The Guest House

The Guest House or Alexander Inn

The Chapel on the Hill

 

The Guest House was built in 1943. A wood-framed building, similar to many other World period “H-plan” buildings, it served as guest quarters to a number of dignitaries during the top-secret Manhattan Project including Enrico Fermi, Robert Oppenheimer, General Leslie Groves and others. In 1949, a 44-room addition was completed. The name was changed to the Alexander Inn in September 1950. The hotel was sold by the government in 1958. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993 as a contributing propertyin the Oak Ridge Historic District. This district includes the Chapel on the Hill and and Highland View Elementary School (currently the Children's Museum).

Since the sale of the Alexander Inn, it has been allowed to deteriorate. Periodic attempts to fund a rehabilitation project have not been successful. There have been some recent attempts to stabalize the building.

The current plan is to convert the Inn to an assisted living facility. Council approves tax break for Alexander Inn assisted living center

Update:  Alexander Inn on 2013 Endangered Places List
               Alexander Restoration Update

Arnwine Cabin Part 3

 

Last two residents:  The last two known residents of the Arnwine Cabin are Polly Ann Arnwine and her sister, Elisa Jane Arnwine.  They are recorded in the 1930 census.

1930 Us Census

Polly Ann Arnwine (19 Jul 1854-13 Feb 1931) death certificate lists William Arnwine and Mary Dyer as parents.

Polly Ann Arnwine's death certificate

Elisa Jane Arnwine (11 Apr 1856- 11 Jul 1936) no death certificate has been found.

On the 1910 US census, Polly Ann is listed as the Grandmother of Charlie and Silus Suffridge. (I do not know how they are related).

 

1910 US Census

 

In John Rice Irwin's book, he states that the sisters sold their property to their brother Elijah in 1909 and that they kept a lifetime interest in the property. Land bounded at a corner of George Arnwine's estate and John O Arnwine, land in dispute between John O Arnwine and JH Satterfield anf the land of JH Satterfield to a corner of JH Satterfield and WM Payne, then Payne's line to a corner of WM (William) Payne and Willaler Arnwine et al (approx 19 acres).

Update On Oakwood

New Year's Day in the South

You can't always count on snow for New Year's and the selections for the bowl games can be unpredictable, but you can always count on black-eyed peas. This is a traditional recipe for Hoppin' John that I always serve with cooked mixed greens and tomato pudding. Tomato pudding is a side dish, not a dessert.

Hopping John

Tomato Pudding

Knox County School Success Stories Part 2

 

Knox County Schools used for housing

 

 

Park City Jr High

 

 

 

Park Place condominiums, originally Park City Junior High, built in 1927 and designed by local architectural firm Baumann and Baumann.

Brownlow Elementary Schools

 

 

 

 

The 1913 brick building built in Colonial Revival style in the Fourth and Gill neighborhood has been empty since the school closed in 1996 until until is was remodeled as Brownlow Lofts.

Flenniken Elementary School

 

 

 

 Flenniken Elementary School was built in 1919 and was closed in the 1990's.  This was a controversial project with a fair amount of criticism from local residents about having a housing project for the chronically homeless in their neighborhood.

 Flenniken Landing will provide low income housing.

 

Eastport Elementary School

 

Eastport remodeling project

 

 

 

 

Eastport School was built in 1932 and was remodeled in 2010.

When it is completed Residences Eastport will provide homes for low and moderate senior citizens.

Knox School Success Stories Part 1

Knox County Schools used as Offices

Tyson

Tyson Junior High School and then later Tyson Middle School was open from 1935 until 1986 and was named in honor of Lawrence Tyson.

Perkins

Beautiful Cupola on Perkins School

Perkins Elementary School opened in 1927 and closed in 1982. Pershing & Yoakley remodeled the school to use as their office.

 

Smithwood

This is the second Smithwood School which was open from about 1950 until 1980. It is currently being used by Fountainhead School of Technology

Knox County Schools That Face an Uncertain Future

Knoxville High School

Current photo of Knoxville High School

 

Knox County has requested and received proposals from potential developers for Historic High School. Knoxville High was the main high school for the city from 1910 until 1951. The original Knoxville High School building was designed in a classic revival style by Knoxville architectural firm Baumann and Baumann.  The firm designed many public buildings in Knox and surrounding East Tennessee Counties. The building was expanded in both 1914 and 1920 to accommodate increased enrollment.  Knoxville High School is one of the contributing buildings to the Emory Place Historic District.

Rule High School

Rule High School was built in 1927 as an elementary and junior high school. In 1939 a senior class was added. Rule closed in 1991. Rule High School was not maintained and eventually it was leased to Terry Minor. Unfortunately, the the building has continued to deteriorate. Rule High School has some of the best views in the county. 

View from Rule High School

South High School

 

South High School was designed by local architectural firm, Barber & McMurry and built in 1935-36. It was known as South Knoxville Junior High School when it opened, in 1937. The red brick building with Neoclassical design elements is typical of Barber’s work. He drew from the revival era styles to design both residential and public buildings, and was the primary architect of at least fourteen schools in Knox County prior to 1940.
The school was updated and South High School opened as one of the four schools built to replace Knoxville High School until it closed in 1976. It was not maintained until it was auctioned in 2008 to for 117,000. It is not currently being maintained and is in violation of the city's demolition by neglect policy. Currently the city plans to do some work to maintain the building.

These are just three of the larger schools that face an uncertain future.  There are other schools that are under utilized and lack maintenance.