1840s addition to the original Latimer (Brown) House reveals a stunning blend of old-world craftsmanship and early American ingenuity. From hand-hewn log joists and random-width one-by flooring to European-style framing and plasterwork, this section of the home is an educational treasure trove.

Sadly, this once-beautiful area has fallen into disrepair. The property has not been maintained, and much of what you will see in this video shows the unfortunate results of years of county neglect. But behind the 1970s paneling and crumbling brick is a story worth preserving, and the original beauty is still there, waiting to be uncovered.

Watch to learn what makes this 1830s addition so important, how it fits into the home’s broader historical footprint, and why preserving it matters for generations to come.

02/11/2026

📽️ VIDEO 7: Hidden Walls, Historic Logs, and Restoring What Was Lost

In this next installment, Commissioners Jeremy Mansfield and David Klein take you inside one of the most revealing rooms yet at the Latimer (Brown) House.

What was once hidden behind outdated paneling for over a century has now been uncovered—original hand-hewn logs, early cement chinking, and even remnants of wallpaper and craft paper insulation used generations ago.

Commissioner Klein explains what the team has discovered in this space and why the condition of these 1790s-era logs gives us real hope for full restoration.

This home continues to surprise us at every turn—and with each discovery, it becomes clearer just how important it is to preserve it. If you care about history, culture, and protecting the legacy of Sumner County, please watch and share.

Let’s get this done—for the family, for the community, and for the future.

For those following the preservation efforts focusing on this house, here are some books of interest. The first book rel...
01/29/2026

For those following the preservation efforts focusing on this house, here are some books of interest. The first book relates the story of the man who purchased property for 200 pounds in 1790. 640 acres along Station Camp Creek. The home rests on a portion of this original purchase. The author is John Wilson, a descendant of the Colonel. Written in a narrative style similar to the frontier histories of Alan Eckhart, but with a voice all it’s own. It follows the life of Colonel Jonathan Latimer. From the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, and finally to the frontier territory of Tennessee, it relates a life intertwined with the story of our country. The path crosses with many historical figures that the reader will recognize.

Matthew Reardon’s thoroughly researched book ,The Traitor’s Homecoming, chronicles the events surrounding the burning of New London, Connecticut. Johnathan served and fought with Benedict Arnold for the patriot cause. Both men traced roots in the community going back generations. Jonathan would face his former friend and commander when Arnold turned traitor, and was tasked with destroying the privateer port of New London. The book details Arnold’s attack on his own hometown, and Jonathan’s response. It features the Colonel, and his sons that served under him in the engagement.

Both of these books detail episodes of history relating to our country. I think you will find them of interest.

01/28/2026

🎥 VIDEO 6: Why This Structure Is Worth Saving

In this sixth video of our series, Commissioner David Klein takes us inside the Latimer (Brown) House to explain what makes this structure so architecturally and historically significant—and why it’s absolutely worth preserving.

🏡 The original log cabin footprint measures 20x30 feet, with massive hand-hewn logs ranging from 14 to 24 inches wide—still in remarkably good condition.

🪵 The home has undergone multiple renovations over the centuries:

The current oak strip flooring likely dates to the late 1800s

The original beams and random-width floorboards upstairs may be from the 1790s

The rear addition from the 1830s–1840s still includes hand-cut lath marks and bark-covered floor joists

You’ll also see evidence of mud mortar, chinking, and two distinct construction eras side by side

🧱 What this home offers is not just a window into one chapter of history—but two: the original frontier craftsmanship of the 1790s, and the early expansion period of the 1830s. It’s an educational gem waiting to be brought to life.

As Commissioner Klein shares, the level of detail and preservation we’re seeing inside the walls of this home is nothing short of extraordinary. This house isn’t just restorable—it’s a living timeline of Sumner County itself.

📍Stay tuned for the next video where we begin talking about design plans and the next steps in bringing the Latimer (Brown) House back to life for the public to enjoy.

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400 Wolfpack Wy
Gallatin, TN
3706

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