Crockett Park. Original location near Mallory Lane.
Circa 1830/ remodeled later. 2 story log house.
Photo from coolspringshouse.wixsite.com
In 1818, James Carothers (1792-1865) and Penelope House Barfield Carothers (1801-1839) married. His second wife was Pamela Sellars Noble Carothers (1810-1892)(m.1843). James was the son of Robert Carothers who had a Revolutionary War land grant. James served in the War of 1812 and the Creek Wars and received a 160 acre land grant. The Carothers were successful farmers and increased their acreage. In 1830, they built a small log house which consisted of the original two log rooms of Cool Springs Farmhouse at what is now the intersection of Mallory Lane and Cool Springs Blvd - evidently just about where Carrabas restaurant sits. When Carothers died, their son, Dr. Robert Blake Carothers (1824-1884), inherited the property. Dr. Carothers had six wives. The first was Martha Jane Crockett (1829-1847), wed in 1846. She was a cousin of Andrew Crockett III of Crockett-Knox House. In 1870, major renovations occurred including adding a second story.
In 1888, Cool Springs House was deeded to William A. Jordan. His family resided there until Andrew McConnico "Mac" Gant (1899-1983) purchased it. He was married twice: Elizabeth Goff Shirley Gant (1899-1934)(m.1925) and Alexine Speier Gant (1899-1992). Gant was a wholesale lumber dealer. Evidently, it was during the Gant ownership that the farm was named Cool Springs.
In 1942, Dr. Charles Summers Robinson and Florence Robinson bought the property and lived there for 32 years. Dr. Robinson was a Vanderbilt nutritionist with an international reputation in the fields of gastrointestinal absorption and biochemistry of the gastrointestinal tract. Dr. Robinson went to Vanderbilt University in 1931 as professor and chairman of the Department of Biochemistry where he served until 1949 and retired in 1952.
In 1974, John H. and Karen Dunn Noel became owners. About 2010, the Noel family purchased Bon Aqua Woods in Hickman County to preserve it from timber harvest and residential development. The area was designated a state natural area. In 2007, that State of Tennessee purchased the land from the Noel family. About 2014, the 35-acre property was renamed John H. Noel State Natural Area in honor of Noel's environmental conservation work.
About 1985, farmers in the Mallory Valley area started selling land to developers. Two mall developers competed to construct a commercial area near I-65 in Williamson Co. A victor emerged and Cool Springs Galleria and surrounding commercial area was built about 1991. The complex took its name from the Cool Springs Farm which was also called Mallory Valley Farm. The Noel family sold the home in 1985 with the proviso that it be preserved. In 1993, with commercial development threatening the home, the City of Brentwood took ownership and transported it to its present site at Crockett Park where the home is used for events.
[The Carothers family owned Pleasant Exchange Plantation. The farm was located east of Franklin (Mallory Rd near Jordan Rd.), and according to maps available, I-65 cuts right down through the former property. James Carothers was the original owner in the early 1800s; thus the family was connected to Cool Springs Farm as well.] The owners are remembered through Cool Springs Blvd, Mallory Lane, Mallory Station Rd., and Carothers Parkway. NR 1983 See Andrew Crockett House/ Crockett-Knox House
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