Franklin, TN (November 4, 2024) — The Lotz House is set to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Franklin, which occurred on November 30. The event will feature a Walking Battlefield Tour in the morning and an Illumination Ceremony on the front lawn of the historic home at 4:30 p.m., marking the time the battle commenced. The Lotz House will also celebrate Matilda Lotz’s birthday, which was the day before the battle when she turned six, and offer a Walking Battlefield Tour of Spring Hill on November 29.
Thomas Y. Cartwright, Executive Director of the Lotz House, stated, “We have commemorated the anniversary of the Battle of Franklin since we opened the Lotz House in 2008. It started with a handful of history enthusiasts working to keep the story alive. The Lotz House invited the public to join us in remembering those who died, those who survived, and how it changed Franklin and beyond forever.”
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The public is invited to participate in the lighting of a luminary on the front steps of the Lotz House at 4:30 p.m. There will also be a special tribute by instrumentalist Cody Engdahl and reenactor Bill Radcliff. Guests are encouraged to bring a small item or note for inclusion in a time capsule that will be opened on the battle’s 200th anniversary.
On Saturday, November 30, Thomas Cartwright will lead the Walking Battlefield Tour at 10:30 a.m. Additionally, on Friday, November 29, a special Walking Battlefield Tour of Spring Hill will be led by historian Jamie Gillum. This tour will start at noon at Brown and Denning Lane, south of Spring Hill, to honor the historic battle that preceded the Battle of Franklin. Jamie Gillum, who authored “Twenty-Five Hours to Tragedy” about this prelude battle, will guide the tour. Reservations for these tours are required and can be made by calling 615-790-7190.
On November 29, the Lotz House will also offer cookies and cider to celebrate Matilda Lotz’s 166th birthday.
For more information, interested individuals can call 615-790-7190 or visit the Lotz House’s website at www.lotzhouse.com.
About the Lotz House: The Lotz House, listed on the National Historic Register since 1976, is located in downtown historic Franklin, Tennessee, at the site of the Battle of Franklin, a pivotal Civil War battle on November 30, 1864. The house is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is charged. The Lotz House address is 1111 Columbia Avenue. For more information, call 615-790-7190 or visit www.lotzhouse.com.
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