Homeplace Tool Barn, TN 2024
Still waters run deep at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. Join us in northern Tennessee as we continue our work restoring the Homeplace 1850s Working Farm!
PROJECT PARTNER: Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area – USDA Forest Service
SESSION DATES: September 8-13, September 15-20, September 22-27, and September 29 – October 4 (Sessions 3 & 4 have been postponed)
PROJECT SUPERVISOR: Daniel Ensalaco!
CREW LEADER: Marissa Hoffman!
Project Site Description & History
Long before the Tennessee Valley Authority used the power of eminent domain to remove European settlers from the region, the Osage, Cherokee, Shawnee, Yuchi, O-ga-xpa, and Chikasaw Nations lived on and traveled through this bountiful land. Midcentury goals of increasing electrical power delivery led to the expansion of water ways in this area originally known as “Land Between the Rivers.” During the 1950s, many economists “predicted that the average American work week would fall from 40-50 hours a week to just over 30 in the year 2000—and likely decrease even further as the economy became more efficient” (Between the Rivers). Anticipating that Americans would have more free time, leaders leaned into cultural values surrounding outdoor recreation and relaxation ideals and decided to expand the number of National Recreation Areas across the country.
Today, Land Between the Lakes serves its original recreational and educational goals through places like the nationally-recognized Homeplace 1850s Working Farm and Living History Museum, the site of this HistoriCorps project. After all, if we can’t preserve our history, how are we ever going to learn from it? Homeplace evokes the Civil War era in U.S. history through replicating a two-generation farm spanning the scenic, rolling landscape of northwest Tennessee. These days, interpreters in period clothing reenact daily chores on a real, working farm, where attention to details, routine, and craftsmanship is of the utmost importance. The farm livestock includes rare and endangered breeds which would have been found on a farm like this in the 1850s, as well as varieties garden plants and field crops planted from heirloom seeds dating back before the Civil War. Volunteers on this HistoriCorps project will learn and apply traditional roofing skills to restore Homeplace’s iconic Tool Barn!
Location and Logistics
SESSION DATES: September 8-13, September 15-20, September 22-27, and September 29 – October 4 (Sessions 3 & 4 have been postponed)
Please plan to arrive at the campsite no earlier than 5pm and no later than 7pm on the first day of your session. Our campsite is located across the Kentucky border at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area’s Energy Lake Campground. Participating volunteers will commute daily with our field staff to the project site.
LOCATION: Located near the Kentucky-Tennessee state border about 100 miles northeast of Nashville – the Country Music Capital of the World!
ACCESS: 
Tents, truck campers, campervans, trailers, and RVs will have access to our campsite. Showers are available but dogs are not allowed at this project location.
WEATHER: Anticipate highs in the 80s and lows in the 50s. Weather conditions may be rainy, cloudy, or sunny. Volunteers are responsible for checking weather conditions before their session begins, and packing appropriately.
Scope of Work
HistoriCorps is committed to educating and training volunteers in preservation skills, with an overarching mission of inspiring a preservation ethic in all those involved. Learning and working alongside expert HistoriCorps field staff, volunteers and applying the traditional skills necessary to restore the Homeplace Tool Barn:
- Replace the oak shake roofing of the Tool Barn roof and porch with cedar shakes
- Garden crib log repair and replacement
- Corn crib log repair and replacement
- Repair door on Tool Barn
- Woodshed log repair and replacement
Please note: Tasks vary by day and by week, depending on a variety of factors including: weather, project priorities, previous groups’ work, and more. Though it is likely you will get to learn and practice most or all of the above tasks, it is not guaranteed. The higher percentage of the scope a particular task is, the more likely you will get to practice it.
Sign Up!
We’re thrilled this project has inspired you to volunteer!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
Visit our Job Calendar to see spaces are available!
*All registrations submitted to projects at capacity will be automatically added to our waitlist.*
CANCELLATIONS effect our ability to complete projects. Please register only if you are certain about your ability to participate.
You will know your registration was successful when you receive a confirmation email. Contact volunteer@historicorps.org for assistance.
HistoriCorps does not charge for its volunteering projects. HistoriCorps relies on donations to continue engaging volunteers to save significant historical sites across America for generations to come. Your donation of any amount will make an incredible difference! Increase your impact – make a generous gift today.
Volunteer Logistics, Policies, and Advice
We’re so glad you’re interested in joining this project! If you’re new to our community, review the Volunteer FAQ first! Please note the following logistics and policies:
- Volunteering with HistoriCorps is free! We will provide all meals, tools, training, equipment, and a campsite or shared indoor lodging. Dinner is not provided on the first night.
- Volunteers are responsible for bringing their own gear, work gloves, sturdy work clothes and boots, and appropriate sleeping equipment. Check the average temperatures before you start packing – the nights and mornings may be colder than you anticipate! Then, read this advice about how to stay warm when tent camping in colder places.
- Campsite accessibility varies by project. Some projects can accommodate tents only; others can accommodate small RVs. Please review the project site description above for more information, and if you’re still not sure, email volunteer@historicorps.org for help.
- If this project does not offer showers, you might want to consider bringing a solar shower or research other methods to clean up after the work day.
- Volunteer crew sizes generally range from 4-8 volunteers, with two HistoriCorps staff that lead and train volunteers in the work.
- Safety is one of HistoriCorps’ top priorities, and volunteers can contribute to a safe working environment by ensuring their physical fitness is adequate for the work. See above for this project’s scope of work and difficulty level. Please, call us if you are not quite sure if a project is a good fit for your skills or fitness level. We may be able to suggest a project more suitable and enjoyable for you.
- Hard hats, eye protection, ear protection, gloves are standard personal protection equipment (PPE) required on all projects. Hard hats must be worn at all times on the project site, unless working in a designated safe space. Field staff will train volunteers on correct use of PPE.
- Dogs are generally allowed to accompany their humans in project campsites (actually, we love having dogs join us around the campfire!). Dogs are not permitted on the job site for everyone's safety. HOWEVER: HistoriCorps also follows the rules and regulations of our project partner. If the project partner does not permit dogs onsite then HistoriCorps is no exception. Please ask HistoriCorps or the project partner directly if you have any questions about whether Fido is welcome.