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Winchester, TN Area Guide

Winchester is a cit located in Tennessee, about 90 minutes southeast of Nashville, 60 minutes northwest of Chattanooga, and 45 minutes away from Huntsville, Alabama.  It is the county seat of Franklin County and was founded in 1810.  Winchester is known for its friendliness and hospitality, amidst the majestic mountains, lakes, and rolling farm lands.  With natural beauty that will be the envy of every visitor, Winchester is truly a wonderful place to be.  Please visit Winchester’s official website at: http://www.winchester-tn.com/home.html.

History

(The following information on Winchester’s history has been directly sourced from: http://www.winchester-tn.com/history.html.)

Early settlers to Franklin County claimed roots in Scotland, Ireland, and England and migrated across the mountains from the Carolinas and Virginia to Franklin County around 1800. The first settlers were Major William Russell, who settled on Boiling Fork Creek, and Jesse Bean, who settled near Beans Creek. The first county court was held at Major Russell's house, and Jesse Bean would be one of the first county commissioners. By 1807 enough families had moved into the area that the Tennessee General Assembly was petitioned to create a new county. On December 4, 1807, Franklin County, so named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, was created from lands that had been a part of Warren and Bedford counties. Since 1807, the Tennessee counties of Moore, Coffee, Grundy, and Marion have been created from the original boundaries of Franklin County.

The business and social life of early Franklin Countains centered on the community of Salem, which was, and still remains, near Beans Creek and is situated ten miles below the present site of Winchester. This early activity in Salem was probably due to the fact that one of the main highways, or stagecoach roads from Huntsville, Alabama, came through the community of Salem and by 1810 Franklin County had become known as one of the leading cotton-producing counties of the state.
It has been said that Franklin County became a major thoroughfare for merchants on horseback en route to Baltimore to purchase stocks of goods. Also it has been reported that a favorite spot for those Nashville-bound wagons was Caldwell's bridge in Franklin County, and as many as three hundred wagons had encamped there at one time. Such activity helped persuade the Tennessee General Assembly on November 22, 1809, to empower seven commissioners to purchase a tract of land for the county seat. An area that had been settled on a bluff overlooking Boiling Fork Creek, later to be named Winchester, was chosen as the county seat in 1810. On February 10, 1812, and for one dollar, the seven county commissioners purchased a twenty-six acre site for the county seat from properties owned by Christopher Bullard. In 1815, ten acres was added to Winchester, the county seat, through a donation of property deeded from Dr. Wallace Estill.

The town of Winchester was named in honor of General James Winchester. General Winchester was a captain in the Revolutionary War, a member of the North Carolina Convention in 1788, and the first speaker of the State Senate when Tennessee became a state in 1796. He was also a solider in the War of 1812, and a commissioner responsible for running a line between Tennessee and the Chickasaw region, or what is now Mississippi.

Winchester, which became known as the "only town of any importance" along the stagecoach road extending from Nashville to settlements in East Tennessee, was incorporated as a town on August 20, 1822. Through this act of incorporation, the municipal council was given the power to enact those ordinances necessary to govern the town. In 1835 the General Assembly authorized the mayor and alderman "to lay out the town into four wards and to provide for the election of a constable and two aldermen in each ward".

By 1833 the town of Winchester had grown to a population of seven hundred people and offered a diversity of opportunity for its citizens. As early as 1830, there were known to be three hotels, as well as a diverse business, professional, and religious base in the town of Winchester. An early study of the period revealed seven lawyers, four doctors, one Methodist church, one Baptist church, one Presbyterian church, one academy for boys, and one for girls. There were eleven stores, four taverns, six carpenters, four cabinetmakers, four bricklayers, two hatters, twelve tailors, four shoemakers, fourteen blacksmiths, one silversmith, three carriage and wagon makers' shops, one coppersmith, two painters, two tanning yards, two saddlers' shops, and three groceries.

By 1874 Winchester's population numbered between 1200 and 1500 people and the town began to mature with a full complement of lawyers, physicians, clergy, merchants, and artisans. It was around this period that such organizations as the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Women's Christian Temperance Union began to evolve in the town of Winchester.

The first boy and the first girl born in Franklin County became the first couple to be married in Franklin County.

Winchester, TN Attractions & Activities

Tims Ford Marina and Resort
The following information on Tim’s Ford Marina and Resort has been directly sourced from: http://www.timsfordmarina.com/.

Tims Ford Marina and Resort is located on beautiful Tims Ford Lake in south central Tennessee, an outstanding recreational area and fishing paradise. We are located within a few miles of Interstates 24 and 65.

Now featuring:

• Fully furnished Lakeview Cabins
• Covered Boat Slips
• Pontoon Boat Rentals
• Bait and Accessories
• Restaurant
• Groceries
• Fuel Dock
• Fishing & Hunting License
• Olympic Size Pool Nearby
• Launching Facilities
• Satellite TV
• Free Wi-Fi Internet Access
• Laundromat

Tims Ford Lake offers some of the best fishing in the south. Especially noted for smallmouth bass and striper, the lake has largemouth bass, crappie, walleye and pan fish as well. Guide service may be arranged by contacting our marina. The Resort has 350 covered boat slips, a restaurant, and fully furnished Lakeview Cabins.  Tims Ford Lake is the perfect place for Water Skiing, Jet Skiing, and Knee Boarding.

For more details on Winchester, TN Attractions, please visit: http://www.franklincountychamber.com/content/view/140/30

Parks and Recreation

(The following information on Winchester’s parks and recreation has been directly sourced from:http://www.winchester-tn.com/recreation_department.html )

The City of Winchester offers and maintains three separate recreational areas and boasts of one being a 100-acre recreational park bounded on three sides by beautiful Tims Ford Lake. This park, which includes an indoor/outdoor swimplex, a one million dollar minor league baseball facility, Babe Ruth baseball facilities, little league practice fields, and numerous softball fields, is open for use to all residents to Winchester and Franklin County.

This park also offers walking/jogging trails, tennis courts, outdoor and indoor public pavilions, three boat launch ramp to Tims Ford Lake, two handicapped accessible fishing piers, children's playgrounds, frisbee golf and camping facilities.

Also located on the properties are the Tims Ford Bass Club and a fully equipped staging area for outdoor performances such as local bands and other activities. In the fall most of the ball fields and practice fields are transformed into fall league soccer practice and playing fields.

The Winchester Recreational Park also plays host to numerous events that attract participants and visitors from across the United States. The park is host to the annual Kansas City Bar-B-Q cook off, a 4th of July fireworks event and numerous fishing tournaments that attract thousands of participants.

The two other parks that the Winchester Recreational Department also oversees and maintains that are separate from the 100-acre comprehensive recreational area are the Winchester Little League Park and the Old Cowan Road Neighborhood Park.

Along with the Recreational Director and Swimplex Manager the department is staffed with seven full time support personnel as well as numerous part time grounds keepers and lifeguards.

For more details about Winchester, TN please visit: http://www.winchester-tn.com/home.html