Hey, it's Shannon Ballard. Your Southern Mysteries is an independent podcast. It's made possible by the generous

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lesser known stories of lesser known figures related to major historical events

join me on Patreon today and catch up on all the episodes you haven't heard

at patreon.com slash southern mysteries. It's been said buildings have two lives, the one imagined by its maker and the life it lives afterward.

In 1872, architect Peter Williamson was commissioned to design a classical style church in downtown Cleveland, Tennessee.

At the time Williamson had been moving toward what was known as

architectural transformation. Following the Civil War, the classical Gothic and

Greek Revival architectural styles that were inspired by the church

and reflected reason and order were less appealing to Williamson.

He was increasingly interested in the second empire style that reflected man as the

master of space in control of his own destiny. Williamson was approached by a wealthy businessman, John Craig Miles, who expressed his desire

to build a church in memory of his daughter, who died in a tragic accident one year earlier.

Williamson honored the wishes of Craig Mouse

to build a Gothic Revival church designed in 1873 that still stands in downtown Cleveland.

It's Gothic architecture and the story behind the church make this structure one of Williamson's finest works.

Along with the marble mausoleum he designed that stands just behind the church.

The Mausoleum is home to one of Tennessee's strangest mysteries.

Welcome to Southern Mysteries, exploring history and mysteries of the American South.

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