A few days ago, I just happened to see an on-line article about a person that now lives in Jim and Mary's former home in Madison. Whether this person was the original owner or just one of several, is not mentioned.
His name is George Bradfute who is listed in the article as a musician and recording artist. The name is a complete blank for me. The article goes on to say that when he first viewed the home, he was unaware of its history. Only after seeing some paper work did he realize the home's original owner. He bought the house because of it's incredible large basement with attached recording studio, including a bomb shelter. Well, the shelter story is new to me. Never heard that one. This apparently fit well with the new owner, since he was in the repair business, repurposing guitars and violins, and I think amplifiers were mentioned.
At the end of the article George says that the home was completely renovated when he purchased it save for an original piece of tile, featuring a music note from Reeves' downstairs.
The same article also features homes owned in Madison by other music stars, such as Loretta Lynn, and Patsy Cline.
If you Google the George Bradfute name, some interesting sites come up including a YouTube video. Seems legit but not completely sure. Can anyone add to this to confirm this is an actual true story. But I thought it to be an interesting read in any case. Thank you for indulging me....
Re: Jim's Home
Posted by Robert Wagner on April 12, 2026, 8:16 am, in reply to "Jim's Home"
I saw the posting you reference but did not do a deep dive on it.
I used to view Jim's home on Google Earth but have not done so recently. It was also listed for sale online.
I think your suspicion about accuracy is warranted.
I'm sure about the music studio and the bomb shelter as it was mentioned in other postings long ago and was reasonable considering the Cold War Time frame Jim lived it. It was a considerable expense to build, but I'm sure Jim could afford it, and the security it provided was warranted.
Other reported postings indicate that Jim's home along with Floyd Cramer and others in Madison were visited by fans often to the irritation of the owners. I think Jim's house was near an intersection and fans would park and mill around.
I believe there were musical tours in the area as well.
Therefore, I think his not knowing it was Jim's home is not credible.
I think is possible he might be the third owner, as there used to be for sale notices on the internet.
The house was built in 1958 at 400 Westchester Drive, Madison Tn. In speaking with people knowledgeable about the area it was a pretty nice suburb.
I don't usually post anything negative, but I have to say that Jim's home was not as attractive as I thought it would be and is a style I'm not impressed with externally.
Someday, God willing, I'll visit Nashville, Studio B, and Jim's home. Do to everything going on right now I guess Nashville is having issues.
Oh Well.
Re: Jim's Home
Posted by Roy Zinck on April 12, 2026, 7:00 pm, in reply to "Re: Jim's Home"
Thank you Bob for the informative reply. You are correct that the house has been bought and sold at least three/four times over the years. I seem to remember a contractor as the original purchaser. The entire main level needed renovation and since he was in the business could do it at a reasonable cost.
The modest and exposed home (absent grand curb appeal) that Jim had commissioned is a far cry from entertainers property of today. Secure and private enclosures for today's artists is a necessary reality.
I have read a lot of Hank Snow's life, someone who lived just down the road from Jim. Hank's home (Rainbow Ranch) was even more close to the road and Hank would find people standing on his driveway or even in his back yard to view the barn. Metal security fencing and gates had to be installed in later years. Even worse, as you pointed out, bus tours were unbearable.
There is an interesting interview by Lucille Ball who demanded bus tours stop on her street, in her area of Hollywood. She said people would literally rip tulips out of her flower garden to have as a souvenir. She was successful with the partition, and rightfully so.
I did a bit more checking on the Bomb shelter. It apparently was added at Jim's request in 1962. The Cuban Missile Crises was the deciding factor.
Jim's home...
Posted by Mike Slater on April 13, 2026, 6:40 am, in reply to "Re: Jim's Home"
Even with any unanswered questions about Jim's former home, I never knew this much about it. Thanks Roy and Bob. I found the bomb shelter especially interesting. I never knew about this either. Jim must have added this near the end of 1962 sonce the Cuban missile crisis happened in October. I was only 10 years old then, but can remember it very well. Even at that age, I understood what was happening and we were all very scared. I'm sure Jim and Mary were too. Bob, you mentioned that the house was built in 1958, so I guess Jim and Mary were the first to live thete. As far as I can remember, they were still living there right up until Jim died. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if this is true, how long did Mary continue to live there after Jim's death? I know she later remarried and was wondering if she and her new husband relocated then or did they live in this house together?...
Re: Jim's home...
Posted by Robert Wagner on April 13, 2026, 11:17 am, in reply to "Jim's home..."
It is my understanding that Jim commissioned the house to be built, but I could be wrong. Period photos seem to indicate the neighborhood was under construction at the time and lots around the house were vacant available for purchase.
I am not knowledgeable about how long Mary stayed there but experts here probably know.
Much controversy surrounded her second marriage. Too much for me here.
But one interesting thing for me was that the legal wrangling with Mary and her new husband and his business settlement involved Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger. I was Police Chief in Holyoke Massachusetts and had dealings with Harshbarger. Was unaware of the Mary Reeves connection at the time or even if it was in progress vintage 1991. Discovered it later.
The older we get (75), our brains focus more and more on events from the past. Unfortunately a lot of my memories usually pop up bad ones. Don't know why but it is disconcerting.
I was living in Sacramento California during the Cuban Missile crisis in a mobile home with my mother, grandmother, and sister age 11.
If war broke out we were finished. I grew older, moved back east, got married and purchased a home in 1976. I checked into a bomb shelter as well, but it was not feasible, then or now.
I rely on living a good life and faith.
Re: Jim's home...
Posted by Roy Zinck on April 13, 2026, 5:56 pm, in reply to "Re: Jim's home..."
Mike, I did a bit of home work today and hopefully what I found will fill in some blanks. Actually I also wondered about Mary's plight as well after July 31st. 1964,
The article I finally found is quite clear in it's description. And I quote. (additional info on Mary after 1964 is of course in Larry's well researched book as well)
Mary Reeves continued to live in their home on Westchester Drive in Madison, Tennessee, for a significant period following Jim's death in July 1964.. She remained in the home, maintaining his legacy, until approximately 1980, when she and her new husband Terry Davis, purchased a different property called Evergreen Place. Mary and Terry were married in 1969.
Residence Management... She lived in the house built by Jim in 1958 for roughly 16 years after Jim's 1964 death. End quote.
The article goes on further to chronical Mary's mental health that started to deteriorate a few years after the move to Evergreen Place. Disturbing stories of both of them hording cats from the neighbourhood became public. A Very sad story, as Bob alluded to.
If anyone can correct or add to what I found please do so. Very important to get the facts correct especially for us rabid fans !!
on April 11, 2026, 7:11 pm