The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County Announces Completion of Dry Stack Stone Rebuild
Through community-driven efforts and free workshops from stone wall expert Martin Beevers, the historic wall in Brentwood is now complete
FRANKLIN, TN – July 2 – The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, a leading preservation organization with the mission to preserve, promote, and advocate for historic places, stories, and culture, has completed the restoration of a historic stone wall in front of the Hunterwood community in Brentwood, Tennessee. The organization partnered with Martin Beevers of Old England Rock Walls to host free, hands-on workshops for the community to learn about the process and assist in the rebuild.
“We are thrilled with the community support we have received in rebuilding this historically significant piece of architecture,” said Bari Beasley, president and CEO of the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County. “These walls and the unique building process originated in the UK and have a deep history throughout Middle Tennessee. We are thankful to Martin for leading our workshops, and Carter Gentry of the Hunterwood HOA for his crucial support.”
In the fall of 2024, The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County hosted three free, hands-on workshops led by Beevers. This type of workshop typically costs attendees $600, but Heritage Foundation wanted to encourage the community to attend and learn about the rich history of dry stack stone walls. Over six weeks, Beevers, an expert craftsman known for his work with the Tennessee State Historical Commission and others, led over 30 community members and volunteers in completing the final 40 feet of the 100-foot wall.
Middle Tennessee has a deep-rooted history in the art of dry stack stone walls. These walls can be traced to the earliest European settlement of what would become Tennessee and are the continuation of a centuries-long English, Irish, and Scottish building tradition. The craft was then taught to enslaved people who built many of these walls. Following emancipation, many established themselves as stack stonemasons.
For more information on The Heritage Foundation and preservation work being done throughout the county, please visit: https://williamsonheritage.org/
ABOUT THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY
Since 1967, the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County has been dedicated to preserving Williamson County’s architectural, geographic and cultural heritage as well as promoting the ongoing revitalization of downtown Franklin in the context of historic preservation. Thanks to its visionary stewardship and the support of donors throughout the community, notable projects include The Franklin Theatre, Roper’s Knob, parts of the Franklin battlefield and the Old, Old Jail. Events and festivals produced by the Heritage Foundation such as Main Street Festival, the Heritage Ball, PumpkinFest and Dickens of a Christmas bring an estimated 300,000+ locals and visitors to downtown Franklin each year that creates more than a $10 million economic impact annually. The Heritage Foundation owns and operates The Franklin Theatre, Downtown Franklin Association, Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens, and its newest historic adaptive reuse project: The History & Culture Center of Williamson County. For more information about the Heritage Foundation, visit www.williamsonheritage.org.
The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County continues to fundraise for the full construction and completion of Franklin Grove, which will be one of the premiere landmark destinations that creates a sense of place, timelessness and beauty for all people to engage with education, art, history, nature and community.
In addition, it relies on support from the community to put on its popular free festivals such as Pumpkin Fest, Main Street Festival, and Dickens of a Christmas, as well as to drive vital preservation initiatives and education opportunities. For more information on donating, visit: https://williamsonheritage.org/donate/
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