For more than a century, Trigg County’s one-room schoolhouse and front-facing log cabin has stood true near Montgomery, changing hands and purposes throughout.
Last month, ownership changed hands again, and this past week, it became clear what’s next for the historic property.
Ashley Nichols, of Seven Springs Farms and Erosion Control Blankets, announced she and husband, Joe, are its new proprietors — purchasing it above price from the Trigg County Historical Society.
After toying with the idea of possible farming expansion, Nichols said there are now full plans of creating a “Seven Springs Floral Academy,” where visitors will be able to stop through, pick flowers from a coming garden, and learn to make their own arrangements.
Expected to open Spring 2025, Nichols said she and Joe very much wanted to save the two structures — and somehow incorporate them into the growing world of agri-tourism.
The schoolhouse will serve one purpose.
And the log cabin will serve another.
She and Joe, specifically, have several fish, wildlife and farming artifacts they can add to the property — including many stories and early prototypes of Knight & Hale Game Calls — and she added this is the kind of place they can be showcased and shared.
The flower farm will be in rows, running parallel with the road between the two buildings, and there will be several rows behind the schoolhouse and near the road.
Furthermore, Nichols confirmed one of their old grain bins will be placed on the property — turned into a gazebo for outdoor activities, while preserving the traditions, cultures and hobbies of Trigg County.
Nichols said beginning next Wednesday, around noon, visitors will be able to stop by to purchase pumpkins and mums — two staples of the fall season. She said it would help generate more interest in the property, while informing people that things are coming.
The Nichols’ decision for this kind of expansion only further highlights the nation’s move toward agri-tourism as a way to connect with children and adults alike. It, along with nature-based tourism, is averaging 30% annual increases nationally, and now it’s part of the Seven Springs Farm platform.
Meanwhile, Trigg County Historical Society President Bob Brame doesn’t remember off-hand what the property sold for, but the monies were entered into a mutual fund for “a hopeful future.”
Brame added that the not-for-profit organization still needs to raise a “nest egg” in order to preserve current assets, while exploring further upkeep on current properties — like the one on Jefferson Street.
Prior to Brame entering his presidency, funds hovered around $1,000. Today, it’s north of $11,000, but more is needed to keep the museum open on a regular basis.
