Residents urge Sumner County to prioritize Brown House preservation as trustee dispute delays $500,000 transfer

Sumner County public commenters urged county leaders on Feb. 3 to prioritize preservation of the historic Brown House and to resolve delays in transferring $500,000 the late donor earmarked for the property.

The objections came during the General Operations Committee public-comment period. Jim Lambert, who identified his address as 1578 Lambert Lane in Hendersonville and described family ties that reach back to the house’s original builders, said the log building has “tremendous historical ties” and “deserves to be preserved.” Tommy Latimer, who gave his address as 264 Hester Road, Portland, said the house dates to roughly 1790–1827 and suggested forming a nonprofit to help preserve it. Cindy McClard, who lives next door to the Brown Farm, told commissioners the donor’s will specifically directs $500,000 for the house and said the community has waited “too long.” Michael Clark and Kevin Baker likewise urged action and criticized what they described as slow progress and poor communication.

The comments overlapped with a separate, ongoing financial dispute. County staff and several commissioners described efforts to change trustees and obtain a disbursement from accounts held at Vanguard. The mayor reported continuing telephone calls with Vanguard and said he planned another call the following morning; he said the transfer cannot proceed until Vanguard accepts revised signatories. County staff described roughly $510,000 held across multiple Vanguard accounts that officials say should be liquidated and used to provide the $500,000 designated in the will. Officials also told the committee a separate trust account of about $7,000,000 would remain intact and continue to provide interest to the school system under the existing agreement.

Commissioner Klein and county staff reported a site visit to the Brown House with a historic-building specialist, Chris Coker. Coker offered to remove interior nonhistoric coverings so the original fabric of the building can be assessed for $815, according to the committee summary, and estimated roughly $1,000 to remove some sheet metal to permit access under the structure. Commissioners emphasized that removing coverings is an investigative step, not a commitment to a full restoration plan; commissioners said a follow-up estimate and options (for limited use, occasional events or full public access) would be needed before budgeting for larger work.

To begin that exploration, commissioners voted to authorize county maintenance staff to solicit two additional bids and present three bids for the limited interior removal and assessment work. The motion was made during the meeting and approved by the committee. The authorization does not appropriate funds for restoration; commissioners said an appropriation would follow receipt of bids and a recommended scope.

Speakers and commenters repeatedly raised site-access and safety concerns. Commissioner Dunant and public commenters said a culvert and other earthwork currently block the driveway to the Brown House and could hamper emergency access; the committee discussed researching and addressing that access issue as part of preliminary work.

Committee members said they will continue to press Vanguard to change trust signatories and to produce written confirmation so funds can be liquidated for the $500,000 disbursement. The mayor and county finance staff also committed to providing a written report to the committee on the Vanguard accounts and trustee-authority status at the next meeting.

The committee kept the Brown House under old business and directed staff to present the three bids and a clearer funding path at the next meeting.