Wilkinson-Martin House
Encyclopedia
The Wilkinson-Martin House, also known as the Sims House, is a historic Federal style house at 954 North 1st Street in Pulaski, Tennessee
. The house was built between 1830 and 1835. It is the oldest Federal style house and one of the oldest houses of any style surviving in Pulaski.
The Federal style developed and was widely employed in the north and east of the United States during the period 1785 to 1815. It reached and persisted in the south and west later, up to 1830. When this house was built the style was "definitely on the wane" but it "suited the tastes" of Wilkinson, a transplanted Virginian. The house is one of the last-built Federal houses in the area; style had changed to Greek Revival style.
Construction on the house included slave labor.
Federal style applies to the inside as well as the exterior of the house.
The house was later home of Wilkinson's daughter and her husband David Martin, who twice served as mayor of Pulaski while living in the home.
The house remained in one family for 130 years. The Wilkinson family was one of the earliest white settler families in Giles County, having moved there in 1809, the year the county was established.
During the American Civil War
, Pulaski was occupied by Union army from 1862 on. After the war ended, freed blacks began settling near the Wilkinson-Martin house, in the northwest section of Pulaski. The house retained its rural character however.
It is now used as a community activities center.
The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on March 17, 2010. The listing was announced as the featured listing in the National Park Service
's weekly list of March 26, 2010.
It is located on a hill across from the historic Bridgeforth High School
, a black institution which is also listed on the National Register.
A gazebo and a wishing well on the property are modern, non-contributing structures.
Pulaski, Tennessee
Pulaski is a city in Giles County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 7,870 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Giles County. It was named to honor the Polish-born American Revolutionary War hero Kazimierz Pułaski...
. The house was built between 1830 and 1835. It is the oldest Federal style house and one of the oldest houses of any style surviving in Pulaski.
The Federal style developed and was widely employed in the north and east of the United States during the period 1785 to 1815. It reached and persisted in the south and west later, up to 1830. When this house was built the style was "definitely on the wane" but it "suited the tastes" of Wilkinson, a transplanted Virginian. The house is one of the last-built Federal houses in the area; style had changed to Greek Revival style.
Construction on the house included slave labor.
Federal style applies to the inside as well as the exterior of the house.
The house was later home of Wilkinson's daughter and her husband David Martin, who twice served as mayor of Pulaski while living in the home.
The house remained in one family for 130 years. The Wilkinson family was one of the earliest white settler families in Giles County, having moved there in 1809, the year the county was established.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Pulaski was occupied by Union army from 1862 on. After the war ended, freed blacks began settling near the Wilkinson-Martin house, in the northwest section of Pulaski. The house retained its rural character however.
It is now used as a community activities center.
The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on March 17, 2010. The listing was announced as the featured listing in the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
's weekly list of March 26, 2010.
It is located on a hill across from the historic Bridgeforth High School
Bridgeforth High School
The Bridgeforth High School, also known as Bridgeforth School or the Greater Richland Creek Missionary Baptist General Assoc., is a colonial revival style school built in 1936. It is a historically black institution....
, a black institution which is also listed on the National Register.
A gazebo and a wishing well on the property are modern, non-contributing structures.