"Built to Last" Awards sponsored by Main Street Murfreesboro

These four businesses/organizations opened their doors during a transformative era for Murfreesboro - a time of rapid growth, cultural shifts, and the modernization of our downtown. While they may not be our ‘oldest’ establishments, they represent the grit and vision of a generation that built the foundation of the vibrant city we see today. They anchored themselves in our community and have remained ‘Built to Last’ through decades of change.

When it became known that the City planned to raze the mansion, a group of ten concerned local women mobilized to save Oaklands from this unceremonious fate.

In April 1959, they formed the Oaklands Association and lobbied the City to deed the mansion to them. The City agreed to do so and sold the mansion to the founding ladies for one dollar, with the stipulation that the Association restore the house and open it to the public within ten years. This group of dedicated women, with financial help from local residents, businesses, groups, the State of Tennessee, and various Association-sponsored membership drives and fundraisers, then proceeded with the challenging task of cleaning, rehabilitating, restoring, and refurnishing the house. They were able to restore Oaklands and open it to the public as a house museum in the early 1960s, with the help of free prison labor from the Rutherford County Workhouse in restoring the house. Since then, the Association has directed its energies toward preserving, restoring, interpreting, and maintaining the mansion and its grounds, collections, and furnishings.

 Oaklands Association, Inc. is a non-profit educational organization whose mission is to preserve our local history and inspire an appreciation of Oaklands’ unique past. To enhance our community’s quality of life, we are dedicated to:

• Preserving Oaklands mansion and grounds;
• Interpreting two centuries of the rich history of our site and region;
• Providing dynamic educational experiences for diverse audiences;
• Serving as an important heritage tourism destination.

For more information about the mansion and the Maney family go HERE.

Oaklands Mansion and grounds has a packed calendar of community events throughout the year.  Check out what's coming in the months ahead for you and your family.

 https://www.oaklandsmansion.org/events-calendar/

“Col. Tom Givan and Dr. Sam Woods realized the need for good, old-fashioned cured country hams in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The two were reminiscing about coming home, getting into Mama Vic’s cabinet, and eating cold biscuits stuffed with Old Doc’s country ham. Col. Givan and Dr. Woods longed for someone in Murfreesboro to cure hams the way they did in the old days. ‘Those store-bought hams are being cured so fast that they don’t even have time for the squeal to leave,’ they would say. Col. Givan and Dr. Woods agreed that country hams needed the rich, tangy flavor they remembered so well from Old Doc’s country ham years ago. The two friends knew that the only way for a ham to taste as superb as they remembered was to cure it themselves - just like Old Doc did. This marked the beginning of G&W Hamery’s operations. About 10 years later, ‘The Hamery’ was handed down to Bob Woods, Old Doc’s grandson, and he has been running it ever since. Curing ham hasn’t changed much at G&W Hamery, and Old Doc’s 68-year-old sugar curing recipe is still hanging on the wall.” Now, customers can find the next generation behind the scenes of The Hamery as they celebrate 57 years of operations. Peter Bennett bought The Hamery in May of 2023. Pete has worked for Bob since he was eight years old, when his mother Carol would drop him off and say, ‘Work his, eh, tail off.’"

“Johnson + Bailey has remained strong in historic downtown Murfreesboro because we’ve always viewed architecture as a long-term commitment — to our clients, our employees, and this community. Charlie Johnson and Jim Bailey established that foundation in the 1970s, and when Jim Pettit, my father, and Lyle Lynch joined in the early 1980s, they carried it forward with integrity and technical excellence. That mindset has shaped the culture of the firm for five decades. We’ve never pursued growth for its own sake. Instead, we’ve focused on serving local institutions well — City Schools, Fire Rescue, Middle Tennessee Electric, NHC — and maintaining those relationships over time. A steady balance of public and private work, combined with being a stable and supportive place to work, has allowed us to navigate economic cycles and changes within the profession. The city has grown tremendously around us, but our investment in downtown — where we got our start — has remained constant. I was grateful to join the ownership team several years ago through the trust of Jim Bailey and my father, and I’ve had the privilege of helping lead the firm into its next chapter. Continuing that legacy is deeply meaningful to me. I see my role as a steward — honoring the integrity and care that built this firm while continuing to shape buildings that contribute to the architectural fabric of Murfreesboro and serve the community well.” Keaton Pettit

Beckman's Prescription Shop has been part of downtown since 1973, and the reason it’s stayed strong all these years is pretty simple: it’s always been about a personal connection with its patients and the community. Milton and Sylvia Beckman built Beckman's on hard work and genuine customer relationships. As second-generation business owners and pharmacists, Keith and Shannon Beckman have adapted and evolved with the ever-changing pharmacy industry. By leading with kindness, actively listening to patients, and broadening its clinical services, the pharmacy has been able to grow while still holding tight to the personal touch that sets it apart. Although much has changed in healthcare and independent pharmacy, Beckman’s continues to treat every patient like family. “Taking over ownership of the pharmacy was both exciting and meaningful. We feel a deep sense of responsibility to honor the pharmacy's history, while also bringing fresh energy and ideas to keep Beckman’s relevant and thriving. Looking ahead, we are very excited about the future of our business downtown. We see Beckman’s continuing to grow, staying rooted in the community, and being a place people love to support for many years to come.” Keith and Shannon Beckman