I visited this house last week near Knoxville. It was built in 1849, by my great-great-great grandfather Burgin. The original home was built as a log cabin but by the turn of the century the clapboard siding and gingerbread were added.

I see this as a reflection of the craftsmanship and resourcefulness of early Tennessee settlers. The barn that still stands nearby was likely constructed during the same period as the clapboard additions, serving as a reminder that this was more than a home — it was once part of a working farmstead. Homes truly are much more than structures; they are vessels of memory. The Walker Home is not only an architectural landmark but also a piece of living history that connects the past to the present in so many ways.