Michael's View: February 2008

Traveling south out of Brentwood, TN along one of Tennessee’s many highways and byways, stands a historical marker at the entrance to Brentwood Country Club Estates. The site was originally the site of Midway Plantation, appropriately named because it was located midway between Franklin, TN and Nashville, TN, was owned by Lysander McGavock and his wife, Elizabeth Crockett.

Brentwood and Williamson County is an area rich in history and tradition. The Midway Plantation played an important part in the Civil War being the command post for generals on both sides of the war. As the recruitment and mobilization of troops began in earnest during the latter half of 1861 formation and financing infantry troops was a necessity. A wealthy planter James Hazard Wilson II of Ravenswood, was one of the chief contributors to this effort. Two major Confederate training camps were set up in the area, the first being located at Midway Plantation. This site hosted one company of the 20th Tennessee Infantry Regiment. With the capture of Nashville by Federal troops, this camp was dispersed.

In March of 1862, General Buell’s Union soldiers moved through Brentwood on their way to the pivotal battle of Shiloh. The entire army of 18,000 troops camped along both sides of Franklin Road from present-day Old Hickory Blvd to the Little Harpeth River which runs through Brentwood Country Club.

The Brentwood Country Club, McGavock Farms, and Princeton Hills Subdivisions encompass much of what was Midway Plantation. The slave cemetery is located in the middle of Murray Lane between McGavock Farms and Princeton Hills.

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton owner of Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing Nashville home inspections for Davidson county and Brentwood home inspections for Williamson County and other areas of Middle Tennessee. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of Michael Thornton and those who comment.  This post is part of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, which is a social network highlighting the best of Web 2.0.  Information and is provided with the intent of educating and assisting home owners, home sellers, home buyers and real estate investors with information they can use to make better real estate decisions.  Visit some of my other posts at blogs.chiblogs.com

During the Civil War, many battles were fought in Nashville, TN. Driving up and down Granny White Pike and Franklin Road, one can see several historical markers along these highways and byways depicting where some of the battles had taken place. At the entrance to Princeton Hills subdivision in Brentwood, TN, is a scene depicting one of the Battles of Nashville. According to local folklore here is what happened. 

After the defeat of Gen. John Bell Hood’s Army of Tennessee at the Battle of Nashville, the Confederate troops scattered and retreated in a rout down Franklin Pike. Union forces were in hot pursuit of them via Granny White Pike about a mile or so to the west. It was their plan to cut off the retreat by crossing over from Granny White Pike to Franklin Pike by a "country road" now known as Maryland Way. General Hood issued an urgent order to stop the Union Forces, saying that if they were not halted "all would be lost."  

Confederate Gen. James R. Chalmers dispatched a group of soldiers under the command of a Col. Rucker to do what they could to stop the Union force. Rucker’s men set about creating a barricade across Granny White Pike of fence rails, planks, sticks and stones, old barrels, and any other debris that they could find. In later years the skirmish came to be known as the "Battle of the Barrels." 

The Union army reached Rucker’s barricade later that night, and almost immediately, both armies were engaged in heavy hand to hand combat by the light of gun fire and a bright moon. In the melee and confusion of the battle, Col. Rucker mistakenly rode into the middle of the Union troops. Finding himself in such dire straits, he did not hesitate to engage the Union commander, Col. Spaulding, in a sword fight. As the two leaders clashed in the dark, their arms and weapons are said to have become entangled and they somehow swapped swords! Ironically, years later the swords were returned to their original owners. The duel in the midst of battle between Cols. Rucker and Spaulding has remained so legendary an encounter that it is carved in stone and can be found at the entrance to Princeton Hills subdivision off Murray Lane.  

The hasty maneuver proved a success for the Confederates. The Northern army was slowed long enough for Hood’s troops to pass along Franklin Road to the northern foot of Holly Tree Gap where they went into camp for the night. This battle was faught approximately where Oman Drive joins on th Granny White Pike. The marker is about a half mile to the north of Oman Drive at the entrance to Richland Country Club.

