About the Cottage
A Brief History of the Property

In 1993, Nancy and Wallace Braud purchased the 4.5-acre remnant of the old Glenn Farm one mile east of Interstate 75 in the East Brainerd suburb of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The old farm house, barn, and acreage were a wonderful haven for their family, affectionately called "The Farm." Fifteen years later, they added another acre after the last of the neighboring Walker Farm was sold.

This area along Mackey Branch was historically known as Tulsa Creek of the Opelika Settlement, which was inhabited by the Cherokee until their mandated removal in the late 1830's. Several notable Cherokee made their homes in the East Brainerd-Graysville area, among them one of the Fields brothers and Alexander McCoy, secretary of the National Committee. The farms were mostly arrayed along Mackey Branch, which they called Tulsa Creek.

It has been said that the original farmhouse structure was a two-room home built prior to the Civil War; however, that hasn't been confirmed. Local deed records indicate that the property was part of the J.T. Phillips Tract from the 1800's, who conveyed it to Charles Dudley in 1909, then to the Boyds in 1924, and then to the Glenn Family in 1944. During multiple renovations over the years, pre-Civil War and Civil War artifacts were found by prior owners in a cistern under the original house. In the kitchen, the original stone hearth was discovered, along with an ancient rattlesnake skin while removing the old fireplace!

Since 2000, the local area has exploded with commercial development. To counter this, one goal of the property is to preserve and nurture the 100+ year-old oak, pine, cherry, locust and black walnut trees that help create the peaceful atmosphere surrounding St Francis Cottage. Additional trees, shrubs, and perennials have been added, including thornless blackberries, Gogi berries, strawberries, figs, pears, Muscadine grapes, asparagus, garlic, and the usual summer vegetables (tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, beans, peppers and herbs). To help preserve the integrity of the original Cherokee-occupied lands, the use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides on the grounds is minimized.

Besides enjoying it with their family, the Brauds had a dream to share this beautiful and unique land with others by hosting guests in a home-like setting. To realize this dream, they split the property, and began construction on the Cottage from the ground up in mid=2016 on 2.3 of the farm's original 5.5 acres. St Francis Cottage was created to provide a private, serene setting from which guests can venture out to enjoy the splendors of the beautiful Scenic City and surrounding area. Each guest will be treated with the kind of attention that is reserved for family. When guests arrive, we want them to leave their troubles at the door and step into a world of comfort and rest in an urban cottage setting. Our aim is to enhance the elements of a well-lived life through genuine hospitality, restful rooms, nourishing and delicious food and engaging conversation among our visitors. The owners and innkeepers intend to see that attention to detail and service are dedicated to each and every person. We have found that people live more fully when connected to the wonders of nature, so we continue to develop and enhance our gardens and grounds, and encourage you to stroll throughout the property. Make yourself at home - and take the time to rest, relax and restore your mind and soul!

Tennessee Green!

In an effort to support the preservation of the environment, our operating practices conform with the guidelines of the Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association's Tennessee Green Hospitality program. Below are some of the ways that we're helping the environment in the Tennessee Valley:

* All plastic that is recyclable within Hamilton County along with aluminum/glass/paper are recycled.
* We do not use Styrofoam.
* New dual-flush toilets requiring lower water consumption are utilized in order to save many gallons of water each day.
* A highly energy-efficient HVAC system includes individual thermostats in each guest room.
* Energy-efficient LED light bulbs are used throughout the Cottage.
* Ceiling fans are installed throughout the Cottage to help regulate temperatures and comfort.
* Cleaning solutions and laundry detergent are non-toxic and made on-site from natural ingredients, when possible.
* Our washers and dryers are high-efficiency models, using less water and electricity and include steam sanitizing.
* We encourage guests to re-use towels and have their sheets changed only as needed.
* Many of our amenities are organic, and we use eco-friendly linens and towels for guest rooms.
* Whenever possible, we buy local and organic food.
* We support local plant sales and incorporate historic and native plants into our landscaping. We use organic fertilizers and do not use chemical pesticides or herbicides in any of our gardens.

About the CottageA Brief History of the Property

Tennessee Green!

About the Cottage
A Brief History of the Property