Murfreesboro, TN - Nestled at the corner of East College and North Academy Streets, a stately Italianate home has stood quietly for 169 years, watching Murfreesboro grow and change around it. But time, as it tends to do, left its mark. A century of use by the Woman’s Club of Murfreesboro brought wear and tear to the home, and by 2016, The Woman’s Club secured 501(c)(3) nonprofit status with a renewed mission: to preserve the Baskette-Woman’s Club building, not just as a meeting space, but as a living piece of Murfreesboro’s history.
The elegant home was built in 1856 by Confederate surgeon Robert Turner Baskette and his wife Helen Crichlow. The house weathered the Civil War, survived the devastating downtown tornado of 1913, and remained one of the few pre-Civil War homes still standing in the heart of the city.
In 1916, the home found new life when it was purchased by The Woman’s Club of Murfreesboro from the estate of local hotelier James Monroe Haynes. That same year, the Club was officially incorporated and chartered, and the house became more than just a residence—it became a hub for cultural, literary, and philanthropic activity. For decades, the Club offered programs that enriched the community and preserved a historic collection of literary works that served as Murfreesboro’s first public lending library from 1887 to 1948.
Seven years ago, the Woman’s Club launched a campaign to renovate the aging structure. And this past Saturday (8/23/2025), during their elegant “Silver Coffee & Tea” event at Maney Hall in Oaklands Mansion, Club President Aurelia Holden shared some long-awaited good news—the renovations are progressing well, and the Club hopes to move back into the historic home by Christmas or early next year.
Holden expressed deep gratitude to the donors who have helped to bring the project this far, explaining that many grants require matching funds. Contributions from Saturday’s event could help double the impact of existing donations, pushing the restoration closer to completion.
The renovation continues as a multi-phase endeavor. So far, the Club has financed major upgrades including a new roof, boiler, and HVAC system, along with wall repairs, painting, and updates to the assembly room and one of the upstairs apartments. Structural and electrical assessments have laid the groundwork for the next steps, and the Club has worked closely with the City of Murfreesboro’s Codes and Planning Department to ensure all permits are in place.
Currently, phase one is underway, focusing on rewiring the entire home, a meticulous process expected to take three to four months. Future phases will address plumbing upgrades, installation of a handicap-accessible bathroom, floor and joist repairs, basement improvements for better access to utilities, and exterior restoration including porch repairs and painting.
In a recent boost to the project, Main Street Murfreesboro awarded the Club a $5,000 matching grant to restore two of the second-story front windows flanking the home’s magnificent center window, which features a decorative frieze windowsill. That centerpiece is being restored through separate funding.
As the renovations continue, the Woman’s Club remains committed to preserving the soul of the house—its original woodwork, wall coverings, and historic charm—while ensuring it can serve the community for generations to come. In a city that’s constantly evolving, the Baskette-Woman’s Club home stands as a reminder that history is worth preserving, brick by brick.
