McCoy Farm & Gardens Newsletter

Volume Ten: Issue Twoxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx February 2025

The Bachman-McCoy Farm has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places

From left, McCoy Board President Mickey Robbins, Executive Director Melissa Nimon, Board Member and National Register committee Chair Susan Snow, Architectural Designer and former UTC graduate student Rachel Shannon, and Senator Bo Watson gathered on Sunday, February 2, at the bronze plaque commemorating the Bachman-McCoy Farm's listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Senator Watson presented a Tennessee Senate and House Joint Resolution honoring the designation.

We are so pleased to announce that the Bachman-McCoy Farm, upon the nomination of the Tennessee Historical Commission, has been placed in the National Register of Historic Places. The property is also listed in the Tennessee Register of Historic Places. 

The application process began over seven years ago, with many hands helping along the way, including UTC historic preservation graduate students Alex Hunt, Rachel Shannon, and Hana Karrar; McCoy board members Susan Snow, Mickey Robbins, and Joe Davis; McCoy Executive Director Melissa Nimon; State Historic Preservation Office National Register Coordinator Rebecca Schmitt; and MTSU Director of the Center for Historic Preservation Dr. Carroll Van West. We are grateful for the steadfast dedication and countless hours of documentation and research that were invested in the successful application.  

The property is listed in the National Register for its association with significant events in American history, specifically through the Bachman-McCoy family’s involvement in politics, social reform causes, and environmental preservation.  

This prestigious designation provides eligibility for McCoy Farm & Gardens for grants specific to listed properties. Wouldn't Nathan and Pearl Duke Bachman and their daughter Martha Bachman McCoy be so proud of this honor!

Some of the Garden Committee take a break after a busy planting day in the fall. Top row: Garden Committee Chair Elizabeth Hamilton, Kit Hanley, and Marty Roberts. Front row: Andrea Mynatt, Betty Workinger, and Caroline Alley.

A new garden is taking shape below the Serpentine Wall. The design of the Woodland Garden embraces the natural shade and rocky landscapes of the mountains of southeast Tennessee and is also inspired by the ephemeral flowers so often associated with the Smoky Mountains and surrounding area.

The idea for this garden was birthed during a cold annual January meeting of the Garden Committee as its members envisioned how to next enliven the grounds. Elizabeth Hamilton currently chairs the committee and believes in native plants and natural mountain landscaping. “We don't have an abundance of sunny spots on Signal Mountain. Most people's yards are in part- to full-shade. We want to demonstrate that amazing gardens can be created on shady sites.” This garden will be a perfect example showing that working with your mountain landscape and supporting—or reintroducing—native plants creates a beautiful and healthy yard. 

This garden reflects McCoy's focus on native plants. Elizabeth says this is because “native plants provide superior food and habitat for birds and insects as compared to introduced plants.” Last fall, committee members planted 50 shrubs, trees, and perennials on the plot they had already prepared, and they plan to continue expanding.

With the Garden Committee still planning to remove invasives on another acre, there’s plenty of time to get your hands dirty pulling invasives or introducing additional native vegetation in the spring. Join the team making it all happen! “We have a fabulous group! Caroline Alley, Marguerite Batkin, Angela Cassidy, Kit Hanley, Sherri Kent, Jen Kocolaski, Jacque Lyons, Celia Mattingly, Andrea Mynatt, Marty Roberts, John Fortuno, and Betty Workinger have all made contributions to the garden.” 

Here are the upcoming workdays: 

Feb 10th and Feb 28th at 1:00 pm (every 2nd Tuesday and 4th Friday at 1 pm)

March 1st – McCoy Weed Wrangle, 9:00 am-noon 

Want to stay up-to-date and catch additional pop-up workdays each month? Join the Garden Committee’s mailing list by signing up here. 

Elizabeth is excited for the completion of the garden and says, “I hope the community will enjoy seeing the area reclaimed from invasive species and strolling the soon-to-be-added walking paths that will meander through the area.” 

What's Coming Up

Bachman-McCoy Home Open House

Sunday, February 9, 2-4 pm

New Grounds Committee Forming 

Maintaining almost 2.5 miles of trails and 38 acres is a big but rewarding task. We invite you to join the team, which will meet at the Welcome Station at the parking lot on Tuesdays in February, beginning on February 11, from 5:00-6:30 pm. For more information, contact Beth Myers at 330-256-1472. We hope to see you there!

McCoy Weed Wrangle, Saturday, March 1, 9:00 am-noon

Volunteers state-wide will be working on Saturday, March 1 to remove invasives to promote healthy native plants in their communities. Come join other McCoy volunteers to learn to identify and remove some of the harmful species at McCoy Farm & Gardens. We'll meet at 9:00 am at the Welcome Station at the parking lot and work around the new Woodland Garden near the front of the Bachman-McCoy House. Please bring gloves and a water bottle, hand pruners or loppers, and wear sturdy clothes and closed-toe shoes. We welcome groups such as Scouts, high school clubs, Sunday School classes, etc., to join in on this fun day to improve the biodiversity at McCoy. 

Email any questions to info@mccoywalden.org or call 423-598-1658. 

Researchers Needed

While the National Register application research filled in many gaps in knowledge about the property and the families who have lived at McCoy, some puzzle pieces remain. If you are a natural detective, and especially if you wouldn't mind traveling to sleuth out some of the remaining mysteries (for example, to Durham, NC, where Duke University holds Senator Nathan Bachman's papers), please contact our office at 423-598-1658.

Contact McCoy Farm & Gardens

at katie@mccoywalden.org

to learn more about renting space at McCoy for your next event.

Or mail your check to McCoy Farm & Gardens, P.O. Box 443, Signal Mountain, TN 37377

McCoy Farm & Gardens covers 38 acres and features the Bachman-McCoy home, gardens, and several outbuildings, including the Pavilion, Carriage House, Barn, and Blacksmith Workshop. The Level 2 Arboretum contains over 70 species. With over 2 miles of trails, the grounds also include the site of the former home of artist, poet, and naturalist Emma Bell Miles.