AS THE door to the Fite-Fessenden House swings open, the wood floors draw you into the center hallway flanked by dual parlors. Clusters of candles flicker from polished brass candelabras perched atop mantels inlaid with colorful tiles. A warm ambiance fills every nook and cranny. Although this is your first visit, you’re instantly flooded with nostalgia as if returning home from a long journey.
Though Dr. James Leonidas Fite built this home in 1870, over 150 years ago, only his family and one other — the Fessendens — have owned it.
This two-story home, with its hand-pressed clay bricks, seamlessly blends the classic Federal style with Italianate details. It is noted for its low-pitched gabled rooflines, wide overhanging eaves embellished with decorative corbels, and tall, narrow windows. Although updated throughout the years, the doors, windows, lintels, transoms, and fireplaces are original. A major alteration in the late 1800s added Italianate trim and closed Queen Anne-style gutters.
The National Register of Historic Places added the home because of its historical significance as a school in 1985.
If you listen closely, you might hear the soft echoes of children sounding out words phonetically to their schoolmarms from the pages of their McGuffey Readers.
“The house is significant for its role as an educational institution from 1891 to 1920. Margaret Fite Harsh began a primary school for girls in her father’s house two years before Dr. Fite died. She maintained the school for 26 years before she moved to Florida. For three years, Mrs. Virginia Wooten’s preparatory school met at the house where she taught a full high school curriculum,” said Judy Sullivan, vice president of the History Associates of Wilson County (HAWC).
Sometime after 1920, W.H. and Sallie Barry Peyton Fessenden moved into the home. W.H. operated the Fessenden Coal Company on North Maple Street until he died in the early 1950s. Mrs. Emma Fite’s estate was officially deeded to the Fessendens in 1928.
When Sallie Fessenden died in 1983, her last wishes were carried out, and the home was preserved as a museum for the “use and benefit of the people of Lebanon and Wilson County.”
“She willed the house to the History Associates of Wilson County, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit, to establish a museum. Civic groups and civic-minded individuals, bolstered by a grant from the state, joined the History Associates to restore the home, which was in disrepair. The furnishings were auctioned off, but by 1987, the restoration was complete with furnishings donated by the community,” Sullivan said.
The HAWC and the Margaret Gaston Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) teamed up in 2019 with a mission of refurbishing the structure as a place for the community to gather.
“We host history-related events such as the Tennessee Arts Commission-sponsored Arts of the Gilded Age after-school workshops for fifth graders, as well as quarterly ‘Lunch & Learn’ events with speakers of local and regional interest. We recently partnered with Cumberland University’s museum studies classes, and we host local organizations such as the DAR, garden clubs, and book clubs. Members of the History Associates meet regularly for our ‘Within These Walls’ sessions, which take a deep dive into artifacts and ephemera held in our collection.”
Sullivan continued, “We hope to maintain the 155-year-old structure, which is in perpetual need of TLC. We also hope to rent the building frequently so that rental income can support the maintenance costs.”
The United States will celebrate its 250th birthday in July 2026! To prepare, Wayne Patton, president of the Sons of the American Revolution, donned a white ruffled linen shirt, breeches with stockings, and a tricorn hat. At their September “Lunch and Learn,” Patton spoke to guests at the Fite-Fessenden Home about patriots in the Revolutionary War.
On Sunday, Oct. 26, the Fite-Fessenden House will host “Mysteries and Mixology,” a Gilded Age event featuring Vanderbilt professor Cecelia Tichi, author of a series of mysteries and her most recent nonfiction book, “Gilded Age Cocktails: History, Lore, and Recipes From America’s Gilded Age.”
History Associates will sponsor several events during the upcoming holidays, and in early 2026, they will “celebrate spring” with a cocktail party.
Caterers, event planners, and the community will enjoy the new modern kitchen that was recently completed. This home is now the perfect location for your next baby or bridal shower, corporate luncheon, birthday party, or other event.
Searching for a place to make a difference? Volunteer Alexa Moscardelli said, “A passion of mine has always been historic homes. I started by supporting the DAR ‘Raise the Roof ’ project and ended up joining a group of researchers poring over every item in the house. It’s been fun.”
Sullivan said, “We hope our impact on the community has been profound. The programs we offer are ‘in the rooms where it happened’ and we believe these programs foster curiosity, enhance critical thinking, promote historic preservation, and create a sense of pride in our community’s shared history.”
Step inside, and you’ll discover history isn’t just preserved — it’s lived, shared, and continually unfolding. GN
For more information, visit: www.fitefessendenhouse.org.
