Glen Leven Farm in Nashville
Pictures Courtesy of Bob Higgins, Mockingbird Locations
The Land Trust for Tennessee's Glen Leven Farm
THE LAND TRUST FOR TENNESSEE invites you to play a vital role in preserving one of the most diverse landscapes in Middle Tennessee, The Land Trust for Tennessee's Glen Leven Farm. This pristine oasis, just four miles from the heart of downtown Nashville, was bequeathed by the late Susan M. West to The Land Trust for Tennessee, whose mission is to preserve forever Tennessee's natural and historic landscapes.
Glen Leven Farm Window Legacy Fund
...preserving views of this historic landscape for another 150 years
The windows in the 1857 home at Glen Leven Farm are focal components of this iconic house – the views through the wavy glass offer a sense of the history of this landscape.
Unfortunately, these grand windows are suffering from the effects of weather and time. Each window has a particular set of needs, including:
• Vintage window glass replacement• Sash reconstruction• Hardware replacement/repair• Blind (i.e. shutter) replacement/repair• Painting• Exterior flashing replacement
These measures will not only enhance the views from these apertures, but protect the house from heat, cold, water and UV radiation.
Own a Window
You have an extraordinary opportunity to “own” a Glen Leven Farm window (or set of windows) by making a gift to the Glen Leven Farm Window Legacy Fund, a component of the Glen Leven Farm Home Stabilization Project with an overall goal of $139,500.
Opportunities range from $1,500 to $8,000 for each window, depending on size, scope of needs and location. A small brass plaque with your name or the name of the person you choose to honor will be placed on your window. In addition you will receive a framed piece of the original window blinds.
You may choose the window or windows that you wish to conserve and name.
For more information on how you can "own" a Glen Leven Farm window or set of windows, please call Liz McLaurin, Glen Leven Director at 615-944-3887 or email her at lmclaurin@landtrusttn.org
Thank you for helping to preserve views of this historic landscape for another 150 years.
Glen Leven Farm Home Stabilization Project
The Land Trust for Tennessee must address immediate structural needs to avert further deterioration of the main buildings while at the same time we bring this rich landscape to life as an educational community resource. The Stabilization Project seeks to address these needs through a $1M fund-raising effort.
Immediate Needs:
- New roof and decking (original 1857 roof)
- Chimney and brick work
- New gutter and drainage system
- Foundation work
- Electrical work
- Functional and decorative wood work
- Window repairs
- Interior repairs
- Smokehouse and farm office restoration
- Eastlake-style porte-cochere and cistern restoration
Thank you for making a gift or pledge today.
Preserving a Landmark and Serving Local Vegetables
The unique collaboration between The Hermitage Hotel's Capitol Grille and The Land Trust for Tennessee at Glen Leven.
The Capitol Grille executive chef Tyler Brown was granted an acre of it to grow vegetables for the restaurant. In April, the hotel planted heirloom vegetables on one-acre of the historic farm at Glen Leven. Since the Glen Leven Farm is only five miles from the hotel's front door, diners can be assured that the heirloom vegetables they enjoy with their meal were picked the same day they were served. The hotel is committed to gardening naturally and promoting sustainability. In addition to more organic growing methods, the crops grown at Glen Leven Farm will be as historic as the site itself. Chef Tyler Brown of the Capitol Grille has researched seed records to identify and plant heirloom vegetables from the 19th Century. Such crops include: butterstick zucchini, zephyr squash, French breakfast radishes, and Cherokee purple tomatoes. Chef Brown will then create menus specific to the crops that he will harvest each day. Glen Leven is no stranger to the hospitality industry. For years, the Glen Leven Farm provided produce to the historic Maxwell House Hotel which was located in downtown Nashville before it burned on Christmas night in 1961.
MTSU's Center for Historic Preservation has completed it's "Historic Structure Report and Archaeological Reconnaissance Survey".
In an incredibly generous gift, The Land Trust for Tennessee was bequeathed the historic Glen Leven Farm and its surrounding sixty-five acres from Susan M. West, the great-great-great granddaughter of Thomas Thompson. Glen Leven, a pre-Civil War mansion whose family ownership can be traced back to Nashville's earliest settlers. The property is located in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Glen Leven is a two-story Greek Revival home, located on Franklin Road in Nashville, that was constructed with handmade bricks in 1857 by John Thompson.
- Glen Leven was built on part of an original 647 acre tract claimed by pioneer Thomas Thompson, an early Nashville settler and signer of the Cumberland Compact.
- The home and the surrounding 65 acres were willed to the Land Trust for Tennessee in 2006 by the late Susan McConnell West.
- A board-appointed task force is actively evaluating possible programs and partnerships related to open space conservation, sustainable agriculture and historic preservation,in hopes the Middle Tennessee community will be able to enjoy Glen Leven and its open spaces in perpetuity.
- Ms. West's will stipulates that the land be left as "open space", never to be developed or subdivided and that the home and adjacent five acres fronting Franklin Road be kept and maintained in "good condition".
- The Land Trust has developed working agreements with The Hermitage Hotel which has planted an organic garden, and the Middle Tennessee State University Center for Historic Preservation. MTSU has conducted graduate seminars in historic preservation at Glen Leven, and recently compiled a Historic Structures Report.
Group Tours and Special Events
Though not regularly open to the public, Glen Leven Farm is now available for group tours and special events by appointment, including field trips, corporate retreats, holiday gatherings, weddings and more. If you are interested in booking a group tour or special event at Glen Leven Farm, please contact Glen Leven Farm staff at 615-292-6705.
The property is available for viewing periodically through out the year. If you would like to be notified the next time we have an open event, please email Katie Randall, Glen Leven Farm Education and Outreach Coordinator at krandall@landtrusttn.org
If you have further questions regarding Glen Leven Farm call 615-292-6705 or email krandall@landtrusttn.org