ART
Arts Council of Williamson County Seeks Volunteers
The Arts Council of Williamson County "is busting at the seams" and they need you.
Want to make a difference in Williamson County? No amount of time is too small. Think about it...
ACWC needs non-traditional gallery assistant(s) to assist the Chair and learn the art of assembling and hanging art shows in local establishments; membership chair(s)—Can be done from home with guidance from the finance director;
assististant to the Visual Art Director for Art: Up Close and Personal.
Artfusion 2012—be a part of ACWC's premiere art show. Lots of opportunities!
Contact Robinson Regen at 615-428-3845 or robinson@artscouncilwc.org.
The Opulent Life at 100 Oaks Castle In Winchester
Photograph and story by Ann Ford
PHOTO: © Ann Ford
Editor's Note: Ann Ford's images of 100 Oaks Castle will be on display in 2012 at the Franklin County Arts Guild's Artisan Depot in Cowan.
The maxim "A man's home is his castle" was never more fitting than for the Arthur Hadley Marks family.
Arthur Hadley Marks was the son of Albert S. Marks, Tennessee's 21st Governor. He met Mary Hunt of Nashville and while living in Europe, he rekindled their friendship. They were married in Stirling, Scotland 1889. Upon returning to America, they settled in Winchester, Tennessee on 600 acres in a large two-story brick house owned by his father.
There, Arthur began construction on his castle, named for the said 100 oak trees on the grounds. He spared no expense on the project, which took almost three years, but was never fully completed. Bricks were pressed and baked on the grounds. Rocks were hauled from Sewanee. Trees were felled to provide panels on the interior. The library was a replica of Sir Walter Scott's at Abbotsford, Scotland.
Arthur Marks lacked experience in running an estate for profit and knew very little about money. Funds didn't last long and he had a wife and son to provide for. He had abandoned his law practice to live the life of a baronial country gentleman.
After the death of his father, he and wife Mary and their son visited his mother at Monteagle. He caught Typhoid fever and died September 7, 1892, at the age of 28.
I first saw the castle in 1954, just after I married. My husband could have purchased the castle and the remaining 25 acres for $25,000. Even though we only saw the outside, I was smitten. Purchasing the castle was not possible, for my husband had a job waiting at NASA in Houston, Texas.
After we returned to Tennessee, we moved to Winchester where I opened my photography studio.
I was still fascinated with the castle.
One day, a call came in to me from Julian Cavalier, who was writing a book on castles in America and wanted to hire me to photograph interior and exterior shots of 100 Oaks Castle. I agreed and sought permission for entry to the structure.
The Catholic church owned the site, which was still for sale.
Leon Hawkersmith let me in and gave me free-run of the place. For seven days I covered the castle to get the desired shots. I was hooked on 100 Oaks from then on. Upon entry to each of the 30 rooms, little "doodads" ran up and down my spine. This wasn't fear of being alone in the massive home—just joy and excitement.
My photos were published in the book, and I still have many unseen pictures from that week.
My objective in creating this exhibit is to re-enter the opulent days when the Marks family lived their fairy-tale life.
