Cannonsburgh Village in Murfreesboro Tennessee was built as the city’s chief Bicentennial project in 1976. Visualized by the late Mayor W.H. Westbrooks, Dr. James K. Huhta, Director of MTSU’s Historic Preservation program played a key role in bringing the plan together as a living museum of early Southern life. Charlie Williamson, City Development Coordinator was in charge of the construction and organization of the village. 

The village represents approximately 100 years of early Tennessee life from the 1830s to the 1930s. Within the village is a grist mill, school house, telephone operator’s house, the University house, the Leeman House, a museum, a caboose, the Wedding Chapel, a doctor’s office, a general store, and a blacksmith's shop, and a well. These buildings were moved from different locations all over Rutherford County to build the village with a Bicentennial grant provided by the federal government.

Cannonsburgh Village is home to the Murfreesboro Art League, and the site of many school field trips. It has been used in the past for numerous festivals and the site of many local weddings in the small beautiful chapel. The Rutherford County Blacksmith Association meets here regularly and provides classes in the dying art of blacksmithing. The Stones River Car Club meets here as well. The city employees regularly have various craft classes for the community. The Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival called Cannonsburgh Village home for many years. As you can see, Cannonsburgh Village is an integral part of Murfreesboro’s historical heritage. But its livelihood is endangered.

Current Mayor Shane McFarland as posted on his Facebook page that the city has been approached by an independent MLB affiliated baseball team to move to Downtown Murfreesboro, The proposed location to house the baseball team is Cannonsburgh Village. Although the Mayor says he doesn’t want to demolish the Village, he would like to relocate the village, as was done in 1976. (It should be noted that the village was NOT relocated in 1976, but rather buildings all over the area were moved there to create the village) He states that the village has become a haven for homelessness and illegal activity. He wants to move all the buildings (at what cost?) and build the stadium for the new team on this site. He says that the village is not used much, but he is wrong about this. Cannonsburgh Village is a vital part of our community.

Many community members are not in favor of moving Cannonsburgh Village and also feel that this area of town is not the right place for a baseball team. We love Cannonsburgh just the way it is and want to enjoy it for future festivals, weddings, school field trips and community events.  The Bottoms area is being built up by investors and this is just another nail in the coffin.

If you feel that Cannonsburgh Village is an historical gem that should be preserved where it is, please consider signing our petition and sharing it far and wide.

If you are able, please plan to attend the City Council meeting on September 14 at 11:30a.m. at the Murfreesboro Airport.