History of the Bachman-McCoy Family and the Property

McCoy Farm and Gardens, where history, community, and pollinators converge on Walden’s Ridge.  Step back in time at this lovely mountain property with its renovated country manor, woodland walking trails, apple orchard, and recently restored gardens.  

Martha Bachman McCoy began the process of conveying this historic family farm to the town of Walden in 2004, even before her death.  She and her husband Tom lived here and raised their daughter Sally here and Martha was an active member of the community. With an adventurous spirit, she rode her horse all over the mountain and loved its people and the animals of this place, feeding fox on one side of the home and raccoons on the other.

The recorded history of the Bachman-McCoy property dates back to October 1863, when the Federal Army seized it from a shoemaker named Edmond to provide a stopover on Anderson Pike for provisions headed to Chattanooga.

Martha’s grandfather, Jonathan Waverly Bachman, served under Confederate Generals Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee.  He was a chaplain in the Civil War.  He came to Chattanooga in 1873 and served as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga for 51 years. 

His son, Martha’s father, was Nathan Bachman.He was born in Chattanooga in 1878.He earned his law degree from the University of Virginia and started his law practice in 1903.He was elected Circuit Court judge and later Associate Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court.He was later appointed to the U.S. Senate to replace Cordell Hull who became FDR’s Secretary of State.He then won a full term senate seat.Bachman School is named for him.

Nathan Bachman bought the property in 1912.  The senator became a great lover of the mountain, its people, history and fauna.  His farm was a Southern gentleman’s dream with a large apple orchard, large kitchen and cutting gardens, and a kennel of hunting dogs that were his pride. He shared much of the produce with the mountain people, the old settlers as he called them, and many came to share season’s greetings with him at Christmas time.

The house and other buildings sit on 38 acres as a public park and is available for rentals including weddings and other special events. The gardens enhance this special retreat and are a focal point for community events, educational opportunities, private parties, and something as simple as a meditative moment.  Come and enjoy. This information is from an article by Mickey Robbins published in the Chattanooga Times Free-Press.