Candlelight Tour Of Homes Showcases Local Residences

By Kayleigh Shoemaker

Middle Stew Reporter

            MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The streets of Murfreesboro were reminiscent of Halloween night on Dec. 1 during the "Candlelight Tour of Homes", sponsored by the Oaklands Historic House Museum.

(Photo: Oaklands Historic House Museum)

            The self-guided tour, open from 4-8 p.m., leads visitors around to seven Murfreesboro homes, including the Oaklands house located at 900 North Maney Ave. The private homes were all within walking distance from one another. This year the private homeowner participants included Mary Catherine and David Sevier at 138 Cherry Lane; Susan and Phil Lord at 152 Cherry Lane; Tammie and Greg Waldron at 148 Cherry Lane; Charlene and Ron Taylor at 816 East Main St.; Marietta and Jim Bishop at 1103 East Main St.; and Pat and Matt Ward at 1019 East Main St.

            Once the tickets are purchased at the Oaklands House visitor’s center, a card is given to each visitor, allowing access into each of the homes. The homes on the tour could be identified by the large signs out front, as well as the candles lining the walkways. The private homes date from about 1900 to the late 1940s. Each home was nicely decorated, either with period pieces or more modern pieces, and most had their Christmas decorations up for visitors. The Taylors’ home even had carolers on the front porch, greeting visitors with Christmas cheer as they approached the home.

            The Oaklands House was built around 1818 and was at the center of a 1,500 acre plantation. In the following years, many additions were made to the house. The home played an integral role in the Civil War during the time that Major Lewis Maney and his wife, Rachel Adaline, were owners. During the tour, there were docents in period clothing in each room giving a history of how the house was used. Outside, there were also men dressed in Civil War uniforms explaining the significance of the home during the battles that took place in the Murfreesboro area. Refreshments were provided, and photos with Santa were available for purchase as well.

            The "Candlelight Tour of Homes" is the Oaklands Historic House Museum’s large annual fundraiser. According to Education Director Mary Beth Nevills, the museum has been doing the "Candlelight Tour" for about 30 years. She estimated that this year the museum had more than 1,200 visitors attend the event. Nevills said that the decision as to what homes to use for the event is “as simple as asking the public who would like to volunteer and open their homes for the tour.” The homes included in the tour vary each year.

            “The Candlelight tour has grown a little every year,” said Nevills. “A lot of people have made it their Christmas tradition.”

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Bonhoeffer’s Showcases MTSU Student Talent

By Kayleigh Shoemaker

Middle Stew Reporter

            MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Free live music, free coffee, free snacks – that’s a typical Thursday night at Bonhoeffer’s, the Murfreesboro venue formed in order to showcase Middle Tennessee State University talent and bring fellow students together.

            The Nov. 15 show was no exception. Nearly every seat was filled at The Church @ Cross Point at 610 Dill Lane, a site that is transformed into Bonhoeffer’s every Thursday. The dimmed overhead lights, the flickering lights on each table, and the specialty tea and coffee served, create a Bluebird Café-like atmosphere. Kicking off the night was Nuclear Bubble Wrap, comprised of vocalist Jace McClain, guitarist Kyle Thorn, bassist Brendan Sheairs, and drummer Eric Zhu. They warmed up the crowd with original novelty songs with titles such as “In Space No One Can Hear You Scream” and “Sharktopus.” The self-described alternative rock band’s endearingly bizarre lyrics certainly gave the audience a laugh.

            Next up was the pop-punk band Almost December. Jonathan Klinvex, Robbie Artress, Matt Guider, and Danny Collins wowed the audience with their original songs like “Memories Are Forever” and “Josephine.” They closed with an unexpected, yet surprisingly fitting cover of Taylor Swift’s “Mean,” with some vocal assistance from East Main’s Luke Caccetta.

            Last but not least was East Main, comprised of vocalist and guitarist Luke Caccetta, lead guitarist Matt Carey, and bassist Brad Freeney. Through their blend of Southern rock and blues-influenced original songs like “Scream” and “Only One I’m Dreaming Of,” East Main managed to captivate the crowd and left them begging for an encore. They satiated the audience’s appetite for more with a cover of Bon Jovi’s hit, “You Give Love A Bad Name.”

            Bonhoeffer’s was created by The Church @ Cross Point about 10­­­­ years ago in an upstairs portion of a log cabin on Greenland Avenue, across from MTSU’s Murphy Center. According to the Bonhoeffer’s Facebook page, it was named for Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German preacher who died during World War II for resisting the Nazis. Church members give their time and money to honor Jesus by serving others, much like Dietrich Bonhoeffer did. It originally was a place for students to hang out and study during the day. Later, a weekly concert was added. Bonhoeffer’s organizer Rodney Edwards explained that the main goals of each show are “to provide a venue for bands to become known, to provide a place for college students to enjoy great music, and to bring glory to Jesus Christ through serving others.”

            As Bonhoeffer’s grew, they relocated to the church’s facilities at Dill Lane, which allowed them use of a more sophisticated sound system. MTSU students began to volunteer their time to help run this equipment, many of whom were members of Omega Delta Psi, MTSU’s recording industry fraternity. About two years ago, ODP officially took over running the audio for every Bonhoeffer’s show. Bonhoeffer’s has also partnered with Rock Springs Church and Nuance Coffee & Tea, both of Smyrna.            
           “One day we hope that Bonhoeffer’s is a joint outreach of many different churches and student organizations," said Edwards, when asked about the future of Bonhoeffer’s. "Cross Point designed Bonhoeffer’s to be ‘given away.’ Cross Point is a very small church, and we love Bonhoeffer’s enough that we would never let our size hold it back from becoming all it can become.”

            On Dec. 6, Bonhoeffer’s will present a special Christmas show beginning at 8 p.m. This will be the last show before the end of the fall semester.

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