Hildebrand House - est. 1837

12/08/2025

The first Christmas celebration in Cherokee Nation was in 1805. Moravian Christian missionaries celebrated with Cherokees at the home of Joseph Vann (now the Chief Vann House State Historic Site in Chatsworth, Georgia). They celebrated with songs recited by Cherokee students from nearby Springplace Mission. The Christmas tree was decorated with beeswax candles, popcorn strings, rolled pieces of scripture, and the Moravian star. The celebration culminated on December 25th with the exchanging of gifts. The Hildebrands, right up the Old Federal Road along the Ocoee River, more than likely celebrated the same way being that Michael Hildebrand was of German descent. The Moravians at the Spring Place mission mention Michael and the Hildebrand House in their diaries in the 1830’s so they were definitely acquainted with one another.

10/29/2025

Early in the restoration we realized the original 1830’s hardwood floor was under tile that was put down years ago. It was is very rough shape but we were determined to save it. Through many hours of labor of scraping and sanding we were able to preserve it while keeping a lot of the 200yrs worth of patina.

10/20/2025

Congrats to “Chief Restoration Officer”, Hunter, for his 20 Under 40 Award from the Cleveland Daily Banner!

10/20/2025

Before and after of the second floor bedroom that would’ve been the room that people traveling along the Old Federal Road in the early 1800’s would spend the night. This room would have originally had several beds to hold several travelers for the night. The Old Federal Road, created by the signing of the Treaty of Tellico in 1805, connected Tennessee and Georgia through the middle of the Cherokee Nation. The creation of the road led to the construction of several inns along the route. Michael Hildebrand’s plantation was an inn, trading post, and even a boatyard for the northern end of the Ocoee Portage.

10/02/2025

After Michael Hildebrand sold the house and moved out west in 1852 it was later owned by Julius E Raht. Raht, a pioneer in the mining and smelting of copper in East Tennessee, was born in Dillenburg, Germany on June 26, 1826. He attended Bonn University and the University of Berlin before immigrating to the United States with his brother Charles in 1850. Raht arrived in Ducktown in 1854. He made a brief return to Germany that year when he married Mathilde Dombois. Back in Ducktown by August 1854, Raht was employed as a mine captain and opened a store. By 1858, he was managing the Ocoee Turnpike and Plank Road Company. That same year, Raht became superintendent of the Union Consolidated Mines. In 1859, he was elevated to superintendent of the Polk County Copper Company, and the next year, he managed the Burra Burra Copper Company. By age thirty-four, Raht was managing all the mines and smelting works at Ducktown. During the Civil War, Raht hired a substitute to serve in the Confederate Army his stead and moved his family to Cincinnati, waiting until the war ended before immediately returning. Meanwhile, during the war the copper mines in Ducktown provided up to ninety percent of the copper for the Confederacy, a necessity for making percussion caps. Raht more than likely used the farm to support his very lucrative commissary business at his company stores.

09/30/2025

Ready for fall at the Hildabrand House

09/25/2025

Construction started about 1830, finished around 1837. Michael Hildebrand owned it until he moved out west to Oklahoma in 1852.

05/20/2024

Finally decorating and furnishing the guest bedroom and living room after almost a year of living here. The hand made mid 1800’s bed originally came out of a home in west Knox County, Tennessee. The mantle in the guest bedroom is original and is the most intricate one in the house because it was originally the main bedroom in the house.

12/03/2023

Today is the day - it’s the first weekend of our Christmas Parade of Homes Tour!!

From 1pm-5pm visit these West Polk County locations, tour and view their Christmas decor, enjoy some holiday refreshments, and share the holiday spirit!! If you did not purchase tickets in advance, never fear - a Chamber representative will be at each location and will have tickets available!! What are you waiting for?? We can’t wait to see you and share these lovely homes decorated for the holidays!!

Today’s stops include Hildebrand House - est. 1837, Jerry Lowry’s historic homes (owner of The Drug Store), and Tennessee Mountain Farm’s historic farmhouse!! Each ticket purchase also includes next Sunday’s tour of East Polk locations.

11/30/2023

Visit us this weekend! 🎄

We are so excited to host the inaugural Polk County Christmas Parade of Homes! Tour local homes, businesses, and a historic church at your leisure and enjoy Christmas decor and holiday spirit.

Visit those locations in West Polk County on Sunday afternoon, December 3, from 1pm-5pm, and then spend the following Sunday afternoon, December 10, from 1pm-5pm, touring those in East Polk County. One ticket includes both Sunday afternoons. This is an unescorted event, so you may visit locations in any order between the hours of 1pm and 5pm on the given day. Tickets available at the Chamber office or via https://www.chamberdata.net/webforms/EvtListing.aspx?dbid2=tnpolk&evtid=12411&class=E.

Locations include:
Hildebrand House - est. 1837
Tennessee Mountain Farm
The Drug Store (Jerry Lowry’s homes)
Company House Bed & Breakfast Inn
Rods Rockin Roll's
St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church, Copperhill, TN

11/30/2023

The attic staircase, the hand beaded plank boards and door, and the huge plank flooring in the attic are some of the neat aspects of the Hildebrand House. Sources indicate this is where a company of about thirty Confederate soldiers stayed while they guarded the Old Federal Road in 1864

11/24/2023

Come visit us!

We are so excited to host the inaugural Polk County Christmas Parade of Homes! Tour local homes, businesses, and a historic church at your leisure and enjoy Christmas decor and holiday spirit.

Visit those locations in West Polk County on Sunday afternoon, December 3, from 1pm-5pm, and then spend the following Sunday afternoon, December 10, from 1pm-5pm, touring those in East Polk County. One ticket includes both Sunday afternoons. This is an unescorted event, so you may visit locations in any order between the hours of 1pm and 5pm on the given day. Tickets available at the Chamber office or via https://www.chamberdata.net/webforms/EvtListing.aspx?dbid2=tnpolk&evtid=12411&class=E.

Locations include:
Hildebrand House - est. 1837
Tennessee Mountain Farm
The Drug Store (Jerry Lowry’s homes)
Company House Bed & Breakfast Inn
Rods Rockin Roll's
St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church, Copperhill, TN