Midway Drive Property

The home of Alexander Spotwood Henley Jr. and Naomi Frances Lyons at 104 Midway Dr that was built 1904. Alex S Henley descended from a historic family that included Colonel David Henley of the Continental Army. The family lived in Massachusetts. Alex. S. Henley Jr.'s grandfather, Arthur Hesilrige Henley Sr was born 1783 in Boston, Mass but had moved to the Monroe County, Tn area by the early 1800's. His son, Alex. S. Henley Sr. was born 1822 in the Wheat area of Roane County, TN. He was a large land owner, his property adjoined Poplar Creek. At the time of his death in 1901, five of his seven children were named in his will. His son Alex S.Henley Jr. was one that was named in his large estate settlement. He was teaching school in Roane County in 1900.

Alex S. Henley Jr. used his inheritance to purchase a large tract of land in Anderson County that included the area where Norwood school is located today. Here he would build this fine home from timber cut on his land. In 1911 he would marry the former Naomi Frances Lyons of Morgan County. Naomi was the daughter of Patrick C. Lyons of Pennsylvania and Margaret A. Jett of Wheat in Roane County. Naomi was their youngest daughter, born 1885 after her family moved to Morgan County. Naomi did have a prior marriage in 1905 to Frances T Bonham who was a conductor with the railroad. Their marriage would be short as Frances was killed by a train in 1911 at Lancing, TN. Naomi sued the Cincinnati, New Orleans, & Texas Pacific Railway Co. over her husbands death and it went to the Tennessee Supreme Court in 1914.

Naomi would then marry Alex S.Henley Jr. the same year in 1911. Alex S. Henley was a Postman/mail carrier later in his life serving the Windrock area. He died in 1935 and is buried at the George Jones Memorial Baptist Cemetery beside his mother. Naomi or as many called her later "Ma Henley, used the large home as a boarding house after Alex died. She deeded some property next door to Bobby and Marilyn Snipes. Bobby was like an adopted son to her. After her death in 1969 she was buried by her Lyon family in Mount Hope Cemetery in Morgan County. Some have written that her first husband was related to Billy the Kid, I could find no link though.

Tony Evans later bought the home and did some restoring of the baseboards, doors and mantles. He then sold it to Tim and Debra Prince Fox in 1994. Debra is now the owner and she has restored the plaster walls, wallpapered, added a half bath and a huge new kitchen, walk in pantry, and laundry room. There are 7 fireplaces, a restored Well House that is her She Shed, a rose garden, mass plantings, and she is in in the process of getting it pressure washed and the storage buildings and garage painted, and the front redwood porch painted. The style is called a Four Square Colonial. It has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a Parlor, Family Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Pantry, and Laundry Room. There is a side patio off of the Dining Room.

Debra has named her home Fox Lea, after her last and middle name, which means meadow. She has invited me back after the pressure washing and painting is completed so I can take additional photos. I will post those later of this beautiful home.