In 1948, the East Tennessee Historical Society came under fire after they allowed the Brazelton Mansion in New Market, Tennessee to be torn down. The house had originally belonged to American Revolutionary War hero William Brazelton and had stood in the same spot for 118 years. Yet, it was believed that the new highway was more important.
Ironically, after the house was razed, officials opted to run the road a short distance from the house and it probably could have been saved. Today one of Brazelton’s slave cabins is still standing and is located next to the post office.
Strangely, before the old house was torn down, those who lived there often talked about hearing chains dragging the floor as well as the sound heavy footsteps upstairs.