The Story of
Stephens Valley
The vision of the Stephens family and our developers centers on preserving the natural beauty of the surrounding forests and giving others an opportunity to enjoy them.
Organization of Militia
September 9, 1775
On September 9, 1775, the Provincial Congress authorized thirty-five existing county Militias to be organized, which included the North Carolina Pasquotank County Militia.
Militias Were Integrated
December 22, 1775
In December of that year, those Militias were integrated into the Continental Army under the command of General George Washington, seeing action in such battles as Great Bridge, VA on 12/9/1775 and Camden, SC on 8/16/1780.
The Naming of Pasquotank
September 3, 1783
At the end of the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress rewarded these men for their action by granting them War Bounties in the form of land grants. Those early settlers brought with them the name of their county in North Carolina and named their new home Pasquotank which was shortened to Pasquo over the years.
The Treaty of Fort Adams is Signed
December 17, 1801
In 1801, President Thomas Jefferson signed The Treat of Fort Adams prior to the Louisiana Purchase to permit the construction of a road, later named the Natchez Trace. The road was fully navigable by wagon in 1809 and allowed frontiersmen to travel to Nashville in only two weeks. The northern terminus of the Natchez Trace runs through Stephens Valley, and much of a young nation’s history occurred right here. From the “Great Spiritual Awakening” brought by Methodist Circuit Preachers, Baptist missionaries and, Cumberland Presbyterians, to the American soldiers marching south under the command of Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812, to the countless farmers and merchants that walked across this land, Stephens Valley has a solid foothold in the history of the New Republic.
Stephens Manufacturing Company was founded
January 1, 1925
In 1925, the Stephens family founded Stephens Manufacturing Company in Nashville. The company’s line of durable work clothing proved very popular and the company grew rapidly, becoming one of the earliest advertisers on the Grand Ole Opry radio show. With that success, W.E. Stephens bought a large tract of land at the northern end of the Natchez Trace and built a farm there, where he lived the remainder of his life, breeding Angus cattle, sheep, pigs, and planting field crops and hay.
W.E. “Ed” Stephens Sr Purchased Land
January 1, 1932
As another giving opportunity to his son, in 1932 Stephens Sr purchased 1,000 acres of farmland, which the family named Steveway Farms, for $10 an acre. Father and son built the log house for the family that today still serves as the nucleus of the Stephens’ home. It is a place Stephens has known almost his entire life, and it is a place that he has dedicated to helping other causes in the future.
Stephens Family Moved Into Home
January 1, 1936
After the land was purchased in 1932, Bill and his father began building the family home that is the nucleus of Bill and Neika’s home today. The family moved into the log house at Steveway Farms on January 1, 1936. The move to Steveway Farms reinforced Bill’s love of the outdoors that had begun with squirrel hunting when he was six years old. Bill describes himself as a “hillbilly who knows how to do everything about farming,” including raising cattle and bush hogging 350 acres of his farm.
Bill Stephens Inherits the Valley
September 1, 1953
Upon his father’s death, Bill Stephens inherited his family’s land in the valley, and he lived a long and satisfying life overseeing the daily operations of the farm his father created. Across his life, Bill Stephens watched the area change as Nashville grew and new families made their homes in the peace and serenity of the countryside, just as his family did many years before.
Bill Began Building Stephens Valley Team
February 29, 2000
Bill Stephens devoutly believed, “It is more blessed to give than receive,” and he and his wife built their lives on that very principle. They had a shared vision to help enrich the lives of future generations who will live in Stephens Valley while preserving the valley’s beauty. In the early 2000’s they began the process to find a team to help bring that vision to life. After careful consideration, Bill Stephens chose John Rochford to do just that.
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” -Bill Stephens, 1922-2015
April 26, 2015
Bill Stephens, who farmed the land until his death in 2015, had the vision to transform his land into a vibrant community where people could live more easily in harmony with nature while using a significant portion of the proceeds from this development for charitable and missions work. Stephens lived 93 years as a firm believer in the words of Christ that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” In a life characterized by generosity and faith, his lifelong love of giving was inspired by his father’s example.
Grand Opening of Stephens Valley
December 6, 2017
On December 6, 2017, Rochford Realty and Construction Co., Inc. hosted a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting of Stephens Valley on at the Stephens Valley Welcome Center, located at 411 Sneed Road, Nashville, TN 37221. Rochford Realty and Construction Co., Inc. (Owner and Developer) and Land Innovations (Project Manager) are committed to the same shared vision of the Stephens family and the preservation of the land. Working together, the development team will strive to honor the land and create a lasting legacy for all who choose to call it home.
The First Residents of Stephens Valley Moved In
August 24, 2018
On August 24, 2018, the first residents of Stephens Valley moved in.
First Annual Christmas Tree Lighting
December 3, 2018
On December 3, 2018, Stephens Valley’s first annual Christmas Tree Lighting took place next to the silo in Pavilion Park. Over 100 people, including the Westminster Chapel Choir, Stephens Valley residents, neighbors, and other friends and families in the community, joined together to celebrate the upcoming Christmas holiday. At 6:45 pm, Neika Stephens lit the tree as we sang Christmas carols, enjoyed cookies, and sipped hot chocolate. We are so excited to continue the Stephens Valley Christmas Tree Lighting for many years to come.
Dog Park Opened
February 1, 2019
1st Annual BBQ & Bluegrass
June 15, 2019
On June 15, 2019, we held our very first BBQ & Bluegrass event. Residents, neighbors, family, and friends joined in Meriwether Park to enjoy BBQ food trucks, live music, face painting, bounce houses, and fireworks at sunset! We look forward to watching this community event grow each summer.
50th Home Sold
August 15, 2019
Disc Golf, Firepit, & Paved Trails
November 1, 2019
Residents begin enjoying our community fire pit, exploring our paved nature trails, and playing a game of disc golf!
100th Home Sold
June 21, 2020
200th Home Sold
February 1, 2022
Community Garden Opened
April 24, 2022
Our community garden is officially open! We can’t wait to watch them grow.
Pool Grand Opening
July 1, 2022
A ribbon-cutting ceremony and community “pool jump” was held on July 1, 2022, in honor of the grand opening of our first community pool! The following day, we held our first pool party to celebrate America’s birthday! View the video here: https://vimeo.com/729767245
Explore the Stephens Valley Community.
Making work clothes and supporting the city’s early music scene by being one of the first advertisers on The Grand Ole Opry radio show. Five years later, during the height of the Great Depression, the family bought 900+ acres of land that straddles Davidson and Williamson counties and is now called Stephens Valley.
From its earlier role as a humble pig farm, the valley was carefully cultivated and became home to a bustling breeding business for fine Angus cattle, sheep and other livestock. When Bill Stephens inherited the farm from his parents, he diversified its operations into fields of row crops and hay, which you can still see growing today.
Bill’s vision for the valley was primarily to serve as a philanthropic funding resource for him to give back to the Middle Tennessee community by helping enrich the non-profit foundation he started. Even after his death a few years ago, his wife Neika still lives at Stephens Valley in the beautiful home built in 1936. Neika and the developers of Stephens Valley are committed to Bill’s wish to preserve the undeveloped, forested areas of the land.
Make Stephens Valley Your Home Today!
OUR BUILDING PARTNERS
