History
Incorporated in 1971, White House, Tennessee is a young city currently experiencing population growth, economic progress, and community development. Located north of Nashville within the greater Nashville region, the city has benefited greatly from suburban expansion since the 1990s. As a landmark community positioned on the borders of Robertson and Sumner counties and close to Interstate 65 between Nashville and the Kentucky border, White House holds even greater potential for future growth and prosperity.
Although White House has formally been recognized as a city for a little more than fifty years, this town has a rich, 200-year history. The first recorded explorations of the present-day community were in the 1790s, when hunters, trappers, and surveyors found a trail reportedly made by buffalo seeking salt springs and by Native Americans seeking hunting grounds. One such pioneer was Richard Wilks. In 1796, Wilks took advantage of a pre-emption law offering 360 acres of land to those who would establish permanent settlements in Middle Tennessee. He constructed a large, white, two-story house on a portion of this land — through which happened to run a part of the old buffalo and Indian trail. White was a particularly rare hue for a house at the time, especially in the underdeveloped land between Louisville and Nashville.
As development of the Middle Tennessee – Southern Kentucky area progressed and a definite travel route was established between the growing cities of Nashville and Louisville, Wilks' home — conveniently located adjacent to the travel route — was converted into an inn. Stagecoach travel became more frequent, and drivers, most familiar with the house as a convenient stop for changing horses, began to tell travelers they might find lodging at "The White House Inn."
The popularity of "The White House" grew, and soon the name was applied to the small community surrounding this landmark. During the first half of the 1800s, there was a marked increase in travel along what had become known as the Louisville and Nashville (L&N) Pike. Many troops used the Pike during the Civil War.
"General Andrew Jackson, a famous Tennessean, used the Old Pike. In 1829 the news came to the Post Office on the Pike that General Jackson would pass that way on a certain day. The children of the neighborhood school were conducted by the teacher, Mr. Mimm, to the edge of the road to see the old hero… When he saw the loyal little group, General Jackson stopped the carriage and rose with a bared head to thank them. He made a short speech then continued on his way northward."
Tradition holds that Jackson was actually on his way to see George Washington to be inaugurated when this incident occurred. Whether or not that is true, Jackson was a friend of Richard Wilks and is said to have stayed at the White House several times during his trips to and from Washington, D.C.
Other famous residents of the White House were Jenny Lind, "The Swedish Nightingale," and her tour manager, P.T. Barnum. The two traveled the L&N Pike and spent a night at the White House during her American tour in the 1850s.
The White House, sold by Richard Wilks in the late 1870s, eventually became Tom Covington's residence. Covington moved his family into the dwelling around the beginning of 1892, maintaining its function as a haven for weary travelers, whose numbers were steadily increasing. Under Covington's ownership, the White House underwent extensive renovation, including the addition of two porches and a "drummer's room" — a reflection of the changing tide of travelers. "Drummers" were traveling salesmen who would spend the night at the White House and then peddle their wares to the community. By this time, the L&N Railway was also well established and White House saw new growth, both commercially and residentially, due to this progress.
Although the monument for which the town was named was torn down in 1951 to make way for new development, this small community has maintained its identity as a calm haven for those in transit between cities. In 1986, the community undertook the construction of a replica of this Grand Old Building, which is now located on Highway 76 near the White House Fire Department. The "Inn" is now home to the Public Library, part of the Warioto Regional Library Service. The second floor houses a museum of artifacts depicting life in early White House — exhibiting early tools, furniture, photographs, and historic documents. The Chamber of Commerce is also located in this building.
The book White House History and Reflections by Evelyn P. Guill can be purchased at the Chamber office for $25.00.