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BATTLE OF FRANKLIN TRUST TO COMPLETE CARNTON SPRINGHOUSE RESTORATION

BATTLE OF FRANKLIN TRUST TO COMPLETE CARNTON SPRINGHOUSE RESTORATION

The organization is seeking donors to support the final phase of construction

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – The Battle of Franklin Trust is seeking donors to help support the final phase of reconstruction work on the Carnton springhouse. The first two phases of the project are now complete after the damaged roof was removed and additional masonry work was completed. The final phase includes constructing a new roof.

“We are looking forward to finally seeing the springhouse refurbished to its original form,” said Eric A. Jacobson, CEO of the Battle of Franklin Trust. “Guests will be able to step inside another piece of history, which was an important part of the McGavock’s property and those who worked there.”

The springhouse was constructed in the early 1800s and served as the primary source of fresh water for all who lived at Carnton. It was also where food products like milk, cheese, vegetables and other perishables were stored.

It is likely that at least one or two of the enslaved people who lived at Carnton in the years before the Civil War worked in the springhouse on a regular basis. It was just one of many job functions filled by those who were enslaved. The spring which leeches into the springhouse is one of at least three on the site that flow into McGavock Creek, which in turns flows into the Harpeth River.

The Carnton springhouse was initially restored in 1987, but then damaged by the Middle Tennessee flooding in May 2010. At one stage, water nearly covered the entire building.

Through the generosity of donors, Rock City Construction and Peffen Cline Masonry Group, the project is close to completion.

If you are interested in donating to the final stage of the project, please contact Laurie McPeak at 615-794-0903 or laurie@boft.org. For more information about the Battle of Franklin Trust, visit www.boft.org.

About The Battle of Franklin Trust
The Battle of Franklin Trust is a 501(c)3 management corporation acting on behalf of Franklin’s battlefield sites to contribute to a greater understanding and enrich the visitor experience of the November 30, 1864 battle. It is organized for the charitable and educational purposes of preserving, restoring, maintaining and interpreting the properties, artifacts and documents related to the battle so as to preserve an important part of the nation’s history.