Sites to See HISTORIC ROSE MONT
By Kendall Masters, Site Director, Rose Mont
R
ose Mont was the home of Judge Josephus Conn Guild (1802 - 1883) and Katherine Blackmore Guild. The name "Rose Mont" references the once extensive rose garden at the north side of the house. A smaller replication of the rose garden has been installed near the original location outside the farm office. Originally, Rose Mont was a working thoroughbred horse and longhorn cattle farm of 500 acres, and the property owners also contracted materials found on the site. Original supporting structures of the thoroughbred business and farm are long since gone from the property, leaving only the original house and kitchen structures. The house was built from 1836 to 1842 with the center section, galleries, and detached kitchen constructed first, followed by the wings. At the time, Tennessee houses typically were plain, box-like structures modeled after late Georgian or Federal design. However, Guild was a frequent visitor to New Orleans and was greatly influenced by the unusual architecture found there. He incorporated Creole design elements in Rose Mont, including wide porches, large windows, open-air halls
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GALLATIN, TN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
and staircases, separate wings connected by loggias and galleries, a raised basement, and an extended roof. Even so, the main facade (east front) is based on classic Italian design (Villa Mocenigo) by Andrea Palladio, a highly regarded architect who lived and worked during the 18th century. Palladio's influence dominated the architecture of the South's plantations well into mid19th century. Guild was active in the thoroughbred horse races that were popular in Tennessee, which no doubt influenced his decision to start his own thoroughbred stud farm at Rose Mont. Another famous Tennessean who was influential in the thoroughbred race scene – and who was likely seen by Guild at local races –was President Andrew Jackson. According to F. Leigh Branham, a descendant of Guild, some of Guild’s more famous thoroughbred racers included Beeswing, Hiawatha, and Jack Malone. Beeswing netted Guild $14,100 during her run in 1839-1840 and was mentioned as one of the 12 fastest thoroughbreds in her lifetime. Hiawatha earned a $12,000 purse in Gallatin; he lived out his