Historic Inn Looks To Recover From Storms
25 Percent Of House Artifacts Lost, Destroyed
POSTED: 4:19 pm CDT March 11,
2008
UPDATED: 7:51 pm CDT March 11,
2008
CASTALIAN SPRINGS, Tenn. -- Historic Wynnewood in Castalian Springs is the biggest log cabin open to the public in Tennessee and was one of the biggest property losses in last month's deadly tornado.
The structure survived Indian attacks, forest fires and the Civil War, but it barely survived the February storms.The historic Tennessee treasure, built in 1828, suffered massive exterior and interior damage from a storm that killed area residents.
"We've lost the memories of this place. As you came around here last summer, you came around that bend, you would just be immersed in history. It just had a feel to her like nothing I've ever seen anywhere else in America," said Sumner County resident Bill Puryear.The state has promised to faithfully rebuild Wynnewood, using as many original materials as possible, and workers at Wynnewood said they won’t rest until it’s rebuilt.That’s easier said than done for the inn’s interior."This room right here was completely full of furniture. About six beds and a lot of other things and all of that was blown out and torn all to pieces," said historian John Garrett.But some pieces can’t be replaced. More than 200 cedar trees that were more than 150 years old were wiped out in the storm.However, 25 percent of the artifacts in the house have been lost or destroyed. What remains are being housed in a secret warehouse, including 200-year-old tapestries, antique toys, wheelchairs, feather beds that are over 150 years old and pieces of furniture worth $15,000 or more.Much of the building faces expensive and time consuming restoration from the Bledsoe Creek Historic Society.The groups said they are confident that a complete restoration is possible for the structure.Members of the public who would like to help in restoration efforts are urged to send donations to the following address:Wynnewood Restoration Project
Sumner Bank and Trust
240 West Broadway
Gallatin, TN 37066
Related: SLIDESHOW: Historic Inn Heavily Damaged In Storm |  Video | |
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Sumner Bank and Trust
240 West Broadway
Gallatin, TN 37066
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