The beautiful home in Murfreesboro known as “Big Holly” was built in 1866 by J. P. Henderson. He was forced to give up the house after the debt he incurred from having it built. Lavinia Claiborne, the daughter of Governor Cannon, moved into the home in the 1870s. Her sister, Rachel Adeline, moved in with her after her husband died and they did major renovations to the home. They made the home more grand by moving staircases and converting the fireplaces to coal among other things. They even added the eyebrow dormer to reflect the new Victorian style at the time.
I’ve had the pleasure of touring this home more than once and each time I see things that I missed the time before. It’s certainly a piece of Murfreesboro history treasured by many! Why Big Holly? There is a gigantic holly tree in the front yard that is over 200 years old! Huddlestone sisters that occupied the home in the the early 1900s made their income partially from Christmas wreaths that they made with the holly from the tree.
