The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-09
COLONIAL H | M [ NOW CLUB HOUSE
Structure Rich In History Bought By Tennessee Val-
 ley Country Club
MUSCLE SHOALS BUREAU ] THE AGE-HERALD ] Florence, Ala, Dec. 8


 The Tennessee Valley Country club, recently organized In the Tri- Cities is one of the most progressive and enterprising organizations Of It's kind in the state. It's membership list is composed of people who are public spirited and very progressive Their efforts to make the old colonial house, standing on the outskirts of the Tri-Cities, one of the most beau- tiful structures in Hnis district, has been watched with more than ordi- nary interest by the people. They have taken a building that was in very bad condition and have re- modelled it and fashioned one of the most beautiful buildings the Tri- Cities possesses.
 This old house was situated just on top of the hill on the outskirts of Tuscumba. In bygone years this house represented youth, grace and hospitality. The Country club planned to re-create this same repre- sentation. In this they have been more than successful as can be seen from the illustration above.
 The walls of this old house echoes of past generations. Hospitality that only the south can know, was one of the most important factors in the history of this place. The house was built just before the Civil war when home life was so delightful and hospitality so abundant.
 O O o Built By Slaves.
 John Winston, one of four brothers, who settled in the Tennessee Valley, bringing with him many slaves, came to this beautiful valley from Vlr, ginia in 1923. These slaves burned the bricks and cut and hewed the timber for the construction of this old home.
 This house was not the most pre- tentious of the old ante-bellum archi- lecture, however, 1t bears conclusive evidence of the fine taste of it's owner and the sincerity of the life lived within.
 John Winston, the builder of this old house, was on General Jackson's staff and was his personal friend.
 The record of a great tragedy which occurred in 1892, lies in a little cemetery near the house. The little son of MT .Winston's fell out of a second story window and was killed. He was buried in the little family graveyard. near the home.
 In the later years MT. Winston sold the place to Colonel Christian, who married Miss Lewis of Virginia. Gay and joyous indeed was the life lived there when she was mistress. The present golf course was once deer park where the sons and daughters of the southland once engaged in this sport. The stream which provided water to the hundreds of these ami mals still runs and lends atmosphere to the situation. It Is said that stag once killed one of Colonel and Mrs. Christians children.
 Was Ex-Governor's Homo.
 Just before the war ex-Governor Lindsay bought the place from its successive owners and took his bride to live there. Mrs. Joseph Nathan was born there. Mrs. Nathan was a niece of John Winston and often visited the old place when she was a child. When Mrs. Nathan was an infant and when federal troops oc- cupied the town of Tuscumbia, her father moved into town.
 General Buell. used the house as his headquarters and Mrs. Nathan re- that General Buell. told them that If they would conceal their effects in the front room he would see that they were not disturbed. One day, when General Buell.. was absent. she came home only to find that the soldiers had gotten into the front room where her treasures were stored and ob- talned her valuables. They had her china up on the roof of the kitchen, where several soldiers were rolling 1t off just to hear it break on the trick paving below.
 On the walls of the room that has now been converted into a ball room | there was an old sign, supposed to have been an Indian. mark, that in- dicated buried treasures.
 A Natural Playground.
 From the viewpoint of location | this colonial club house is natural playground. The golf course that the Tennessee Valley Country club have maintained has the first es- sentials, an extraordinary Bermuda turf, which has been, like the famous English turfs, century In the mak- ing. A beautiful stream runs through the grounds, supplying the next essential, water.
 The cedar grove, which lies to the east and near the house, Is what the Country club members term absolute ly unique and novel, 1t being a nat ural beauty spot. This may be seen from the distance and it makes a wonderful view to behold.
 On recent trip of Senator Under wood to this house he was very much enthused over the beauty of the nat ural surroundings and commended the president and his committee for their their taste and wisdom in re-