The
Pillars home of the John Houston
Bills' Family for 140 years, is now a house museum owned
and
maintained by the Hardeman County Chapter of the
Association of Preservation of Tennessee
Antiquities (APTA).
A 501
(c)(3) Non-Profit
Charitable Organization
The APTA is the oldest
statewide nonprofit historic preservation organization
in the State of Tennessee and the fourth oldest in the
nation. Since 1951 we have been preserving and
maintaining historic sites that play an important role
in Tennessee's rich cultural cultural heritage.
Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the
National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense,
and more than 2,000 museums across America. First launched in the summer of
2010, Blue Star Museums offers free admission to all active duty military
personnel and their families from Memorial Day, May 27, through Labor Day,
September 2, 2013.
Local house museum, The Pillars, was honored by the placement of a historic marker from the Association for the Preservation of TennesseeAntiquities (APTA). State President Bob Notestine presented the hand wrought iron marker to the officers and members of the local chapter at The Pillars.
The marker program identifies historic structures and promotes interest in the sites within the local community as well as within the State of Tennessee. The major emphasis is on preserving significant historic structures and providing the public with information on the role of the structure in the history of the area.illars was the long time home of early Bolivar settler John Houston Bills and his descendents. The Pillars has many "firsts" since it was built in 1828. It was the first brick residence in Bolivar, has the first indoor bathroom, and the first free lending library. It is one of a very few house museums with most of the original furnishings and family artifacts. The Pillars is open to the public during the Spring Home Tour and by appointment for groups. It is also available for party rentals. See www.thepillars.org.
Shown attending the Marker presentation: State President Bob Notestine, Peggy Hines Mask, Margie Schultz, Paula Stanley, and Ken Savage.
