Who We Are | Our Mission | Board of Directors
Who We Are
“The Braxton Lee Homestead Foundation, formed in June 2018 is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of Braxton Lee’s original homestead. Our vision encompasses purchasing this 57 acres and the 208 year-old historic home it surrounds in order to create a lovely space we all will enjoy. This property has a rich story to tell, and we intend to be excellent stewards of this gem and its history and leave a lasting legacy for our future residents.”
The Braxton Lee Homestead Foundation has its beginnings in Feb 2018 when the 57 acre parcel of land was going to be sold to the Cheatham County Commission to build a new county jail, county transportation center, and school bus maintenance barn. The location of these projects was not suitable so close to this historic house and to the entrance of the town of Ashland City. A group of concerned Ashland City residents began to meet to strategize on how to stop the county jail/bus barn project from coming to fruition on the 57 acre parcel surrounding the Braxton Lee Homestead.
Through much local community, grass roots organizing efforts, pressure was put upon the Cheatham County Commissioners, County Mayor and School Board members to vote NO on funding the development. The citizen group was successful in stopping the proposed project on the 57 acres but was then faced with ongoing attempts by developers to buy the property for large residential development. This has kept the historic home in a continual state of risk of becoming surrounded by unsightly development.
The group of Ashland City residents began to meet regularly from Feb – May of 2018 to determine what could be done. The vision to ‘keep the land with the house’ began to develop into the current vision to purchase the 57 acres and the historic house with plans to include community gardens, as well as walking and biking trails. In addition, a new barn events center will be erected which will accommodate a variety of festivals, concerts, gardening and nature events, crafts fairs and much more.
In May 2018, members of the concerned group met with a local CPA and a local attorney to formulate a non-profit corporation and thus, “Braxton Lee Homestead Foundation” charter was formed and then filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State. The Braxton Lee Homestead Foundation was accepted by the Tennessee Secretary of State as an official non-profit corporation on June 1, 2018. We are 501(C)3 approved! In March of 2019, we received our IRS determination letter showing our designation as an official 501(C)3 organization!
Our Mission
“Our mission is to preserve the beauty and history of the Braxton Lee Homestead. We are committed to educating our residents, visitors and future generations by sharing our pioneer heritage as well as overseeing the revitalization of the homestead and preserving its surrounding beauty.”
—Braxton Lee Homestead Foundation, Inc.,
June 1, 2018
This property has a rich story to tell and we intend to be excellent stewards of this gem and its history and leave a legacy for our future residents.
The revitalization plans for preservation of the homestead include a Welcome and History Center, community gardens, walking and biking trails. We hope to be able to accommodate a variety of festivals, concerts, gardening and nature events, craft fairs and much more.
Please join us in spreading the word and raising money to purchase the Braxton Lee property. By doing so, you will be helping to leave a legacy for our generation and those to come. Our history. Our legacy.
Stay in touch with us:
Board of Directors
Braxton Lee Homestead Foundation is governed by an elected Board of Directors.
MARY WEBER (PRESIDENT)
Georgeann raines (VICE PRESIDENT)
Nicole binkley (SECRETARY/treasurer)
GINA BINKLEY
JANE CRISP
Lori hilliard
R. DAVID LEE
BRENDA MONTGOMERY
STACEY EARLE STUART
ADVISORY BOARD
ALWILDA BINKLEY
JESSICA ARNOLD CROUCH
DR. SCOTT HOFFMAN
MARIANNE ISBELL
ADRIAN JOHNSON
RICK JOHNSON
VALERIE KEMP
MAY LINGNER
CARA LEE LORD
LYNN NEWCOMB
LISA E. WALKER
Our board may be contacted at braxtonleehomestead@gmail.com.