On 5/16/26, members of our HRR Car Club enjoyed visiting the Historic Lotz House in Franklin, TN. The house was built in 1855, by German immigrant Johann Albert Lotz. A master carpenter and piano maker, Lotz used the house to showcase his craftsmanship. The home features impressive woodwork, including a free-floating black walnut staircase, and a unique inverted piano leg as the newel post. The Battle of Franklin, in November 1864, ensued right outside their front door. The family survived the battle, but the Lotz House suffered some structural damage from cannon fire. The Lotz House served as a hospital for both sides after the battle, as is evident by bloodstains on the floors. While we weren’t allowed to take pictures inside the house, we took some nice ones outside. Our guides shared interesting details about the family and the battle. One family member became an internationally known painter, Matilda Lotz. One of our guides, Thomas Cartwright, especially liked seeing the antique cars some members drove!
Afterwards, we had a delicious lunch at Big Bad Breakfast. The food and service were terrific. They even had a background for photos. Thank you for joining us; I hope you had as much fun as I did.
Fondly, Alice Gibson
