APTA
Historic Marker Place On Porterfield Community Farm Added
Approximately thirty
members of APTA, family,
and friends gathered at the Alexander-Ready-Cates Farm at
Porterfield on Sunday, October 18th, for the unveiling of the
APTA (Association for the Preservation for Tennessee
Antiquities) marker. The marker was covered with a woven
blanket belonging to the home’s builders, Mary Annis Alexander
and Christopher Columbus Ready, and the official removal was
done by Ashley, David, and Benjamin Cates, current residents of
the home. The home, located on a 175 acre farm, also on the
National Register of Historic Places and a Tennessee Century
Farm, is owned by Mrs. Mary Dee Ready Cates, of the Cripple
Creek Community. She was born there on May 20, 1913. The farm
where she resides near Readyville is also recognized by an APTA
marker and listed as a Tennessee Century Farm and on the
National Register.
Following the
unveiling and viewing of family pictures and memorabilia
assembled by Steve Cates for the occasion, David, Ashley , and
Benjamin opened their home for touring, visiting and
refreshments. Food was served in the only original room of the
1870 home built by Chris and Mary A. Ready, first used as the
kitchen and now used as the dining room.
Above: The
Alexander-Cates-Ready home is set to be marked by the APTA on
Oct. 18
Above photo L-R: front row - Bryan Jakes, Joseph Jakes,
Benjamin Cates, Ashley Cates, Paula New Hughes, and Hailey
Hughes; back row - Janet Duggin Barnes Harry Barnes, Shannon
Cates Jakes, Ben Cates, Andy Jakes, Steve Cates, and David
Cates.
Above:
David Cates, right, greets Mr.
and Mrs. Joe Wilson at the reception following the marking of
the home which David and his wife, Ashley, and son , Benjamin,
currently occupy in the Porterfield Community of Cannon County.
Owned by David’s grandmother, Mrs. Mary Dee Ready Cates, it was
built in 1870 by his great-great grandparents, Christopher
Columbus and Mary Annis Alexander Ready. Refreshments were
served in the dining room of the home, first used as the kitchen
and the only original part of the home still standing.
Above L-R:
Steve
Cates, David Cates, Benjamin Cates, Ashley Cates, and Shirley
Jones stand before the marker placed at the Porterfield farm
occupied by David, Ashely, and Benjamin on Sunday, October 18.
Steve is Vice-President of the Association for the Preservation
of Tennessee Antiquities and Shirley is the Vice President for
the Middle Tennessee Region. The home is on a farm occupied in
1844 by Abner Alexander, great-grandfather of Mrs. Mary Dee
Ready Cates, who currently is the owner. She is the grandmother
of David Cates. Benjamin is the 8th generation of his family to
live there.
Rutherford
County Courthouse, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Built 1859.