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton owner of Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing Nashville home inspections for Davidson county and Brentwood home inspections for Williamson County and other areas of Middle Tennessee. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of Michael Thornton and those who comment.  This post is part of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, which is a social network highlighting the best of Web 2.0.  Information and is provided with the intent of educating and assisting home owners, home sellers, home buyers and real estate investors with information they can use to make better real estate decisions.  Visit some of my other posts at blogs.chiblogs.com

Late in the eighteenth century as settlers began pouring into the rich bottom lands of the Harpeth River Valley, many of the early pioneers brought a pioneering spirit to this area, along with a fervent belief in God - one of the cornerstones upon which our nation was built. The harsh winters, the arduous journey across the mountains from Virginia and North Carolina, and the attacks from hostile natives gave Williamson County’s earliest settlers plenty of reason to pray. By the early years of the nineteenth century the Methodist congregations of Middle Tennessee were being served by circuit riders who, following the example of Francis Asbury, rode thousands of miles on horseback and braved extreme conditions to bring their enthusiasm for Wesley’s Methodist faith into local frontier communities.

Popular gathering often drew thousands of worshipers to McCrory’s land grant where the circuit riders held their camp meetings. Many baptisms were held along the banks of the Little Harpeth River which flows through many subdivisions in Brentwood. Some of these are Brentwood Country Club Estates, McGavock Farms, Belle Rieve, River Oaks, Derby Glen and others along Old Hickory Boulevard.

In 1796 Major John Johnston, an Irish immigrant who fought in the Revolution, purchased this part of the McCrory grant. In 1803 Major Johnstone’s son Mathew built the first church on this property, a log cabin used by several denominations for the purpose of spiritual renewal. In 1831 Mathew deeded the land to the Methodist Episcopal Church which later became the UMC. The spelling of the chapel’s name has streamlined over the years from Johnstone to Johnson. The log structure is reported to have burned in 1850 and was immediately replaced by a weatherboard building. The weatherboard structure was razed in 1925 and the beautiful chapel located on 201 High Lea Road, Brentwood, TN replaced it. The building was dedicated on May 27, 1925. Johnson’s Chapel is located in the River Oaks subdivision in Brentwood, TN.

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton an ASHI Certified inspector with Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing Nashville home inspections for Davidson county and Brentwood home inspections for Williamson County and other areas of Middle Tennessee. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of Michael Thornton and those who comment.  This post is part of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, which is a social network highlighting the best of Web 2.0.  Information and is provided with the intent of educating and assisting home owners, home sellers, home buyers and real estate investors with information they can use to make better real estate decisions.  Visit some of my other posts at blogs.chiblogs.com

While inspecting this 2 year old property, I happed to notice that the fixed window was installed up side down. All vinyl windows have drain holes to allow water to drain out of the channel. This window has the drain holes at the top. OOPS! This will be an expensive repair as all the brick work surrounding the window will have to be removed, the window turned around and reinstalled. The owners did not get an inspection done prior to purchase. They trusted their builder - This property went on, and on, and on . . .

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton an ASHI Certified inspector with Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing Nashville home inspections for Davidson county and Brentwood home inspections for Williamson County and other areas of Middle Tennessee. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of Michael Thornton and those who comment.  This post is part of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, which is a social network highlighting the best of Web 2.0.  Information and is provided with the intent of educating and assisting home owners, home sellers, home buyers and real estate investors with information they can use to make better real estate decisions.  Visit some of my other posts at blogs.chiblogs.com

Part of the property inspection is to check the plumbing fixtures and functionally test whirlpool tubs. I was surprised when I came back in the bathroom to see the bath water looking like this. Yeech! Who would want to take a bath in this?

It is not uncommon to see water heaters that are in vacant properties and which are approaching the end of their service life, start to build up rust on the inside of the tank. I suggested to my buyer to have the water heater replaced and have the water lines purged. 

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton an ASHI Certified inspector with Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing Nashville home inspections for Davidson county and Brentwood home inspections for Williamson County and other areas of Middle Tennessee. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of Michael Thornton and those who comment.  This post is part of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, which is a social network highlighting the best of Web 2.0.  Information and is provided with the intent of educating and assisting home owners, home sellers, home buyers and real estate investors with information they can use to make better real estate decisions.  Visit some of my other posts at blogs.chiblogs.com

It never ceases to amaze me when I see the things that plumbers do. When I walked around the side of the house, all I could do was shake my head and laugh.

This fella would would have had a tough time reaching this spigot as it was well over 8 feet off the ground. 

