No doubt you’ve noticed the huge restoration project that’s underway at the old Garrett house just a block south of the square.

Tom and Teresa Kelly purchased the house and are restoring it to its former glory. The Kelly’s are using the National Center For Historic Preservation guidelines in their restoration efforts.

The following is information was gathered from their website.

"Welcome to the Garrett House Renovation web site. A brief history of Mr. Garrett is as important as the house itself which is a very good example of Queen Anne Architecture.

Mr. J. W. Garrett was born in 1854 and died in 1925. He was married to Mattie A. Neeley on May 28 1876. Mr. Garrett was a Magistrate serving on the county court. He was chairman of the building committee for the courthouse that was built in 1905. He was a very civic minded and served as mayor of Lawrenceburg and the owner of the Garrett Subdivision. When Mrs. Garrett passed away in 1914 the following was written:

" Here indeed was a beautiful life, an accomplished student of all that is best in life and literature , her ideals were lofty, her labors unselfish and her trust implicit.

Mr. J.W. Garrett who was the first elected justice of the peace at the age of 21 and elected county registrar two years later. He was also mayor of Lawrenceburg and started the first manufacturing plant in Lawrenceburg Tennessee. At his death was written:

With the passing of this good man Lawrence County has lost one of its most valuable citizens. He was a man who gave the majority of his time to the development and progress of the country's industrial , civic and religious life.

"What the Garretts left to Lawrenceburg is a great version of the Queen Anne style of house. Hopefully we will be able to rebuild its original state," said the Kelly’s The Garrett house construction started originally in 1895 and I believe was the work of some of the best craftsmen in Lawrence county. We are simply copying their work with good craftsman of today. The Queen would be proud to find a home representing her legacy in Lawrence county Tennessee.

In keeping with historical society regulations we are putting the roof back to it original state. The original roof was stamped tin that was painted red. The old tin has been wire brushed, primed, and painted aluminum, which it originally was. The new tin is being installed where necessary.