McLemore House The McLemore House Museum A project of the African-American Heritage Society The African-American Heritage Society is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to collect, preserve, and interpret artifacts pertaining to Williamson County African American culture and increase understanding and appreciation of our heritage for future generations.Established 1998. The Harvey McLemore House is located at the corner of Eleventh Avenue North and Glass Street in the subdivision of Hard Bargain in Franklin. Ex-slave Harvey McLemore purchased four lots in Hard Bargain in 1880. He built one of the first residential dwelling in the subdivision. The home served as a model of community development in Hard Bargain, the first subdivision of its kind in Franklin--a black middle class neighborhood of teachers, carpenters, masons and farmers. During an age where very few homes purchased by former slaves remain in existence, it is quite remarkable that the McLemore House is still standing. Also remarkable is the fact that from 1880 until 1997, a member of the McLemore family maintained ownership of the homestead. After surviving 117 years and at least seven generations of the McLemore family, the house was sold in 1997.

The house was purchased through the joint efforts of the Williamson County Habitat for Humanity and the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County. The one remaining parcel of the original four lots was divided into two lots, and the newly formed African American Heritage Society, with assistance of the Heritage Foundation, purchased the lot on which which the dwelling sits.

The African-American Heritage Society views their commitment to the museum as a way to promote cultural and historical preservation, encourage tourism, create family legacies, and educate the public about the rich black heritage of Franklin and Williamson County. The successful completion of the McLemore House Museum will be an outstanding achievement, locally, statewide and nationally.

Soul Food, A Story to Tell A project of the African American Heritage Society, the cookbook records recipes and memories from many local African American cooks. $10, available by calling 615-794-2270. .

Tours of the McLemore House

Guided house tours are available Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. Call 615-794-2270 for more information.

Would you like to get involved in the McLemore House Museum or the AAHS?
Call Mary Mills at 794-2270 or Tom Murdic at 794-6029 for more information.

Courage, Faith and Commitment, Franklin’s African American Heritage Tour

This brochure and map provides an opportunity to experience the diversity of Franklin’s history. The 90 minute driving tour leads visitors to 20 sites, from the Courthouse Square and Main Street through four distinct neighborhoods and ending at Carnton. Some sites are publicly accessible or are available by appointment or paid admission; privately owned sites can only be viewed from public thoroughfares. For a free copy, call 615-794-0903 or email info@carnton.org. The brochure and map was a project of the McLemore House Museum, Carnton Plantation, Wal-Mart, the Tennessee Civil War Heritage Area and the Williamson County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Click here for historic photos.