October Vacation - Historic Mooresburg & Rogersville

For a quaint little getaway, stay at the Home Place Bed & Breakfast in Mooresburg along Cherokee Lake, between Bean Station and Rogersville. Innkeeper, Priscilla Rogers is a descendant of the founders of Mooresburg and Rogersville and has generations of innkeeping in her ancestry.

The Home Place was built in the mid 1800s as a log cabin. The original log cabin structure interior is visible in the doorframe of the kitchen. This cozy bed & breakfast is indeed "homey" as innkeeper Priscilla Rogers makes all feel welcome and at home upon arrival. She's modest, friendly, and knowledgeable about the area--the ideal hostess. If you inquire, she will relate stories and details about her family history and homestead, area history, and will give you a tour of the home place, sharing stories behind the many family artifacts on display. Here you will also find local tourism information as well and the vintage family furnishings, framed portraits, and quilts make the experience complete.

Mooresburg itself is a small, unincorporated community between Bean Station and Rogersville. It was traditionally located along Hwy 11w but that section of road is now Old Hwy 11w. In its prime, Mooresburg was an important stage coach stop for travelers headed west. Now its old residences and the few remaining original structures are a peaceful and quiet reminder of times past.

Historic Marker: Williams Home Place
Location: Corner of Hwy 11 W and Slate Hill Road in Mooresburg, TN.

"Three-tenths of a mile north at 132 Church Lane, Hugh G. Williams and Carrie Moore Williams, descendants of Hugh G. Moore, a founder of Mooresburg, resided here in the late 1800's. The Williams owned the Mooresburg Springs Hotel, a well-known mineral spring resort. Guests from many states visited every summer to drink the mineral water, eat home-style cooking, and enjoy dancing and playing horseshoes. The Home Place is located on Hugh Moore's original land holdings."

There are two restaurants within short distance of the Home Place:

Crossroads Restaurant is located at 802 Old Hwy 11 W in Mooresburg (423) 272-3962.

Country Corner is located at 113 Old Hwy 11 W (423) 272-5027.

Next stop: Rogersville.

After Mooresburg, on your way further heading east on Hwy 11w toward Rogersville, you will come upon the Harrell Farm Barn Quilt on your right. It's up on a hill and visible from the highway. The pattern is "Mariner's Compass" painted in browns. The barn is located in a field and sometimes horses are seen mulling about nearby.

When you arrive in Rogersville, Hwy 11 W will make a Y split where 11 W continues to the left and to the right is West Main Street. Take West Main Street and this will carry you on into the heart of Historic Downtown Rogersville. On your right, you'll see the Historic Hale Springs Hotel and down the block also on the right is the historic courthouse. Again on the right, just after a grassy area there, look up and you'll see the quilt square "Country Decision" on the courthouse annex. In the downtown district, you'll find antique shops, restaurants, artist studio or galleries, and other services and shops all within walking distance of the courthouse. There are many beautiful old buildings in Rogersville. It's the oldest town in the state of Tennessee, second to Jonesborough but Rogersville is a bit larger than Jonesborough. Their October Heritage Days festival is one of the top festivals in East Tennessee with a good selection of vendors from the local area and also from North Carolina and Virginia and beyond.

If you have a little time to shop but can't fit in a lot, at the very minimum, you must stop at the corner of Main Street and Church Street. Side by side are the Mountain Star Antiques Mall and the Rogersville Artist Gallery. That's a great place to start out and then see what else you might find of interest downtown.

If you're ready to grab a bite to eat, Rogersville has plenty of restaurants but there are two within a block of the Mountain Star Mall:

Oh Henry's 201 E Main St, Rogersville, TN - (423) 272-0980

Miss Bea's Perks & Pies 109 S Church St, Rogersville, TN - (423) 272-6555


Guided Group Walking Tours:

For a guided walking tour of Rogersville, enjoy its stories and history led by experience storyteller, Guerry McConnell of Tour Designs & More, Inc. 423 East McKinney Ave, Rogersville TN 37857 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , www.tales-tonics.com 423-272-8549 * 921-0799 Fax

Tour Designs & More, Inc. introduces its walking tours of Rogersville’s –the ‘City of Trees’- historic downtown. This is the first installment of several tours which are being developed to cover the remarkable history and character of Hawkins County. By appointment - 2 ½ hours @ $10.00 per person, $50.00min.

Tour Designs & More, Inc. was founded in Nashville, TN in 1988 primarily to serve tourists visiting Tennessee. Clients included motor coach groups, school groups, corporate and sales incentive groups. Through her 30 years of tour experience, Guerry McConnell has worked to showcase the best of the area, while entertaining her clients.

Guerry McConnell, President & Owner of Tour Designs & More, Inc. says “Hawkins County loves company, and we want to show you the best.”