History of Lane Street Inn

Lane Street Inn did not start out as a B&B. It was built as a single-family residence back in the early 1900s.

Hutton House

I had a brief conversation with Coy Landers (one of the former owners). Mr. Landers owned 508 East Lane Street for 43 years (1955 to 1998). He raised his family here.

I may have a few details incorrect; but, this is what I was able to gather from my conversation with Coy Landers. Some information was also found in a book titled Homes of Bedford County. I have not confirmed any of this information.


Eben Bryant and Coy Landers (May 16, 2009)

Lane Street Inn (508 East Lane Street in Shelbyville, Tennessee) was originally built in 1920 by John Hutton. Mr. Landers said the house was originally two-stories; however, Emily and I still don't have an answer as to why the parquet flooring in the front foyer runs underneath the stairs. Who would lay parquet where it would not be seen? We think the house was originally one-story.

John Hutton was the president of People's Bank at the time. He had four children - John Hutton, Jr., Violet, Clark and AnnaLane. John Hutton, Jr. grew up to become a successful Texaco distributor.

In the early 1930's, AnnaLane (possibly along with her brother John Hutton, Jr.) bought the house. We think that AnnaLane had the two-story wings on the east and west added. Bath fixtures in those wings had manufacture dates stamped in them (1934). AnnaLane divided the house into apartments in 1941.

The house was later transferred to B. C. MacDonald. We don't know what date this occurred (mid-1940s maybe?). The transaction was a trade. Mr. MacDonald traded his stone house on Belmont to John Hutton, Jr. for this one at 508 East Lane Street.

B. C. MacDonald owned a cedar mill around these parts back in the early 1940s while WWII was still underway. No one could buy furniture in those days due to rationing; however, Mr. MacDonald was able to trade his cedar lumber for furniture which he then sold from his furniture store. I do not know where his furniture store was located. Since he had a monopoloy on the furniture trade, he became wealthy.

In later years (we think in the early to mid-1950s), Mr. MacDonald reportedly went broke and the IRS took everything he owned including 508 East Lane Street. Two local investors (Skip Brown and Mr. Nichols) purchased the house from the IRS and painted it for re-sale.

They auctioned the house, surrounding parcels and a warehouse. Coy Landers was a young man at the time and saw this place as a good investment. It was setup as apartments that could bring in enough rent to pay the note. His father encouraged him to go to the auction and place a bid.

Coy placed a bid on the house but not on the adjacent parcel (to the south). His father told Coy that he made a mistake. "You should have also bid on the extra land.", he told him. Then his father told him that he had bid on the land for Coy. After all was said and done, Coy Landers (with help from his father) purchased 508 East Lane Street and its adjacent land in May 1955 for the tidy sum of $23,975.

Coy was married soon after and needed a place to live. What better place than 508 East Lane St. He and his new wife moved in. Coy had only intended their residency here to be temporary; but, he and his wife ended up staying here and raising their family. As renters moved out of the various apartments in the house, Coy would let one of his children have the space. Eventually, the Landers family occupied the entire house.

As the kids grew up and moved out, Coy began to think about how he was going to maintain such a big house on his own. He said, "I can still climb around here in my 80s; but, I'm not sure what I'll be able to do in my 100s." Spry guy that Mr. Landers.

After 43 years in this wonderful family home, Coy Landers sold the property to Bill and Pattie King in 1998. The Kings operated the house as the Maple Lawn Inn bed and breakfast until 2006. Pattie King now runs an antique store in nearby Bell Buckle.

We are not sure who purchased the house in 2006. Local residents we have asked seem to think it was a band of gypsies. They said there might have been up to 25 people living here at one time. The gypsies called it Crystal House. The house was foreclosed upon by the lender in early 2007.

Eben and Emily Bryant (We) found the house in July 2007 and purchased it for $197,000 in August 2007. Since that time, we have invested over $250,000 in renovations and upgrades to create the present-day Lane Street Inn. We plan to retire here.

Here is a brief synopsis of the above. Hope you liked it. - Eben

  • 1920 - Home built by John Hutton, president of People's Bank
  • 1934 - Two story east and west wings are added
  • 1941 - AnnaLane Hutton converts the house to apartments
  • 1943 - B. C. MacDonald trades his stone house on Belmont for 508 E Lane St
  • 1954 - B. C. MacDonald goes broke and the IRS seizes the house
  • 1955 - Coy Landers purchases the home at auction in May 1955 for $23,975. Raises his family here.
  • 1998 - Bill and Pattie King purchase the home from Coy Landers and open the Maple Lawn Inn bed & breakfast.
  • 2006 - Bill and Pattie King sell the home to "gypsies" who call the place Crystal House
  • 2007 - Bank forecloses on the gypsy "Crystal House"
  • 2007 - Eben and Emily Bryant purchase the home for $197,000 in August 2007 and subsequently invest over $250,000 more to renovate and upgrade the decripet house.

The History of Lane Street Inn by Eben Bryant