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November 26, 2009

Opening of museum commemorating former slave with ties to Limestone County delayed

By Jean Cole

Renovation of the home of a former slave with ties to Limestone County is under way, but the economy has slowed the pace a little.

A museum commemorating the life of Matt Gardner was scheduled to open in September in Elkton, Tennessee, but the flagging economy has delayed the plan, said Carla Jones, president of the Matt Gardner Homestead Museum Foundation.

Gardner was born into slavery in 1847 and was once owned by Limestone County merchant Richard Whitehead Vasser, who sold Gardner, his family and 74 other slaves to Richard C. Gardner, a Nashville merchant and Elkton plantation owner, in 1862.

Gardner was eventually freed, bought land in Tennessee, built a homestead and launched the first school for blacks in Elkton before serving as a minister and businessman. When he died in 1943, more than 1,000 people of all races attended his funeral. In 1995, his homestead was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“We had hoped to complete restoration and repair of the living room and bedroom floors, the foundation, and the farmhouse roof,” Jones said. “At this time, these projects and the museum grand opening will have to be placed on hold. The Foundation will focus on smaller projects, including restoration of the smokehouse, outhouses and the chicken coop.”

She said these smaller projects were ones younger visitors asked about during a recent visit.

“We hope this ‘detour’ will peak interest in our project and encourage members and frequent donors to step up their support and to also encourage new benefactors to help in the continuing restoration of the farmstead,” Jones said.

To view photographs of the homestead, an update on renovations, schedule a tour, learn about other Elkton historical events or make a make a tax-deductible donation, go online to www.mattgardnerhomestead.org



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