Join the city of Spring Hill this Founders Day Weekend, May 2 through 5, as the city’s history, traditions and influential leaders are honored.
All events are free unless otherwise noted, but library space is very limited and many programs require online reservations to guarantee a seat.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food donation for The Well.
Times, locations and presenters subject to change, but no rain dates are planned. Please direct any questions to Dana Juriew at djuriew@springhilltn.org or (931)451-0723.
2024 Spring Hill Founders Day Schedule
THURSDAY, MAY 2
Author Brooks Lamb presents his book Love for the Land: Lessons from Farmers Who Persist in Place
5:30 – 7:00 p.m. | Library Multipurpose Room
Free event
Love for the Land: Lessons from Farmers Who Persist in Place explores the power and potential of people-place relationships. Through clear and compelling prose, it elevates the virtues of imagination, affection, and fidelity—concepts promoted by farmer-writer Wendell Berry—and shows how they motivate small- and mid-scale farmers to care for the land, even in the face of adversity. Paying particular attention to farmland loss from suburban sprawl, rampant agricultural consolidation, and, for farmers of color, racial injustice, Brooks Lamb reckons with the harsh realities that these farmers face. RSVP required to guarantee a seat in the multipurpose room. Overflow viewing will be available elsewhere in the library and on Facebook Live.
SATURDAY, MAY 4
Spring Hill Artifacts with Gwynne Evans
10 – 11 a.m. and 2 – 3 p.m. | Library Multipurpose Room
Free event
Native Spring Hillian Gwynne Evans has amassed an incredible collection of Spring Hill artifacts over the years as the owner of Carter’s Creek Station Antiques and his longtime association with Gary Realty & Auction. Gwynne is a Maury County Commissioner and teacher at Spring Hill High School who is also an advisor to the local chapter of Future Farmers of America, so you’ll also likely catch him outside the library at the tractor show. RSVP required for 10:00 showing or for repeated 2:00 showing to guarantee a seat in the multipurpose room. Overflow viewing will be available elsewhere in the library and on Facebook Live.
Democracy in America: Voices of Maury County (1860s-1960s) with Jo Ann McClellan
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 4 – 5 p.m. | Library Multipurpose Room
Free event
Jo Ann McClellan is the Maury County Historian as well as Founder & President of the African American Heritage Society of Maury County. She will present her research from her exhibit on voting rights in Maury County, in particular the rights of African Americans who fought for and promoted democracy. This companion exhibit was part of a national Smithsonian exhibit entitled “American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith.” RSVP required for 11:00 showing or for repeated 4:00 showing to guarantee a seat in the multipurpose room. Overflow viewing will be available elsewhere in the library and on Facebook Live.
The Formation of Spring Hill: Frontier’s Cutting Edge with Tom Price
12 – 1 p.m. | Library Multipurpose Room
Free event
Maury County Archivist Tom Price will talk about the early founders of Spring Hill: who they were, what they did and what it all meant to the general settlement of the area. RSVP required to guarantee a seat in the multipurpose room. Overflow viewing will be available elsewhere in the library and on Facebook Live.
Historically Significant Site plaque presentation with Mayor Jim Hagaman, Alicia Fitts and Rebecca Estrada
5 p.m. | Library Multipurpose Room
Free event
Help the Mayor and Historic Commission Chair honor historic properties in Spring Hill that have been awarded Historically Significant status by the City of Spring Hill Historic Commission. Learn more about these properties from a GIS-based Story Map, presented by Rebecca Estrada.
Story Mapping of Historic Sites in Spring Hill with Rebecca Estrada
1 – 4 p.m. | Saturday Library Conference Room
Free Event
Vanderbilt Graduate Student Rebecca Estrada will share the history of many sites in Spring Hill via an interactive map, with narrative and imagery.
Tours of Rippa Villa
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Historic Rippa Villa 5700 Main Street
Rippa Villa, built in 1855, was one of the premier farms in Middle Tennessee. On November 29, 1864, the home and the families who lived there found themselves in the middle of one of the most dramatic events of the Civil War. These abbreviated half-hour tours are given at Rippa Villa for half price ($10) with brochure (or print of this page). No RSVP required.
Tractor Show on Library grounds
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Free event
Come see award-winning classic and vintage tractors, get to know their proud owners and let your kids test out a pedal tractor. Test your skills at a skillet throwing contest! No RSVP required.
Cemetery Tour at Historic Spring Hill Cemetery on McLemore (Park at Skate Park on Walnut)
10 – 11:45 a.m.
$10 over age 9
Tour featuring reenactors from multiple time periods representing people buried in the cemetery. Cost is $10 for anyone 10 years or older and anyone under 10 is free. All profits go towards maintaining the cemetery, which runs solely off of private donations. Tours begin every 15 minutes, no RSVP required.
SUNDAY, MAY 5
Click the links of these historic churches to visit them for morning service times:
- Mt. Hope Baptist Church (circa 1908) 5276 Main Street
- Spring Hill United Methodist Church (circa 1809) 5286 Main Street
- Grace Episcopal Church (1877) 5291 Main Street
- First Presbyterian Church (circa 1844) 5344 Main Street
- Spring Hill Church of Christ (1915) 5351 Main Street
- Wesley Chapel Methodist Church (1881) 511 McLemore Street
- Church of Christ at NewTown (c.1950) 2615 Duplex Road
- Duplex Original Church of God (early 1900s) 3048 Duplex Road
- Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church (1871) 396 Les Chappell Road
Vintage Baseball at Rippa Villa 5700 Main Street
2 – 4 p.m.
Free event
Bring your family out to the vintage baseball fields of Rippa Villa to watch a 19th century baseball game played by the Franklin Farriers and the Cumberland Club of Nashville. Go Team! (No cost. No RSVP required. Bring your own refreshments.)
