The move to state control of the White Plains Historic Home providing optimism to those who have served the house.
Friends of White Plains Board Member Darlene Wiegand is a descendant of the historic home’s original builder. She said she is excited about a three-way partnership between the City of Algood, the State of Tennessee and the non-profit group.
“If we don’t share this history with our children, it’s going to be lost,” Wiegand said. “And the White Plains House, the White Plains property, the history that’s behind it, I believe helps the City of Algood identify itself.”
Former Friends of White Plains board member Liz Mullins said the state can help save the history.
“The more hands on board, the better, is the way I see it,” Wiegand said. “Once we have ownership from the state, we’ll be able to open the house more often once more repairs are made on a more routine basis.”
The White Plains Historic Home currently requires significant internal renovations. Wiegand said the house needs major repairs to the floors, columns, windows and electrical systems to remain functional in hopes of one day turning the historic residence into a museum.
Weigand said the state takeover option will allow for more continuity for the renovation project and its members, and further help the house’s group meet their goal of holding field trips open house for visitors roughly once a month.
“There’s a lot of rich history there that needs to be preserved and I’m hoping this will give us a better opportunity to do that,” Wiegand said.
Adjacent to Algood Middle and Elementary schools, Wiegand said the White Plains house serves as a centerpiece for Algood’s landscape and is even featured on the city’s seal.
Nearly every spring, the White Plains House hosts a Quilt Festival at the end of April. Wiegand said she hopes the grant money will allow them to reopen the home for visitors before their annual Christmas event this winter.
“It’s going to be with us for long, long time,” Mullins said. “And it will be open eventually for them to come and enjoy to learn about the history of the area, the history of the house. It’s a beautiful home, absolutely gorgeous. And you walk in there and you feel like ‘Oh, I think I could stay here. I think I could live here.’ Because you feel all the history in that place.”