The Story of Glenmore Mansion: Built by John Roper Branner in 1868, the mansion has been home to only two families during its first 100 years. Since ... its history and the people who lived there.

Glenmore Mansion is a historic house museum built in 1868 by John Roper Branner and is one of Tennessee's finest remaining examples of the Second Empire architectural style. John R. Branner was a wealthy and influential man, serving on various school and university boards and served as the President of the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad until his death in 1869. He died of a stroke just before the mansion's construction was complete. After thirteen short years, his widow, Deborah, sold the property and some 1,200 acres to Milton P. Jarnagin, a retired Memphis lawyer. Milton had served as a Confederate Judge during the Civil War and was a highly successful lawyer for nearly 20 years following the war. He moved to Glenmore with his third wife, Agnes and their five children, living there until his natural death. Members of the Jarnagin family lived in the house until 1965, a total of 83 years of Jarnagin ownership. Simply as a structure, the house is unique, but it is the lives of both families and their influence on the community and region that makes story of Glenmore interesting. The book also captures with text and pictures the 45 year efforts of the local APTA Chapter to preserve, restore and operate this National Register Home. Since 1972 the APTA has operated the mansion as a public house museum. The author also shares insights into the Branner-Jarnagin Grist Mill, operated by both families during their ownership of the estate. The mill was built by John R. Branner's father around 1838 on the west bank of Mossy Creek, providing service to the local community for over 110 years. The Branner Family cemetery is within one-fourth mile of the mansion and the author gives a detailed account with text and photos of how local volunteers reclaimed this forgotten burial ground from nature's concealment. For readers interested in East Tennessee history, architecture, or the Victorian era, this book offers a glimpse into facets of each. The Story of Glenmore Mansion gives insight into not only the house, but the people who called this place home.