From The Archives

The Home on a Hill that Almost Never Was

See the classic architecture and vintage, antique décor of this traditional Colonial home on 8 acres in South Central Kentucky with a magnificent center staircase and unique dual balconies in the foyer. The home was built by Dr. and Mrs. James Evans Carter in 1969. Dr. Carter was a physician and the nephew of former U.S. Congressman Dr. Tim Lee Carter, also a physician and a World War II combat medic, who served as a congressman from Kentucky from 1965 to 1981. For decades, the home was the host of numerous fundraising and community events. Overnight guests included many dignitaries from the state of Kentucky including former Governor Louie B. Nunn. The kitchen cabinets are known to be the last kitchen cabinets made by Hascal Haile, renowned guitar maker for Chet Atkins, Roy Clark, and other artists. Mr. Haile also built a grandfather clock for Dr. and Mrs. Carter that was in the home. It was one of just a few grandfather clocks built by Mr. Haile and one of those he built as a gift to Chet Atkins. Mr. Haile also made a one legged built in table for a corner in the kitchen at the request of Mrs. Carter.

The home on the hill in Tompkinsville was almost never built. During the 1960’s, Dr. James Carter and his wife, Judy, were a young couple living in a small, white frame house on Main Street in Tompkinsville. But since she was a little girl, Judy had a dream of building a home on a hill. With 3 children, the couple needed more space and they were looking at other homes in Tompkinsville and land outside of town. But they did not want to live too far from the Carter clinic on Main Street. Mr. S.L. Hill was a prominent businessman, landowner, and former mayor of Tompkinsville. Mr. Hill owned a great deal of very nice farm land in the city limits of Tompkinsville. Part of his property included land with a beautiful hill and a spring running through the valley below. Dr. Carter had approached Mr. Hill on a few occasions about purchasing the property and Mr. Hill was not interested in selling. Judy was a pharmacist in a local drug store that had an old time soda fountain and booths. She was also known as a person that was very talkative and could connect with anyone that she met. Mr. Hill would periodically come into the drug store and sit on a stool at the soda fountain or in one of the booths to drink coffee, have a snack, and share stories with the locals. Judy would come out from behind the area in the drug store where she filled prescriptions and socialize with customers in the rest of the store. She would occasionally sit next to Mr. Hill and they would share stories. Over time, at various points in conversations, she shared with Mr. Hill her dream of building a home on a hill somewhere. Time passed and Judy and Dr. Carter were close to buying a larger home on Main Street in Tompkinsville. Then one day, Judy and Mr. Hill were sitting at the soda fountain in the drug store talking and he said, “Judy, you are going to get that home on a hill.” He graciously sold them the 8 acres on the hill.

The home was designed by Judy and Dr. Carter in conjunction with architects from Nashville, Tennessee. It is a traditional Colonial home on 8 acres. The home sits atop a hill on the 8 acres with a spring running through the valley below. The property features a circular heart shaped driveway that crosses a stone bridge over the spring and leads up to the home. Upon entering the front door into the foyer, the stunning center staircase with a crystal chandelier above is a focal point as well as the unique dual balconies in the foyer. The symmetrical design of the formal living room and dining room on each side of the foyer affords an expansive view from either room across the foyer into the other room. The living room and dining room both have a fireplace and there is a fireplace in the den. Some rooms have walnut walls and handcrafted walnut ceiling beams. Crown molding is present in much of the home. The spacious home office has built in cabinets and built in shelves.

The home is located 36 minutes from Dale Hollow Lake, 65 minutes from Bowling Green, Kentucky, and 1 hour and 45 minutes from Nashville, Tennessee. Approximately 4316 Sq. Ft. Home, 5 Bedrooms, 3 Full Baths, 3 Half Baths, 2 Car Attached Garage, 2 Car Detached Garage on Property, In Ground Pool and Pool House with Half Bath. New heat and air system for main level in 2014. New heat and air system for upper level in 2009. New roof in 2016. Upgrades to exterior molding, front gable, overhang, gutters, and trim in December of 2017. Kitchen includes updated refrigerator. Laundry room includes new washer. Finished half basement with sliding glass doors that lead to a covered patio. Ample paved parking on both sides of the home very suitable for guests attending events on the property.