To look at the town now you’d never suspect Springfield, the seat of Robertson County, was once a battleground—over tobacco, no less. Surrounding farms still produce a great deal of “dark-fired” tobacco but they no longer go to war over it as they did back in the early 1900s. That’s when the “Black Patch Tobacco War” broke out between local farmers and the American Tobacco Company (ATC), a monopoly offering starvation prices for the crop. Farmers caught dealing with ATC were paid a visit by the Klan-like “Silent Brigade.” Barns and fields were burned and several people died in the raids. You can learn more about it at the Robertson County History Museum (615) 382-7173, where visitors will also learn about the county’s railroad and whisky past. The museum is in the restored 1915 U.S. Post Office just off the town square in Springfield.
Golfers will enjoy The Legacy of Springfield (615) 384-4653, a Raymond Floyd course that offers affordable and challenging golf for players of all abilities. The 18-hole, par 72 course has enjoyed excellent reviews since its 1996 grand opening. Afterwards head to Larry’s, on Central Avenue East, where locals gather for big breakfasts, meat-and-three meals and oversized burgers. Springfield’s Main Street offers shopping in historic distillery warehouses as well as a great bargain at the Springfield Cinema. The old one-screen theater gets first run movies like Monsters, Inc. and Harry Potter, yet only charges $2 a ticket. The little town of Ridgetop is just a few miles from Springfield and was once a rather elite summer resort where wealthy Nashvillians would retreat from the city heat in the 1800s. The Ridgetop Museum (615) 851-6779, just off U. S. Highway 41, details this history and is open 1-5 p.m. on weekends from April to September.
Adams is another Robertson County town with a fascinating past. It’s the home of Tennessee’s most famous supernatural citizen, Kate Batts—better known as the Bell Witch. Batts claimed John Bell had cheated her in a land transaction and she swore to come back from the dead to haunt him and his family. Legend has it that she did just that from 1816 to 1828. The Bell family home is long gone but you can look for the witch’s spirit at the Bell Witch Cave (615) 696-3055 near Adams. It’s open for tours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weather permitting, except Tuesday, from May through October. Otherwise, it’s open only on weekends.
A leisurely four-hour float down the Red River is a pleasant outdoor alternative in Adams. Rent a canoe at Red River Canoeing (800) 862-8408, where Highway 41 crosses the Red River. It’s open on weekends from April through October and daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Cross Plains, off exit 112 on I-65 North, lays claim to being Robertson County’s first settlement (1779). Shop Main Street for antiques, gifts, Victorian garden art and folk art and enjoy an ice cream treat or burger at Thomas Drugs, a 1930s soda fountain on Highway 25. Just east of town is Robin’s Nest Orchard (615) 654-3797, where you can pick your own apples, peaches and blackberries—or buy them already picked.
The orchard also sells homemade fried pies and breads as well as fresh cider in season. Another unique attraction in Cross Plains is the Wild Horse and Burro Adoption and Holding Center (800) 376-6009, where qualified “parents” can adopt a wild horse or burro rescued from a rough life out West.
For more information, contact the Springfield-Robertson County Chamber of Commerce at (615) 384-3800.
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