farragutpress

Town’s real identity

Farragut Museum, renovated, comes to life at ribbon-cut

June 4, 2025 by Tammy Cheek

After almost 18 months closed for remodeling, Farragut Museum officially opened in Town Hall Saturday, May 31, with a ribbon cutting, tours and a historical program, paying tribute to Adm. David Glasgow Farragut.

“Welcome to the grand, exciting opening of the Farragut Museum,” said Parks and Recreation director Ron Oestreich, who oversees the museum.

“On behalf of the (Farragut) Board of Mayor and Aldermen, it’s my honor to welcome you to this special celebration and re-opening of the Farragut Museum,” Vice Mayor Scott Meyer said. “This is more than a museum, it’s a vital part of our community’s identity.”

It came about as part of a short-term exhibit for Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander’s Homecoming ’86 project”, Meyer related.

“It became the Farragut Folklife Museum after an outpouring of interest in the area’s history,” he added. “The first museum site was in the Town of Farragut office space in the former Russell Dairy building located behind what is now the Campbell Station Inn.

“In 1989, Mary McFee, the first museum director, learned of a historical collection of Admiral Farragut’s belongings that were being offered for sale through a historical magazine. The museum committee raised funds, and (the late) Mayor Bob Leonard made a line item in the Town budget for the remaining funds.

Then Vice Mayor Eddy Ford and his wife, Linda Ford, “made the trip to Washington, D.C., to pick up the collection,” the vice mayor said.. “The museum was relocated to Town Hall when (the Town Hall) was completed in 1991.

“I’d like to thank the Farragut Museum Committee who worked with Historic Resources coordinator Kristi Vining to re-open the museum and plan this event,” he added. “I hope the Farragut Museum is enjoyed by visitors and residents for many years to come. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate our past as we look forward to the future of this great community.”

“From our heart to your heart, we want you to have a tour of the museum and enjoy it,” Museum Committee chair Sue-Ann Hansler said. “Every member of our committee, from (former Vice Mayor) Dot LaMarche on down has sacrificed time, effort and sometimes family meals to work here and to make it a wonderful place for you guys to be here.”

“We’re so glad that the museum’s open and available to our residents and our guests,” Vining said. “It’s a great community asset to learn the history of Farragut.”

“I think it’s great the museum’s open,” said Eric Johnson, one of the Town’s founders. “We need to get out to the schools and some other facilities, such as assisted living, and bring people in because there are things here that are very unique and very important of history.

“We need to make an effort to go out and bring people in, and our new director (Vining) is doing that,” he added.

The celebration’s program includes a look back at Admiral Farragut from University of Tennessee early American history professor Christopher Magra, a Farragut resident; a reflection of the beginnings of Concord and Farragut from historian and retired Farragut Middle School teacher Frank Galbraith; and members of Girl Scout Troops 20627 and 20391, who read poems and historical readings.

“I live here …,” said Magra, who authored two books on the American Revolution and also is director of the Center for the Study of Tennesseans in War. “We’ve been to this museum before and have thoroughly enjoyed it. We look forward to spending more time in it this morning.”

“(Farragut/Concord) was a sleepy little Town that was a great place to grow up,” Galbraith said.

Before and after the program, violinist Haley Reasoner performed for all who attended.