Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains lies a town named Greeneville, Tennessee. This small Tennessee town once contained great prowess in the happenings of the formation of our country and helped shape what it is today. It was a capital for the now defunct State of Franklin. Andrew Johnson called it home during his political rise. The city was largely Pro-Union and a part of the Abolitionist Movement. If you notice, all of these attributes are from long ago and little is known of Greeneville today. In 2018, the city committed to revitalizing their Downtown area and after visiting…it is nonetheless impressive.

General Morgan Statue. Photo Credit: General Morgan Inn

John Hunt Morgan is the name of a Confederate State of America General from Kentucky. He was Captain of a Kentucky militia who eventually joined the Confederates in battle. General Morgan was known as a successful raider who resembled the same attitude of those in the Wild West or an American Gangster. While visiting friends at the Dickson-Williams Mansion (which still sits on a hill overlooking the General Morgan Inn) he was surprised by a Union Army raid and during retreat, General Morgan was shot in the back and killed. It is said Morgan died roughly where the General Morgan Inn sits today.

The ground on which the General Morgan Inn sits on was the site of the first hotel in Greeneville, Tennessee which was named the DeWoody Tavern. Settlers would gather in this tavern and socialize with the townsfolk in the 1790’s. After The Civil War, the town still thrived in large part to the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad. A man named Colonel John H Doughty knew that a business opportunity awaited as the town had many out-of-town visitors from the railroad. The Grand Central Hotel was born in the late 1800’s and is the foundation of the still-standing Inn. Relatives of Doughty purchased the Hotel in 1920 and transformed into the ornate and classical Hotel Brumley. It’s 60 rooms hosted political figures, celebrities and weary travelers until its unfortunate closing in 1981. Through much hard work and excessive planning…the General Morgan Inn and Conference Center would re-open in 1996 and is still operating today.

My one night stay at the General Morgan Inn was sure to be an exciting one. I had heard that there were ghosts that roamed the building. This did not happen to be the reason I wanted to stay here. It was for the nostalgia of staying in a hotel that truly resembled the experience of living in the early 1900’s. The rooms were fairly priced, the staff was accommodating and parking was ample. Albeit I was staying during a pandemic, the thrill still remained. While entering, you see the exquisite architectural designs in the stone and woodwork. The chandeliers glisten in the night. You can imagine a prestigious couple sitting in front of the fireplace enjoying a drink while leisurely relaxing. Unfortunately, you could not enter the restaurant that was closed, but there was a coffee shop on the First Floor of the building.

After checking in…you can take the elevator to your room. The elevator walls are adorned with a green fabric that looks Victorian and play the part. We did not have a long way to go though, as we were staying on the Second Floor. I booked the basic King Bed room which contained a bathroom, King bed and a HD TV. The view was directly across form First Horizon Bank downtown and the First Presbyterian Church of Greeneville. Let me remind you, the rooms REALLY looked like you would imagine them looking in the early 1900’s (aside from the flat-screen TV). The bed was amazingly comfortable, the bathroom was spacious, it’s perfect for a short, relaxing stay. A picture of American Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene hangs on the wall above a table in the room (the namesake for Greene County and Greeneville). There were other options for your stay at the General Morgan Inn such as suites and the General Morgan room, which suits more of a family stay.

It was easy to drift away with my head resting on the down pillows and soft sheets that you rest on. My favorite part of the stay was finding out what the knob with a timer did in the bathroom. This knob had minutes listed on it and then the magic happened. Make sure you have the “normal” lights off because, this timer lit a dim, red light right over the bath tub. I noticed a dome fixture over the tub, but was not sure what was underneath. Apparently, it is a heat lamp that uses a red light to dry your self once you get out of the shower/tub. This had to be unique fixture for a time long ago. Maybe towels were poor in the good old days. There was also a phone located in the bathroom if you look on the left hand-side of the picture.

I could lie and tell you I saw General Morgan trying his best to run away from the Blue Coats and failing to do so. I could tell you that I saw Andrew Johnson retuning “home” to help re-construct the town he held so dear. These would be tales though and unfortunately I did not have a unique revelation of the past…I only lived it through a night’s stay. Our Check-out featured a voucher for breakfast at the Catalyst Coffee Company downstairs that sat on the square across from the Greene County Courthouse. A mural of the town adorns he side of an old building…this town looks much like our hometown of Statesville, North Carolina (aside from the hills). Statesville has a historic hotel too named Vance Hotel, but have failed to fully restore it. Greeneville Tennessee is any history lovers paradise and I highly recommend you stay in the General Morgan Inn.

A Night at the General Morgan Inn