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton an ASHI Certified inspector with Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing Nashville home inspections for Davidson county and Brentwood home inspections for Williamson County and other areas of Middle Tennessee. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of Michael Thornton and those who comment.  This post is part of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, which is a social network highlighting the best of Web 2.0.  Information and is provided with the intent of educating and assisting home owners, home sellers, home buyers and real estate investors with information they can use to make better real estate decisions.  Visit some of my other posts at blogs.chiblogs.com

Duct tape - That magical mystery material that is so essential in today's modern construction. Where would any good new construction contractor be without it? Having run out of strap hanging material, this plumbing contractor must have found a roll in the crawlspace, most likely dropped by the framing crew while taping all the stud wall members in place. Golly, what a find!

He taped the waste line off to:

• The water lines - Those certainly are strong enough to hold this section up
• The TV cable wire - Looks stout enough - Besides, the cable person will never know
• The electrical wiring - These wires look a little puny so I'll just grab two just to be sure

I just love new construction - I never run out of things to write about.

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton an ASHI Certified inspector with Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing Nashville home inspections for Davidson county and Brentwood home inspections for Williamson County and other areas of Middle Tennessee. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of Michael Thornton and those who comment.  This post is part of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, which is a social network highlighting the best of Web 2.0.  Information and is provided with the intent of educating and assisting home owners, home sellers, home buyers and real estate investors with information they can use to make better real estate decisions.  Visit some of my other posts at blogs.chiblogs.com

Up sizing might be good when ordering fries or a drink at your local burger joint, but not so for electrical wiring. While doing an inspection in the Brentwood area, I noticed that the home owner had just put in a new gas heating system and had the old electric system removed. Here in Tennessee, HVAC contractors are required to pass the electrical codes examination in order to be a licensed mechanical contractor. When I opened the panel I was aghast. The mechanical contractor landed the power lead for the new system on the old system's 100 amp breaker. What is wrong here is that the wire is only rated for a maximum of 20 amps. In the event of an overload in the circuit, can we spell "TOASTER"?

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton an ASHI Certified inspector with Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing Nashville home inspections for the metro Davidson county area and home inspections for Brentwood and Williamson County. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of Michael Thornton and those who comment.  This post is part of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, which is a social network. Information and is provided with the intent of educating and assisting home owners, sellers, buyers and other real estate professionals with information they can use to make better decisions in real estate transactions.  For other information about property inspections, visit my personal blog site: blogs.chiblogs.com.

Tennessee, like many other states, has historical markers scattered along the highways and byways. Nestled between the east and west bound lanes of Murray Lane, is this historical marker one does not see too often - if ever. The sign marking this spot was erected by the Williamson County Historical Society.

In 1992, the City of Brentwood restored this site which was part of the old Midway Plantation back before the Civil War. The old plantation encompassed much of what is now Princeton Hills Estates, McGavock Farms and Brentwood Country Club Estates. The ante-bellum home built by the plantation's owner is now the centerpiece for The Brentwood Country Club.

The City Parks erected the above obelisk and dedicated the site to all the unsung heroes who endured many hardships and were brought here to labor in a foreign country so far from their own. Many of the graves are marked simply with stones to mark where some unknown soul has been laid to rest. Being that this place is not too far from my house, I often come here to reflect on the lives and the unsung heroes who made this area and this Nation what it is today.

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton an ASHI Certified inspector with Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing Nashville home inspections for Davidson county and Brentwood home inspections for Williamson County and other areas of Middle Tennessee. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of Michael Thornton and those who comment.  This post is part of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, which is a social network highlighting the best of Web 2.0.  Information and is provided with the intent of educating and assisting home owners, home sellers, home buyers and real estate investors with information they can use to make better real estate decisions. 

I know that I was going to make an attempt to wean myself from doing the photo of the day, but I just could not pass this one up. While doing the outside inspection of a property in the Nashville area, I saw this power vent opening on one side of the attic. No! No one could be dumb enough to put a power vent next to a gable vent now could they? Wanting to give the home owner the benefit of the doubt, I waited to reserve judgment until I could get in and inspect the attic. I was really hoping that they would have had the common sense to block off the gable vent on this side.

Boy was I wrong! Home owners, 50 - Home inspectors, 0.

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton an ASHI Certified inspector with Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing Nashville home inspections for Davidson county and Brentwood home inspections for Williamson County and other areas of Middle Tennessee. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of Michael Thornton and those who comment.  This post is part of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, which is a social network highlighting the best of Web 2.0.  Information and is provided with the intent of educating and assisting home owners, home sellers, home buyers and real estate investors with information they can use to make better real estate decisions.