The town of Walden has owned the fenced-off historic McCoy family farm for over a decade, and community members and town officials are excited to finally open the gates and share the 38-acre grounds with the community.
Walden residents and leaders have debated for years what to do with the land, which was conveyed to the town after Martha Bachman McCoy's death in 2004. The property includes a big house with dark wood-paneled walls, a wood-burning oven in the kitchen, huge porches and many of the original sinks, light fixtures, cabinets and other features.
Some wanted to move the Walden Town Hall and a local playground to the McCoy property. Others wanted the property sold, fearing the upkeep costs. And many have fought to restore the grounds to their former beauty and open the space to the public.
A citizens committee in Walden began several months ago to spearhead these restoration efforts under the supervision of the town.
Committee co-chairwoman Susan Snow and a group of more than 40 volunteers have been working on the McCoy property for two months, restoring portions of the house and bringing order to the grounds.
"We just tackle one project at a time," Snow said. "... The family is thrilled that life is coming back to the house again."
The committee plans to host a Memorial Day picnic on the property for Walden and Signal Mountain residents.
"Soon after the picnic we hope to open the property to the public during certain hours," Snow said. "... We are just so excited to have this land used."
Walking under the old oak trees and past a future flower garden Tuesday, Snow said all of that work could not have been done without the community's support.
"We have some people in the town who are afraid of the cost," she said. "The property needs to be able to support itself and we are confident it can."
Walden Vice Mayor Thom Peterson said the property's future remains unsettled, but he is among those confident that the grounds can be self-sufficient with the continued work of the community. Plans are in place to host events like weddings and reunions to generate revenue for upkeep and operation.
"There is a good momentum right now within the community," Peterson said. "But it will all come down to funding. We are a small community and it is unrealistic for it to be funded by the town."
Mickey Robbins, co-chairman of the citizens committee and a local historian, believes the property is an asset not only for its beauty, but for its deep historical roots.
Its history dates back to 1863, when the Federal army seized it from a local shoemaker to use as a stopover for provisions headed to Chattanooga, Robbins said. The Bachman family purchased the land in 1912.
Martha McCoy's grandfather, Jonathan Waverly Bachman, served under Confederate generals Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee. Leaving the Civil War as a chaplain, Bachman served as a pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga in 1873, according to Robbins.
His son, Nathan Bachman, became a senator and lived on the property, turning it into a "southern gentleman's dream," Robbins said. The land boasted a large orchard and garden, a barn, blacksmith shop and wide variety of animals.
Martha McCoy was known all over the mountain for her kind spirit and love of animals, Robbins said. Stories are told about how she used to feed the foxes on one side of her house and the raccoons on the other in order to keep them safe.
"The place really does have a wonderful, wonderful history," Robbins said. "... There is such a commitment to the house and property to use it to benefit the community and families."
Contact staff writer Kendi Anderson at kendi.anderson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592.