Chilhowee Park (neighborhood)
Encyclopedia
Chilhowee Park is a residential neighborhood in Knoxville, Tennessee
, USA, located off Magnolia Avenue in the East Knoxville
area. Developed as a streetcar suburb in the 1890s, this neighborhood was initially part of Park City, which was incorporated as a separate city in 1907, and annexed by Knoxville in 1917. Chilhowee Park lies adjacent to one of Knoxville's largest municipal parks (also named Chilhowee Park
), as well as the Knoxville Zoo
. The neighborhood contains a notable number of early-20th century houses.
/US-11
) on the south, Interstate 40
and the zoo on the north, and Chilhowee Park (the park) on the east. The Parkridge neighborhood lies opposted Cherry Street to the west, the Morningside area lies to the south, and the Burlington area lies along Magnolia east of the park. The Knoxville Zoo occupies most of the northern part of the neighborhood, between its residential area and I-40.
In 1875, college professor Fernando Cortes Beaman (1836—1911) purchased the McMillan farm, and converted the land into a park (initially Beaman's Park), which by the late 1880s had become a popular gathering place. In 1890, trolley tracks were built along Magnolia, connecting this park with downtown Knoxville. Beaman and several partners formed the Lake Park Springs Company to develop a residential neighborhood adjacent to the park. Initially known as the Lake Park Addition, by the early 1900s it had become "Chilhowee Park."
In 1891, parts of Woodbine, Jefferson and Fifth Avenue were annexed by Knoxville as the Tenth Ward, but due to a lack of city services, the residents of this ward withdrew from Knoxville in 1893. In 1907, Chilhowee Park, along with what is now Parkridge, incorporated as Park City. The Appalachian Exposition was held at Chilhowee Park in 1910 and again in 1911, and the National Conservation Exposition
was held at the park in 1913. Park City was annexed by Knoxville in 1917.
During the 1920s, many of Chilhowee Park's initial residents moved to automobile suburbs on the city's periphery, and the neighborhood evolved into a housing area for railroad workers and employees of the Standard Knitting Mills, a large textile factory located nearby on Washington Avenue. During the early 1940s, Aloysius "Alley" Hartman, a co-inventor of the soft drink Mountain Dew
, lived at 3120 Woodbine. In the late 1950s, a large number of African Americans relocated to Chilhowee Park after urban renewal
projects destroyed numerous historically-black neighborhoods in the downtown area.
of a historic district
to be named "Chilhowee Park Historic District" was made in 2005 with reference number 00501039. The district was not, however, then listed on the National Register. It was nominated also in 2009.
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, USA, located off Magnolia Avenue in the East Knoxville
East Knoxville
East Knoxville is the section of Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, that lies east of the city's downtown area. It is concentrated along Magnolia Avenue , Martin Luther King, Jr., Boulevard, Dandridge Avenue, and adjacent streets, and includes the neighborhoods of Parkridge, Chilhowee Park, Morningside,...
area. Developed as a streetcar suburb in the 1890s, this neighborhood was initially part of Park City, which was incorporated as a separate city in 1907, and annexed by Knoxville in 1917. Chilhowee Park lies adjacent to one of Knoxville's largest municipal parks (also named Chilhowee Park
Chilhowee Park
Chilhowee Park is a public park, fairgrounds and exhibition venue in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, located off Magnolia Avenue in East Knoxville. Developed in the late 19th century, the park is now home to the Tennessee Valley Fair, and hosts several dozen expositions annually...
), as well as the Knoxville Zoo
Knoxville Zoo
Knoxville Zoo is a zoo located just east of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee near exit 392 of Interstate 40. The zoo is home to about 800 animals and welcomes over 400,000 human visitors each year....
. The neighborhood contains a notable number of early-20th century houses.
Location
Chilhowee Park is located in an area roughly bounded by Cherry Street on the west, Magnolia Avenue (US-70U.S. Route 70
U.S. Route 70 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 2,385 miles from eastern North Carolina to east-central Arizona. As can be derived from its number, it is a major east–west highway of the Southern and Southwestern United States...
/US-11
U.S. Route 11
U.S. Route 11 is a north–south United States highway extending 1,645 miles across the eastern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 90 in the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge in eastern New Orleans, Louisiana. The northern terminus is at the United...
) on the south, Interstate 40
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
and the zoo on the north, and Chilhowee Park (the park) on the east. The Parkridge neighborhood lies opposted Cherry Street to the west, the Morningside area lies to the south, and the Burlington area lies along Magnolia east of the park. The Knoxville Zoo occupies most of the northern part of the neighborhood, between its residential area and I-40.
History
Before the Civil War, what is now Chilhowee Park was primarily part of two large farms, one of which had been established by Revolutionary War veteran Alexander McMillan, and the other by entrepreneur Joseph A. Mabry (1826—1882). The development of the East Knoxville area began in the 1850s, with the incorporation of the City of East Knoxville in 1855 (the city was annexed by Knoxville in 1868) and the establishment of the Shieldstown community along modern Howard Street. During the Civil War, the Chilhowee Park area was used as a mustering grounds.In 1875, college professor Fernando Cortes Beaman (1836—1911) purchased the McMillan farm, and converted the land into a park (initially Beaman's Park), which by the late 1880s had become a popular gathering place. In 1890, trolley tracks were built along Magnolia, connecting this park with downtown Knoxville. Beaman and several partners formed the Lake Park Springs Company to develop a residential neighborhood adjacent to the park. Initially known as the Lake Park Addition, by the early 1900s it had become "Chilhowee Park."
In 1891, parts of Woodbine, Jefferson and Fifth Avenue were annexed by Knoxville as the Tenth Ward, but due to a lack of city services, the residents of this ward withdrew from Knoxville in 1893. In 1907, Chilhowee Park, along with what is now Parkridge, incorporated as Park City. The Appalachian Exposition was held at Chilhowee Park in 1910 and again in 1911, and the National Conservation Exposition
National Conservation Exposition
The National Conservation Exposition was an exposition held in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States, between September 1, 1913 and November 1, 1913. The exposition celebrated the cause of bringing national attention to conservation activities, especially in the Southeastern United States...
was held at the park in 1913. Park City was annexed by Knoxville in 1917.
During the 1920s, many of Chilhowee Park's initial residents moved to automobile suburbs on the city's periphery, and the neighborhood evolved into a housing area for railroad workers and employees of the Standard Knitting Mills, a large textile factory located nearby on Washington Avenue. During the early 1940s, Aloysius "Alley" Hartman, a co-inventor of the soft drink Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew
Mountain Dew is a citrus-flavored carbonated soft drink brand produced and owned by PepsiCo. The original formula was invented in the 1940s by Tennessee beverage bottlers Barney and Ally Hartman and was first marketed in Marion, VA, Knoxville and Johnson City, Tennessee. A revised formula was...
, lived at 3120 Woodbine. In the late 1950s, a large number of African Americans relocated to Chilhowee Park after urban renewal
Urban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
projects destroyed numerous historically-black neighborhoods in the downtown area.
Chilhowee Park Historic District proposal
A nomination for listing on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
of a historic district
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
to be named "Chilhowee Park Historic District" was made in 2005 with reference number 00501039. The district was not, however, then listed on the National Register. It was nominated also in 2009.