French Lick Chapter History

French Lick is a vital, active chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Tennessee Society, with about 90 enthusiastic members in Nashville, Tennessee.  Membership growth is a high priority.  This year French Lick secured nine new members! 

The chapter has many activities and projects that revolve around the NSDAR Motto, “God, Home, and Country.”  Chapter interests often fall into these categories: history, historic preservation, genealogy, veterans, patriotism, and patriotic education.  French Lick members forge strong friendship ties through successfully completing chapter projects.  The French Lick chapter consistently earns the highest chapter achievement award designated by NSDAR. 

Following are listed only some of the chapter’s recent endeavors. 

This year the chapter participated in a special religious project by collecting used Bibles and Christian literature that was sent to foreign countries.      

Betty Callis, Sylvia Lane, and Ellen Davis

pose with one of the pre-depression era Family Bibles that was photographed for the State Regent's Family Bible Preservation Project.

Patriotic service activities included: sending a box of requested items to Landstuhl Medical Center for wounded soldiers as well as donating $366 for phone cards for the wounded soldiers there; mailing 22 boxes (value $1,277.88) to US soldiers engaged in the War on Terrorism; and contributing clothing (valued at $1,040.48) to Operation Stand Down for homeless veterans, and products (valued at $168.70) to the Nashville VA Hospital; and generously giving $332 to Fort Campbell’s Fisher House.  

Christina Isbell displays the US Flag and plaque that Colonel Ingrid Moertl gave her in appreciation of French Lick’s support of the troops in Iraq.  During the last two years, French Lick has sent over 100 care packages to soldiers fighting the War on Terrorism. 

Members participated in observances of the following patriotic events: Flag Day, July Fourth Bell Ringing, Constitution Week, the Veterans Day Parade, and the George Washington Birthday Luncheon. 

Ernestine Hawkins and Miriam Gwaltney

register new voters at a local high school each fall during Constitution Week.

The chapter emphasizes support for the DAR Schools with financial donations.  Members save food labels for education and collect printer ink cartridges in a recycling program to benefit one of the DAR Schools. 

For the last several years, French Lick has conducted a hands-on Computer Internet Genealogical Workshop. 

Marsha Campbell and Joanne Granstaff serve as docents at Heritage Days for APTA's Buchanan Log House on Elm Hill Pike.  They told about the builder of the home, James Buchanan, whose jacket is pictured.

Other NSDAR committees that French Lick members are especially interested in supporting are the DAR Library through book donations, the DAR Museum through the Adopt-an-Object Program, and the DAR Magazine through subscriptions and donations.   

French Lick sponsors the Good Ship Adventure Society of Children of the American Revolution. 

French Lick’s Outstanding Junior Member for 2008-2009 is Christina Isbell who is also the State Outstanding Junior.  Shirley Thompson is the French Lick Outstanding Genealogist for 2008-2009.  Mary Jean Walker is celebrating 60 years as a member this year.  Jane Dugger is serving as chairman of the 104^th TSDAR State Conference, with Christina Isbell as a conference co-chairman.   

Programs during the past year included: Wives of the First Six Presidents; Historic Edgefield; the Treaty of Paris; Homeland Security’s First Responders; and Patrick Henry.  Brief reports are always given at each meeting on the following topics: National Defense, American Indian, Conservation, Flag of the United States, and Tennessee History.  

The French Lick Chapter was organized December 13, 1938, and confirmed by the National Society in February 1939, becoming the 67^th chapter of the Tennessee Society.  The name is one of the oldest historic names in Middle Tennessee.  As early as 1705, this spot was occupied by fur traders and was known as “Salt Lick” because of the salt springs nearby. 

When the French traders came down from Kashaki, Illinois, and settled here, the name was then changed to the “French Lick Fort”.  The good boat “Adventure” brought its weary travelers, and here they remained until Fort Nashborough was constructed on the bluff of the Cumberland River.  In 1780, the name French Lick was changed to Nashboro in honor of Col. Francis Nash; and, in 1784, Nashboro was changed to Nashville by the Legislature of North Carolina. 

Below are some interesting highlights concerning the chapter’s early committees, past fund raising, and patriotic work during World War II.  One of the chapter’s early committees was the Ellis Island Committee.  The chapter members would send boxes of clothes and other items to Ellis Island for the use of the immigrants entering the USA.  Then, some of the handiwork and crafts of the immigrants would be shipped back to the chapter to exhibit and sell.  Other committees were:  Girl Homemakers, Americanism, Conservation, National Defense, Correct use of the Flag, Advancement of American Music, and Valley Forge Bell Tower Chairman.

Early fund raising involved small amounts.  The chapter donated $5 for a Tennessee star to be placed on the National Birthday Bell at Valley Forge in 1941.  Each member was asked to donate five cents for the fund for the Robert Morris Tower stained glass window at Valley Forge. 

Members contributed in many ways to the effort to win World War II.  By December, 1943, the members of the French Lick Chapter alone had bought over $1,700 worth of War Bonds and War Stamps.  In 1944, annual dues were $3 and there was $15.43 in the chapter treasury.  In June of 1947, French Lick had 21 members, whose dues were $3.03. 

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