Heritage Foundation of Williamson County Shares 2026 Sites to Save   

The non-profit has selected several vulnerable sites nominated by the community to preserve and raise awareness; in addition to Sites to Save, the organization announces 2026 Preservation Award recipients 

FRANKLIN, TENN.  – The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, TN, announced its 2026 Sites to Save list, which is now available in detail on its website: https://williamsonheritage.org/historic-preservation/sites-to-save/

The Sites to Save list highlights properties that are historically significant and endangered in the Williamson County area because of age, condition, and/or potential development. The list is designed to help the community join the Heritage Foundation in its efforts to raise awareness of significant historic, cultural, geographical, and archaeological resources, including buildings, structures, cemeteries, historic districts, archaeological sites, and natural and cultural landscapes.

“We are thrilled to share the 2026 Sites to Save, and recognize the 2026 Preservation Award recipients,” said Bari Beasley, President and CEO of the Heritage Foundation. “We are committed to preserving Williamson County, and we are thankful to the community members who are also dedicated to this cause.”

2026 Sites to Save

• Williamson County Cemeteries

  • WHY: Intimate family cemeteries are abundant in Tennessee and an important feature of the state’s landscape. The legacy they hold, Williamson county’s pioneers, early settlers, leaders, etc. offers a chance for community members and visitors from far and wide a chance to reflect on the past and look towards the future. Raising awareness for their deteriorating conditions and how to help them is crucial to their survival.

• Williamson County Dry Stack Stone Walls

  • WHY: These walls are a defining feature of the Tennessee landscape that are not protected by any kind of historic preservation ordinance. With rapid development, many are being lost simply because people don’t understand their significance.

• Daniel McMahon House

  • WHY: This home is a two-story frame and log residence located on the Franklin First United Methodist Church property near Franklin Road and Mack Hatcher. The home was built around 1812 and was the farm of Revolutionary War veteran Daniel MacMahon, one of the county’s earliest settlers. The current concerns for the home are water damage, mold, and other issues.

• Allison Chapel School and Cemetery site

  • WHY: The Allison Chapel School and Cemetery is the site of an AME church and school dating back to the 1800’s. The school operated into the 1950’s before it was ordered to be torn down. An extensive African American cemetery remains on site along with ruins of the old church and school building. The site represents one of the few preserved Black cemeteries in Williamson County and is threatened by development in College Grove.

• Historic Hardeman Crossroads, Triune

  • WHY: Once the wealthiest region in Williamson County, Triune has lost more of its historic landmarks to time than almost any other local community. As a critical early crossroads deeply rooted in agricultural, African American, and Civil War history—including exceptionally preserved National Register earthworks—the area is uniquely valuable but highly vulnerable. With two massive, newly revised mixed-use developments now clearing land, local advocates face a critical turning point as they fight to protect Triune’s remaining undocumented cultural resources, wetlands, and rural character from being altered forever.

2026 Site to Watch

• Riverview Bethurum Property

  • WHY: The Neo-Classical Riverview House was built in 1902. It was one of the first residences in the United States to have electricity, central heating, and running water. The 8,300-square-foot property also includes a barn, smokehouse, cabin, and a collapsed springhouse, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A development plan outlines the construction of seven new buildings on the property including a day spa, a restaurant, a parking garage, and a 120-room hotel.

In addition to the announcement of this year’s Sites to Save, the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County shared the 2026 Preservation Award recipients. The list of winners represents like-minded members of the community and organizations dedicated to preserving the charm and historical relevance of Williamson County. The full list can be found below: https://williamsonheritage.org/historic-preservation/awards/

2026 Preservation Awards

• Excellence in Preservation through Adaptive Reuse: Storehouse No. 9
• Excellence in Preservation through Rehabilitation: Williamson County – Dan German Building
• Excellence in Preservation through Restoration: Nolensville Historical Society Morton-Britton House
• Excellence in New Construction in a Historic District: Hard Bargain Association
• Excellence in Heritage Preservation: AAHS – 264 Natchez