Christmas comes early to Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site

Christmas came early to the Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site over the weekend with "Visions of Christmas: 1862."Attendees toured the grounds of the site, where reenactors and volunteers explained the history of the Haynes family and the traditions they would have practiced at Christmas time.Despite the brisk temperatures, many families came out for the event, which ran from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday. One such family was visiting family in Johnson City from Germany and were surprised to learn of some of the customs that locals from the time period took part in.A reenactor dressed in period clothing explained to onlookers that American Civil War soldiers would take part in games that would now be considered unusual, such as "Lice," in which soldiers would pick lice from their hair and put the bugs on a plate to see whose bug would escape from it first.There were more "normal" games as well. Children in attendance were given toys to play with at one exhibit while adults played a type of card game.Treats were cooked on the open hearth of a cabin. Outside, a reenactor chopped wood with an ax while attendees looked on.The site was full of Christmas decorations provided by Shady Oaks Garden Club and Valley Beautiful Garden Club.Colonel John Tipton, who constructed a house at the site in 1784, led the opposition to the State of Franklin in the 1780s. A militia led by John Sevier, the "governor" of the proposed state, surrounded the land and ordered slaves Tipton had taken from Sevier returned. When Tipton rejected Sevier, a shootout occurred, resulting in a two-day standoff. The militia of Sullivan County ultimately ran off Sevier's forces and the bid to make the State of Franklin a state rapidly deteriorated.After Tipton's death in 1813, the land passed to John Tipton Jr. After his death, the property was sold to David Haynes, and it remained in the Haynes family for generations. Confederate Senator Landon Carter Haynes ended up selling the land to his brother-in-law, Jonesborough publisher Lawson Gifford. The Tennessee Historical Commission bought the land from Gifford's grandson, David Simmerly, in 1945.Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site is located at 2620 South Roan Street in Johnson City.