Knox Heritage Releases Latest "Fragile 15" List

Released today, Knox Heritage's Fragile 15 seems always to be straining against its own ruling principle: In this year's "15" are enumerated 28 buildings, plus a sort of concept: scenic vistas and ridgetops. 

UT likes to tout a 1794 founding date for all sorts of purposes, but demonstrates little interest in its older buildings, often claiming they're "too old" -- when many major state universities, like UVA, keep using buildings decades older than the oldest building remaining at UT's campus today. It can give the impression that when it comes down to it, UT is really not all that proud of its past. 

Many of the buildings on the endangered list are not just endangered, they're targeted for demolition, soon -- among them, the Weston Fulton home, the only house standing that's associated with one of Knoxville's most interesting inventor/industrialists. Fulton (1871-1946) invented a steel-bellows device he called the sylphon, which is used even today in thousands of different applications involved in heating and cooling. It adds a little poignancy that Fulton donated the house to UT to memorialize his son, a UT-bound student killed in a car wreck on Kingston Pike. 

A couple, like the Pickle Mansion in Fort Sanders, and the Kennedy-Baker-Walker-Sherrill house on Kingston Pike are 19th-century homes that appeared to be on the path to salvation, three or four years ago, but developers seems to have stalled on their original plans.

The (few remaining) McClung Warehouses are a poignant story; when "McClung Warehouses" first appeared on this list, it was a much-larger block of valuable brick buildings.  

On the list are a few surprising new ones, like the Lloyd Branson house, a decaying Victorian on Branson Avenue little known as the home of artist Lloyd Branson (1854-1925), notable for his own work as  well as for his major influence on the careers of 20th-century artists Beauford Delaney and Catherine Wiley. 

--Jack Neely

Here's the press release for the complete list of buildings; go to Knox Heritage's website for photos and descriptions.

KNOX HERITAGE ANNOUNCES "FRAGILE 15" LIST OF ENDANGERED HISTORIC PLACES

Knox Heritage announced its 2011 list of the most endangered historic buildings and places in Knoxville and Knox County on May 16 at 10:00 a.m. The announcement took place at the studios of John Black Photograph in the Daylight Building, 501 W. Union Avenue.

Every May during National Preservation Month, Knox Heritage releases its list of the most endangered historic buildings and places in Knox County to educate the public and local leaders about the plight of significant historic resources. Often, the endangered buildings and places are representative of issues that endanger similar parts of our heritage across the community.

The historic places included on the list are selected by the Knox Heritage Board of Directors from nominations received from members of Knox Heritage and the general public. The list provides a work plan for the organization over the next 12 months. Preservation strategies are developed for each site on the list and can include working with current property owners, government officials, citizens and/or potential new owners to

preserve these important parts of Knox County's heritage. Knox Heritage is committed to acting as an advocate for the endangered properties we identify each year. We invite the community to join us in our efforts to save our endangered heritage through advocacy and action. To volunteer, please contact Knox Heritage at 523-8008 or info@knoxheritage.org.

Knox Heritage advocates for the preservation of places and structures with historic or cultural significance. Founded in 1974, Knox Heritage is the non-profit historic preservation organization for Knoxville and Knox County. It is governed by a board of directors with representatives from across our community. Knox Heritage carries out its mission through a variety of programs and encourages community support through education and advocacy.

2011 Fragile Fifteen

1. University of Tennessee

a. Melrose Hall - 1616 Melrose Avenue

b. Cowan Cottage - 701 16th Street

c. The Eugenia Williams House - 4848 Lyons View Pike

d. Morgan Hall - Agricultural Campus/2621 Morgan Circle

e. Henson Hall - 1618 Cumberland Avenue

f. Carolyn P. Brown University Center - 1502 Cumberland Avenue

g. Aconda Court - 1534 W. Cumberland Avenue

h. Temple Court - 804 Volunteer Blvd.

i. Student Counseling Services/Weston Fulton Residence - 900 Volunteer Blvd.

j. Academic Support Programs/Old residence - 812 Volunteer Blvd.

k. Sophronia Strong Hall & Cafeteria -1621 Cumberland Avenue

l. University Center Plaza & Parking structure

2. Kennedy-Baker-Walker-Sherrill House - 9320 Kingston Pike

3. Fort Sanders Houses & IGA Grocery - 307 18th Street, and 1800, 1804, 1810 Highland Avenue

4. Sanitary Laundry Building - 625 N. Broadway

5. Scenic Vistas and Ridgetops - Fort Stanley & French Broad River Corridor

6. The Pickle Mansion - 1633 Clinch Avenue

7. Martin-Russell House - 11409 Kingston Pike

8. The McClung Warehouses - 501-525 W. Jackson Avenue

9. Standard Knitting Mill -1400 Washington Avenue

10. Knoxville College National Register District - 901 College Street

11. Cal Johnson Building - 301 State Street

12. Historic Knox County School Buildings

a. Knoxville High School - 101 E. Fifth Avenue

b. Oakwood Elementary School - 232 E. Churchwell Avenue

c. South High School - 801 Tipton Avenue

d. Rule High School - 1901 Vermont Avenue

13. The Lloyd Branson House - 1423 Branson Avenue

14. WNOX Studio & Auditorium - 4400 Whittle Springs Road

15. Isaac Anderson Cabin -Creekrock Lane - Shannondale Valley Farms