I had the incredible privilege of visiting the Homestead Manor in Thompson’s Station, Tennessee this past Sunday with a group of local bloggers. I had heard a few things about the history and elegance of the manor, but had no idea what was in store. I traveled down with my friend Ashley of The Nashvillian, and we were immediately in awe of the site when we pulled into the drive. Complete historical beauty.
We arrived a few minutes early to snap a few photos in front of the house.
Romper- Old Navy // Bag- Charee Crossbody f/ Hush Puppies // Wedges- Kohl’s // Earrings- The Limited
It was fun being able to capture some photos of
Ashley, because it feels like forever since my co-blogging days with
Katelyn. I missed being able to play with my camera and take photos of other people.
When we walked up to the front porch of the house, we were immediately greeted and introduced to other local bloggers. We were served gin cocktails with cucumber and they were delicious and refreshing for such a hot summer day.
It was so great meeting new people and discovering who mutual friends were. There is such a tight community of talented people in the Greater Nashville Area, and I’m so happy I have the opportunity to get out there and meet them.
After getting acquainted with one another, we began our tour of the property. We got to meet the amazing farmers at the Homestead, Casey and Joni, who wake up before the crack of dawn every day to bring their harvest to the restaurant for the chefs to create delectable meals. They were so sweet and humble, and probably some of the hardest working people I’ve met.
See those woven sticks surrounding the herbs? Those were all handmade by Casey from sticks on the property! Incredible, right?! The farm was huge and the two of them handle everything. There is no
irrigation system, so every plant is manually watered by tanks on their
small tractor. The dual-person manpower behind this garden is so
impressive, I could hardly believe it.
The house itself is home to the restaurant
Harvest, where everything served is 100% farm-to-fork. It was built by Mr. & Mrs. Francis Giddens, who
obtained the property through a Revolutionary War Grant. The Giddens used only bricks and woods on
site to build the home. It was completed in 1819.
The Homestead Manor is home to the Battle of Thompson’s Station, which was held on March 5th, 1863 during the Civil War. Earl Van Dorn and Nathan Bedford Forrest were confederate leaders, battling John Coburn’s attempt to bring union influence to the south. With an unlikely participant, 17-year-old Alice Thompson rushed out of the house and into the field to wave the Confederate battle flag to warn the men to protect their land. Coburn and his field officers eventually surrendered and the confederates won the battle. An embroidered cloth with the quote “Boys, a woman has your flag” now decorates the walls inside the Homestead Manor house.
[The Civil War content in this post does not reflect my personal political viewpoints. They are simply facts.]
The other rooms in the house were all decorated with different themes in mind. All rooms in the house were a part of the restaurant, and there were tables and chairs throughout the first and second floors.
After touring the home we made our way through the barn, which was beautifully restored into the most stunning event space I’ve ever seen. The large doors on either side of the building remain open for the natural sunlight to shine through and the ceilings have four gorgeous crystal chandeliers that boast extraordinary charm.
We eventually made our way over to the bar, which was located in a separate, smaller building on the backside of the house. I fell in love with the space as soon as we entered. The menu at Harvest is all Tuscan-inspired. There was a beautiful spread of numerous appetizers. I tried every single one, and they were all equally delightful. And the SANGRIA, oh.. the sangria.
Before leaving, we made sure to mosey on over to the upstairs front porch. What a view!
The event was beyond amazing and it will not soon be forgotten. I am so fortunate to have found such a sweet community of people in Nashville that enjoy the some hobbies I do. Special thanks to Ashley for helping me get better acquainted with the city and introducing me to new folks.
If you haven’t already had the enchanting privilege to visit Homestead Manor, I recommend doing so. Harvest serves brunch, lunch, and dinner. You can find the menus
here, and you won’t be disappointed with their options. I already can’t wait to go back.
I hope you all have a lovely week.
