Well, I don't know about the surprise element, but around here, I'd have to say it's the Sam Davis home in Smyrna, TN. Sam Davis, a Confederate spy, was hanged when he would not reveal the identity of his informant(s). He was only 21 years old, or thereabouts, very young. The story goes that he was very well-liked by his captors, and they did not want to hang him, but they had to follow the law.

The surprise may be that this historic site has been very well-preserved, and taken care of, despite its lack of national notoriety. Another surprise may be that they had a 3-hole privy. (maybe it is 4? now I don't remember) A multiple-occupancy privy was a sign of well-offness. The Davises were hog farmers (very common in Tennessee) and were fairly well-off.

It is said that on the morning of his hanging, Sam sang his favorite hymn, On Jordan's Stormy Banks.