[271] Fentress County Farm Joins Ranks of State's Century Farms Program

For Release: Feb. 14, 2012
Contact: Caneta Hankins, Center for Historic Preservation, 615-898-2947


FENTRESS COUNTY FARM JOINS RANKS OF STATE’S CENTURY FARMS PROGRAM

Tompkins Blacksmith Farm Recognized for Agricultural Contributions

MURFREESBORO— The Tompkins Blacksmith Farm, located in Fentress County, has been designated as a Tennessee Century Farm, reports Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms Program at the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU.
The Century Farms Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have owned and kept family land in continuous agricultural production for at least 100 years.
Four generations of blacksmiths are associated with the Tompkins family of Fentress County. Robert L. “Bob” Tompkins established his farm of 25 acres in 1912 and built a house, along with a smokehouse and cellar that remain in use. Bob was the son and grandson of blacksmiths and also practiced the trade. He built a blacksmith shop in 1918, where he shoed horses and made tools and truck beds as well as the occasional coffin. Bob married Rose Voiles, and they were the parents of seven children. The family raised beef cattle, hogs and chickens and had an orchard. Bob, a deacon at Fellowship Baptist Church, ran his blacksmith shop until 1952.
Hollis Y. “Ted” Tompkins, one of Bob and Rose’s sons, carried on the family tradition of blacksmithing, taking over the shop from his father. He acquired the family farm in 1965 and raised beef cattle on his 24 acres. Hollis and his wife, Lucille, were the parents of Larry and Kenny and the Tompkins blacksmith shop remained open until Ted’s death in 1990.
Kenny L. Tompkins acquired the family farm in 1992. He has raised corn, tobacco and hay and currently raises beef cattle and hay. Kenny and his wife, Ruth Jean, live on the farm, where there is a small museum showcasing blacksmith artifacts from his family and items from other residents of the Armathwaite community. The Tompkins forge that served the family and community for so many decades has been rebuilt at the Scott County Museum in Huntsville.
Since 1984, the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of documenting Tennessee’s agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farms Program.
For more information about the Century Farms Program, please visit www.tncenturyfarms.org. The Center for Historic Preservation also may be contacted at Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132 or 615-898-2947.

• ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview the farm’s owner or request jpegs of the farm for editorial use, please contact the CHP at 615-898-2947.



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