Sites to Save
Your Nomination Can Save Our Historic Treasures!
The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County’s “Sites to Save” list recognizes our county’s irreplaceable architectural, historical, cultural, natural, and archaeological sites that face imminent threat by demolition, alteration, inappropriate development, insufficient funding, uncertainty, or neglect.
This list serves to highlight properties that are historically significant and endangered. Nominations can come from individuals, preservation or conservation organizations, downtown and neighborhood organizations, historical societies, local governments, and other interested parties.
Each nominated property is reviewed for its value to local, regional, state and national history and the nature of the specific threat involved. Properties remain on the list until such time the threat is lessened or saved. The list’s primary benefit is public awareness, advocacy, and action.
Please fill out the form below to nominate an endangered historic place in Williamson County, Tennessee.
Nominations are due May 28, 2025, by 11:59 pm Central/DST.
Check out our Sites to Save class from 2024!
Pryor Lillie Works
Includes: Beechwood Hall (1856), Grasslands (1802, 1850), and Old Town (1846)
Photo of Beechwood Hall, March 2024. Anna Marcum.
WHY: Pryor Lillie built three of the most significant antebellum homes in Williamson County. To have an extant portfolio of an antebellum builder's work in Williamson County is extremely rare and these properties should be preserved as a group.

Williamson County Cemeteries
Pictured, Frierson-Voorhees Cemetery, Brentwood and Tombstone of the Wife of Dr. William Searcy Removed from its Original Location, Nolensville. Both images submitted by nominator.
WHY: Intimate family cemeteries are abundant in Tennessee and an important feature of the state's landscape. As more folks move to Middle Tennessee and development ramps up, it's crucial that people are on the lookout for these cemeteries and are aware of how to appropriately handle them.

The James Scales House (1885), College Grove/Kirkland
James Scales House, 2014. Wikipedia.
WHY: The James Scales House is a lovely example of Eastlake Victorian architecture and the I-house form in Williamson County. Despite the land around it being used as construction storage, the home still retains a remarkable amount of its Eastlake decoration on the porch.

Williamson County Dry Stack Stone Walls
Dry stack stone walls in Williamson County. Both images submitted by nominator.
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.

Williamson County Mid-Century Modern Homes
The Tucker Home, Architect Burney Tucker, Brentwood, 1967. Photo courtesy Zillow.
WHY: As the construction of I-65 progressed through Williamson County in the 1950s and 60s, towns along the interstate route exploded in growth and along with that growth came a number of lovely Mid-Century Modern homes. Many don’t see the historic value in modern architecture, but these homes are not only an excellent example of the style but also indicative of an important part of Williamson County’s recent history.

Commitment To Advocacy
Our Commitment
For each of the sites on the list, staff at the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County plan to:
- Attend relevant public meetings that involve the sites on the list.
- Consult with willing property owners and municipalities about the history of the property and offer insight on preservation and restoration.
- Connect willing property owners with construction and preservation experts related to the needs of the site.
Get Involved
The Heritage Foundation hopes the Sites to Save list will help make locals aware of the historic sites around them, as well as educate newcomers to the area. To donate to the Foundation’s preservation efforts, including supporting the Sites to Save program, visit WilliamsonHeritage.org/Donate.
Our Commitment
For each of the sites on the list, staff at the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County plan to:
- Attend relevant public meetings that involve the sites on the list.
- Consult with willing property owners and municipalities about the history of the property and offer insight on preservation and restoration.
- Connect willing property owners with construction and preservation experts related to the needs of the site.
Get Involved
The Heritage Foundation hopes the Sites to Save list will help make locals aware of the historic sites around them, as well as educate newcomers to the area. To donate to the Foundation’s preservation efforts, including supporting the Sites to Save program, visit WilliamsonHeritage.org/Donate.