By Karen Parr-Moody
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Every Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. the Smith-Trahern Mansion’s rooms are filled with fresh-baked breads, hand-knitted scarves, quilts, Amish farm goods, preserves, pies, jams, jewelry and other locally-made goods.
In other words, the market overflows with gifts for the holiday season. And on Nov. 28, the day after Thanksgiving, it will be ready for those who want to purchase one-of-a-kind gifts and support the local economy.
The Smith-Trahern Mansion is located at 101 McClure Street, at the corner of 1st Street and McClure Street downtown. The Winter Market operates at the mansion during the winter and early spring, when the Clarksville Downtown Market is closed for the season.
Sandra Prettyman sells an array of colorful knitted items at the market, from baby caps to women’s and children’s scarves.
“It is all hand done,” she says. “There’s no loom, no nothing. I love making things with my hands. That’s the key.”
Her scarves are as high-quality as they are inexpensive. Scarves range in price from $8 to $12 and hats range from $3 to $7.
Prettyman has even made a “Frozen” scarf inspired by the Disney movie of the same name. It is fashioned from blue, white and metallic blue threads.
Another artisan, Linda Farmer, sells charming knitted animals at the Winter Market. Among them are hedgehogs, mice and dragons.
“People like them,” Farmer says. “They make them smile.”
Rachael Binkley, from an Amish farm in Elkton, Kentucky, brings an array of goods to the market. She sells apple butter, bread, seasonal produce (such as yams and apples), fresh eggs, sorghum, homemade candles, soaps and handmade macramé cord rugs.
“They do last a long time,” Binkley says of the rugs.
If you are interested in participating in the Winter Market at the Smith-Trahern Mansion, please contact Barbara Brown at 931-801-0822 or mamabee@twotzus.com or Martha Pile at 931-648-5725 or mmpile@utk.edu.
Photos by Karen Parr-Moody
Karen Parr-Moody began a career as a New York journalist, working as a fashion reporter for Women’s Wear Daily, a beauty editor for Young Miss and a beauty and fashion writer for both In Style and People magazines. Regionally, she has been a writer at The Leaf-Chronicle newspaper and currently writes about arts and culture for Nashville Arts magazine each month.