Brentwood has the best of both worlds. Its rural meets city setting is perfect for families to invest in for those wanting a suburban lifestyle, described as “second to none” by Brentwood’s Mayor Mark Gorman.
Brentwood is rich in resources, culture, and history. In fact, our history dates back to the Paleolithic age, with tribes passing through as wandering hunters as long as 100,000 years ago. Native Americans from the Mississippian Age moved into the area and were called “mound builders.” Artifacts from these burial mounds were donated to the Smithsonian. The mounds themselves can still be seen today, on Moore’s Lane within Primm Park.
As settlers began to move into the area, the Native Americans were moving out. Several founding families began to establish homes in this location. Mansions like Cottonport and the Mooreland home were founding residences. Many other historical homes can be seen along Franklin Road.
The Cottonport home, located on Old Smyrna Road, was built in 1811 as a fort to protect it from Native American raids. It is one of the oldest brick houses in Brentwood, with brick walls 18 inches thick. The Frost family built it. At one point, the site was the commercial center of the surrounding area, with a cotton gin, general store, grist mill, and post office.
Mooreland, located right in the middle of town, was used as a hospital during the Civil War for both Confederate and Union soldiers. It is built in Greek Revival style, with 22 rooms and a finished basement where the servants would live. Presently, it is under construction but is a beautifully restored hotel.
As the city of Brentwood grew, schools and churches began to be built. One of the first schoolhouses, named the Boiling Spring Academy, opened its doors in 1833. The curriculum taught children on three different levels of education, studying Grammar, Arithmetic, Geography, Greek, Sciences, and other subjects. It later became a meeting house for Presbyterian and other religious groups. This historic site is located along Moore’s Lane.
When cruising around town, it is hard to miss all the beautiful homes, land, and historic sites dotting our town. One particular place is the Liberty Methodist Church, hidden away in one of our beautiful subdivisions. This was the first church of Brentwood, founded around 1800 by Green Hill, a Revolutionary War veteran and early Methodist leader.
As time went on, restaurants were popping up, police and fire stations were too, and we even built our own radio tower and prestigious library.
Noble’s restaurant was the first restaurant and, for many years, the only restaurant in Brentwood. Now, we have an assortment of places to eat in town, including the beloved Mere Bulles, Puffy Muffin, and the coveted Chick-fil-A.
When built, our radio tower was the second-tallest tower in the world, only second to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Tower Park surrounds the radio tower and is a great place to bike, walk, jog, skateboard, roller skate, or walk the dog. The tower is 808 feet tall and can carry 50,000 watts.
Brentwood continues to grow today as business succeeds and many new residents move to this beautiful borough. Brentwood invests in its dwellers. Bestowed by Mayor Gorman, there is construction currently taking place for a new park called Windy Hill Park located on Old Smyrna Road.
“We believe in balanced and responsible growth,” said Mayor Gorman. Brentwood’s hometown feel will not change as we evolve as a town, “valuing how things are” presently.
If you are a history buff, there are many other sites to check out. Other places to visit to learn more about our town include Ravenswood Mansion, Sneed Acres, Cool Springs House, Maryland Manor Stables, and many more. Many of the sites have plaques to inform about the place’s history and origin.
“We believe in balanced and responsible growth,” said Mayor Gorman.