Clarksville’s Historic Home & Church Tour 2025

By Shana Thornton

The Montgomery County Preservation Coalition hosted its second annual Historic Home Tour on Sunday, December 14, and attendees toured four homes and two churches. Homeowners welcomed Clarksvillians into their homes in the Madison Street/Glenwood/Porter’s Bluff area, and church members discussed their sanctuaries at St. Peter’s AME Church on Franklin Street and First Presbyterian Church on Main Street.

A festive check-in at The Penn Warren, the lobby display featured historic items from Clarksville High School, which was once located in the building that is now The Penn Warren. After check-in, participants received a map and pamphlet for their self-driving tour to each location.

The Penn Warren. Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
Courtesy of Shana Thornton.

Historic Homes Featured in 2025

The historic homes on the tour were the Holleman Home on Madison Street, the Dowdy Home on East Glenwood, the Wallace Home on Glenwood, and the Hinote Home on Porter’s Bluff. Both of the Glenwood homes are on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Wallace Home on Glenwood

The oldest home on the tour was the Wallace residence on Glenwood. Built in 1857, the house was surrounded by 35 acres and considered out of town by today’s standards. The subdivision that now exists around it was not there at the time.

Details from the Wallace Home. Courtesy of DC Thomas.
Courtesy of DC Thomas.
Courtesy of DC Thomas.

The Wallace Home did not look as it does today. Originally, the home displayed a Victorian flair in architecture. The Wallace family provided historical photographs in an album during the tour, so attendees could get a good look at the transformation of the house and its significant renovations. The Wallace family has made substantial improvements to the home, even adding a mahogany-walled study with a fireplace that is incredibly beautiful. The home contains many beautiful features and lovely artwork throughout owned by the Wallace family.

Wallace Home. Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
Historical images of the home & property.
Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
Courtesy of Shana Thornton.

The Dowdy Home on East Glenwood

The Dowdy Home on East Glenwood was delightful, an English cottage revival style that was built in 1928. The external and internal decorations got everyone in a festive mood. The home was surprisingly expansive with many nooks that we loved. Tiny enchanting windows and places to settle down with a book made this cozy home one we didn’t want to leave. The master bedroom wing was inviting. The home is one of four English cottage revival styles in the subdivision. The home has been owned by several prominent Clarksvillians through the years.

Dowdy Home on E Glenwood. Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
Dowdy Home details. Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
Dowdy Home. Courtesy of Shana Thornton.

The Hinote Home on Porter’s Bluff

Each home had unique features. The Hinote Home has an incredible view overlooking the Red River valley off Porter’s Bluff. Constructed in 1940 by local architect Clarence Speight, the home also has a unique architectural style (Georgian Colonial) with a balcony that makes the view from the home always a striking feature. The wrought iron railing on the second-floor balcony adds lovely details. The Hinotes also made historical documents available–ledgers from Dr. Wilson, whose family once owned the home.

Hinote Home. Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
Details from the Hinote Home. Courtesy of DC Thomas.
Courtesy of DC Thomas.
Courtesy of Shana Thornton.

The Holleman Home on Madison Street

Sometime between 1891 when the property was sold for $1 on December 31 to Lewis Clark from his brother, Micajah H. Clark, and October 1918, when the property was sold to Lois T. Cunningham for $7,375, a home was built on the property. The Holleman Home’s artistry was unique. They also showcased the Clarksville Foundry and artwork created from Foundry pieces throughout the home. Exposed brick and an inside bridge connecting one part of the home with another made for a fun exploration of this home. The details chosen by the Holleman’s lured us through the house more than once, as we knew that one perusal meant we missed many elegant touches.

Holleman Home on Madison Street. Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
Details from the Holleman Home. Courtesy of DC Thomas.
Courtesy of DC Thomas.
Courtesy of DC Thomas.
Courtesy of DC Thomas.
Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
Courtesy of Shana Thornton.

Churches Featured in the 2025 Tour

St. Peter’s AME on Franklin Street

Visiting the churches was a new feature on the historical tour. In 2024, the tour focused on all historical homes, and the businesses on the tour were once homes. This year, St. Peter’s AME Church opened their sanctuary. The church originally met in a building on Second Street, as early as 1866. The current church was built in 1873, and the steeple was added in 1890. The stained glass, complex woodwork on the ceiling, and the organ have been beautifully preserved. Those construction materials were donated by the Methodist Church, located not far from St. Peter’s.

St. Peter’s AME was the church that Dr. Robert T. Burt and Emma Burt attended; Dr. Burt opened the first hospital in Clarksville in his home in 1906. He and Emma were married at Emma’s parents’ home by St. Peter’s AME minister, David A. Graham, whose daughter Lola Shirley Graham Du Bois was a writer, composer, and activist. She was a good friend of Dr. and Mrs. Burt. Shirley Graham Du Bois was married to activist and writer W. E. B. Du Bois. St. Peter’s AME Church has had many more exceptional members over the years.

St. Peter’s AME Church. Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
St. Peter’s AME Sanctuary. Courtesy of DC Thomas.
St. Peter’s AME Church. Courtesy of DC Thomas.
Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
Courtesy of Shana Thornton.

First Presbyterian Church on Main Street

First Presbyterian Church on Main Street sits directly across from the Downtown Commons. Photographed often by visitors and residents alike, the First Presbyterian is striking on the outside. Its lawn with wrought iron fence greets local students as they pose for their prom and dance photographs in front of the church year-round.

We were treated by explanations of the symbolism found around the sanctuary and the church by Dr. Ellen Kanervo, who is also a member. The outside courtyard was adorable and blooms with plants in the spring and summer months.

First Presbyterian Church. Courtesy of D.C. Thomas.
Organ at First Presbyterian. Courtesy of D.C. Thomas.
Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
Courtesy of Shana Thornton.
Courtesy of Shana Thornton.

The Montgomery County Preservation Coalition hosted a reception at the end of the Historical Tour. The reception at the First Presbyterian Church included classical guitar music, a slideshow of historical images, door prizes by the Preservation Coalition, delicious food, and complimentary wine from Beachaven Winery.

We thank the Montgomery County Preservation Coalition members and volunteers, the homeowners, the church members, and everyone who made the Historical Home Tour a success!

Sign up for the Montgomery County Preservation Coalition to receive updates about all of their preservation work and projects, including the historical tour for next year.

Connect on Facebook here: (4) Facebook

Courtesy of D.C. Thomas.
Courtesy of D.C. Thomas.
Courtesy of D.C. Thomas.

Shana Thornton is the Marketing & Media Manager and Managing Editor of Second & Commerce, the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center’s arts, history, and culture magazine. She is an author and publisher, Founder of the Clarksville-Montgomery County African American Legacy Trail, and the Montgomery County Deputy Historian.

Back to Blog