News from the Friends of White Plains

November 2021 

Christmas past at White Plains Historic Home. FOWP board member Joanne Smith and her husband, Jim, in the midst of painting the history room. 

CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY, DEC. 4 

Make room on your calendars for our first Christmas Open House since 2019! We’ll open the house from  10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 4. The home will be beautifully decorated, a model train display up and running, and volunteers onhand to answer questions about the house itself and its families over the years. And we’ll have packaged candy to hand out to the kids (and the young at heart!). The event coincides with the City of Algood’s Christmas Market (see below).

225 YEARS OF STATEHOOD EXHIBIT OPENS

Commemorations of Tennessee’s 225th year since statehood have taken place throughout 2021, and we’re glad to say we’re marking the occasion with our very own history exhibit at the White Plains Historic Home. Board members Cassie Green and Megan Atkinson of the Tennessee Tech Archives & Special Collections spearheaded the exhibit, which focuses on travel — by land and water — through the Upper Cumberland in the late 1700s. Most Upper Cumberland counties are represented in the exhibit, helping illustrate travel and development in our region and Tennessee as a whole. The exhibit opens during the Christmas Open House. 

HISTORY ROOM RENO UNDERWAY

One of the Friends’ current projects is a renovation of the history room to be followed, ultimately, by the creation of a research library at the home. Board member Joanne White, with able assistance from her husband, Jim, have been spackling and painting in preparation for “re-opening” the history room in time for the Christmas Open House and the opening of our Tennessee 225 exhibit.

ALGOOD CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS DEC. 3, 4 and 10

And finally … you can’t have too much Christmas! Algood is celebrating Christmas three days in December — and throwing in a Gingerbread House Contest for children as well. On Friday and Saturday, Dec. 3 and 4, the monthly Algood Market takes place at City Hall from 5 to 8 p.m., with a tree lighting at 6 p.m. On Saturday, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at City Hall from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and children are welcome to mail letters to the North Pole there, too. Vendors will be set up both Friday and Saturday, and gingerbread houses will be judged during the event. On Friday, Dec. 10, the annual Christmas Parade begins at 6 p.m. This year’s theme is “A Gingerbread Christmas.” To sign up as a participant – or to compete in the Gingerbread House Contest – call Parks and Recreation Director Roy Phipps at 931-537-9545 or email roy.phipps@algoodtn.gov. 

BE A FRIEND … OF THE FRIENDS

Membership dues help us cover the cost of programming, including the upcoming exhibition celebrating the 225th anniversary of Tennessee statehood. If you’ve been a member in the past but haven’t renewed yet — or if you want to join now for the first time — you have several ways to be a part of the team. Annual dues are $20 per family/household. Lifetime memberships are $100 per family/household. Dues and donations are tax-deductible. Please mail checks to the Friends of White Plains, Attn: Amy Hill, Treasurer, P.O. Box 49713, Algood, TN 38506. Please include your name, mailing address, email address and phone number — and if you have any questions, reply to this email, and we’ll get back with you. Thanks in advance for helping support this important cultural resource in our community.

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Donations are always welcome to help with the preservation and restoration efforts for this historic landmark. The Friends group is a registered 501c3, and your donation is tax-deductible. 

Thanks for your support.