Читать книгу Nashville Haunted Handbook - Jeff Morris - Страница 27

directions

Nine miles from downtown, the Buchanan Log House sits alongside a busy suburban road. Take I-40 East for about 8 miles to Exit 216C, the Donelson Pike exit. Turn right onto Donelson Pike, and travel for a little more than a half mile. Turn right onto Elm Hill Pike, and follow it for a little more than a half mile. The home will be on the left-hand side of the road. There is a historic marker and a sign by a wooden fence next to the driveway for the log house.

history

This building is one of the older standing structures in the state of Tennessee, having been built in 1809. In 1811, James Buchanan, the builder of the cabin, married Lucinda East, and they began to build a life in the house.

Less than 10 years after they married, James and Lucinda already had 16 children, and the small three-room house did not have nearly enough space to accommodate the family’s growing needs. James then built an extension onto the house in 1820 to help house his large family.

In 1841, James Buchanan died at the age of 78 and was buried across the street at the Buchanan Cemetery. His epitaph concludes with the rather ominous line, “Prepare to die and follow me.” Twenty-four years later, Lucinda’s mortal remains did follow James to the cemetery across the street. Some say that her spirit stayed with the house.

ghost story

It seems that this small log house is still occupied by the ghost of Lucinda East Buchanan. The ghost itself is rarely encountered by anyone who is actually living in the house or visiting but is instead reported by people who are driving by on the adjacent road.

Passersby will report seeing a woman dressed in period clothing sitting on the front porch of the log house. While the rustic and historic appearance of the house does not make the woman look out of place, there is no reason that someone dressed like this would be sitting there. Other witnesses will see a woman dressed in period clothing in the windows of the building, watching the yard and the nearby road.

visiting

It is not a difficult prospect to visit the ghost here at the Buchanan Log House since many of the ghost stories are reported when the witnesses are outside of the house. Driving down the adjacent road and looking up at the house may be your best bet because this is how most of the sightings happen, but the road itself is rather far from the house, and it is very difficult to see the windows from the road. There is a small parking area next to the building where you can park and watch the outside of the house as long as you do so during the day. All of the sightings of Lucinda have occurred during daylight hours.

The building is available for tours on a limited basis. You can call for an appointment to take a tour or you can visit the home on Tuesday or Friday before 4 p.m. during spring, winter, and fall.