Jimmie and Jack Phelps, M.D., Lewisburg, TN

“My parents married right after World War II. After my father returned from serving, he decided he wanted to devote his life to good, and he became a doctor. My mother was a remarkable woman, too. She got her Master’s in Library Science from Peabody University, and she was one of the first certified children’s librarians in the country. In 1953, they moved into a log home that had been a small hunting and fishing cottage on a piece of land that was formerly a fairground. As our family grew to include 3 children, they bought another old log house, had it dismantled, then added those logs to the front of our home. My father passed away in 1999, and my late mother lived in the home until last year.

They were both huge history buffs, and had massive collections. My mother’s father collected rare books, which she also took an interest in, and her mother was a seamstress, which sparked her own collection of quilts. My siblings and I were raised going to country auctions; flea markets; rambling around old houses and collecting glass bottles and marbles; we went to every antique store between Tennessee and Canada.

My father was interested in the Civil War period because his great grandfather died in the Battle of Franklin. My father’s other main interest was primitive antique furniture, which he collected from this region. He knew how to refinish pieces without destroying the patina: he would sand them with fine sandpaper and steel wool, then he would add a thin layer of shellac, let it dry, and sand it again. He’d do that 30 times to every single piece he refurbished.” – Anne Phelps Reed, daughter

Walnut and Cherry Two-Piece Standing Desk-on-Frame

“This stood in our living room and held our school photos and other memorabilia. When you open it, there’s a scorch mark on the top right from the candle they’d use while updating the ledgers. "

Transitional Cherry Butler’s Chest of Drawers

“This looks like a chest of drawers, but the top folds down. We always loved it as kids because we’d snoop around for the secret compartment: the top drawer is false and it opens down flat.”

Antique Cherry Jackson Press

“These and sugar chests are signature southern pieces. This early 19th Century one has sandwich glass knobs and was bought in Cornersville, TN.”

Antique Cherry Two-Piece Jackson Press

“This is a pre-Civil War piece that we think was local to Marshall County. It has reverse panels and was made in the 1800s by David McGahey, a prominent local figure.”