West Knoxville, TN March 2024

HOME SERVICES

REMODELING AS AN ‘EPIK’ ADVENTURE

FINANCE + LEGAL SERVICES

THE COMPLEXITY BEHIND CURATING SPACES

Todd Richesin's Good Instincts

Details Matter

The most important part of any journey is planning. One small misstep can set you off course, affect your balance, or end your trip completely. At PYA Waltman, we understand the value of continual planning and course corrections depending upon the conditions. That’s why we’ve built an in-house team of experts, to be alongside you on your journey, rowing in the same direction.

Financial Planning

Investment Management

Retirement Plan Consulting

Welcome Home, March!

The month where we greet the first day of spring and give a final send-off to winter’s cold, grey cover. There’s a sense of excitement in the earth and the air! It never gets old here in East Tennessee, watching nature’s paintbox spill over with new colors, life and possibilities. Like it is for Marc and me, it’s probably time for you to clean off the gardening tools, get outside and soak up these early days of spring.

It’s also time to turn our attention to all things home and hearth. In that spirit, we present the annual  Home issue, devoted to stories about remod eling, renovation, and interior design professionals in our community whose business it is to bring cherished dreams for our own homes to life.

Jennie Treadway-Miller visited with Todd Richesin, whose interior design achievements have been featured in  House Beautiful and  Southern Home, among other premier home and design publications. Their conversation explores his remarkable twenty-five-year career that began as a child with strong instincts for what works in a space.

Epik Kitchen + Bath founder David Talley offers a glimpse of what’s trending, as well as an insider look behind the many moving parts to a kitchen renovation or bath remodel. Be prepared to be inspired and also take some practical notes on prep and planning for your own remodel.

In her column, Legal Compass, Attorney Mital D. Patel, introduces Amanda Webb Furlow’s new Design Center with a tour that gives our readers an overview of her design services. In Jack Neely’s and Paul James’ monthly Knoxville History Project, we go on a fascinating driving tour of Mechanicsville, the oldest suburban neighborhood in Knoxville. In the true spirit of the nation’s annual March Madness, Aaron Nolan, CFP® with PYA Waltman Capital, characterizes the goal of gaining and protecting a lead in financial planning to a whole different kind of ball game.

And, we honor the closing of a well-loved West Knoxville hub and home for so many for almost 75 years, Long’s Drug Store.

We want to express our sincere gratitude for the invaluable support and collaboration of our advertising partners. Their commitment to our vision and brand is invaluable in our goal to feature uplifting stories of our beloved community every month. We do hope that you will consider them when making purchasing decisions.

We deeply appreciate your readership and wish for you a month rich with bright beginnings and blessings that spring holds in store.

AMY CAMPBELL AND MARC ROCHELSON

, PUBLISHERS

March 2024

PUBLISHER

Marc Rochelson | marc.rochelson@citylifestyle.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Amy Campbell | amy.campbell@citylifestyle.com

PHOTO EDITOR

Jennifer Adams | Jennifer.Adams@citylifestyle.com

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Amy Campbell | amy.campbell@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Patricia Storm Broyles, Jennie Treadway-Miller, Paul James, Jack Neely, Aaron Nolan, CFP®, Mital Patel, Amy Campbell

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Shawn Poynter, South Made Marketing, Ben Finch

Schowengerdt CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS Jennifer Robinson

DIRECTOR Josh Klein

DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe

ATTORNEYS & COUNSELORS AT LAW

We are here to serve as friends, allies, loyal and trusted advisors during what is often a difficult time for our clients, their families or their business.

Providing Maximum Value

The word Amicus is synonymous with what sets our attorneys apart and truly defines the weight we place in our relationship with our clients.

Sports Law

We provide strong legal representation to help athlete with contracts, negotiations and compliance. We also help the athletes as they transition into life after sports, branding and business.

Mital D. Patel Founder & Managing Partner

Julie D. Eisenhower Partner

Taking Care of Our Future, One Child at A Time

Since 1937, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital has been your partner in expert care for your child. From primary care to emergencies and surgeries, our team is here to put your family first. East Tennessee Children’s Hospital is taking care of our future, one child at a time.

city scene

Want to be seen in the magazine?

1: Stephanie Chapman of Farrow & Ball Handcrafted Paint and Wallpaper (Rt) Artist, Susan Verekar 2: Sadie Klonel, Owner of Knox Revival Paint Company, with Anna Oglesby 3: Ed Pasto of the TN Home Group and TN Cabinet Company with Marc Rochelson 4: Designer Diana Warner, co-founder, Knoxville Design Collective (R) with Ashley Lacey of Farrow & Ball 5: Ricky Garcia, Lead Painter (L) and Matthew Blackwelder Project Lead of TN Home Group 6: Ella Baker (L) Ashley Guthrie-Baker, at the Knoxville Design Collective and Farrow & Ball Paint and Wallpaper soft opening. 7: Sophia (L), Emilia, and James Tamborimo paint with Farrow & Ball Handcrafted Paint.

business monthly

Call for entries for the Evan Richey Memorial Scholarship

After the 2019 diagnosis, treatment, and passing of 17-year-old Evan Thomas Richey from metastatic osteosarcoma, Evan’s parents, Tina and Mark Richey, established The Evan Richey Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship has awarded $23,000 in scholarships since 2020 to a Hardin Valley Academy senior and one to an at-large senior in remembrance of Evan and to inspire students. Applications and instructions can be found in your guidance counselor's office or online at www.EvanRicheyMemorialScholarship.com

Tennessee Smokies Trot 5K and One-Mile Fun Run

Attention, runners! Make plans to participate in the Smokies Trot 5K and OneMile Fun Run on Saturday, March 30. The Smokies Trot 5K will begin at 10 a.m. at Smokies Stadium, continue onto roads surrounding the stadium, and finish with runners rounding the bases and crossing home plate. The Smokies Trot 5K benefits Remote Area Medical. For more information, visit www.milb.com/ Tennessee/Events/SmokiesTrot5K

PJ Parkinson’s Light Up the Night Annual Gala

Light Up the Night for Parkinson’s hosts the 2024 annual gala, on April 6 at 6:30 p.m. at The Press Room. The event will have a cocktail hour, dinner, silent auction, live auction, and live entertainment. Black tie optional. Proceeds benefit PJ Parkinson’s, where the mission is to make life better for families affected by Parkinson’s Disease here in Tennessee and around the world. For more information, visit www.PJParkinsons.org

Photography by Tina Richey

At grow Wellness, we offer soothing and healing services that will help promote beauty, health and wellbeing.

Our personalized treatments will help you achieve your aesthetic and wellness goals. Our services include:

Waxing

Customized facials

Glo2Facial

Dermaplaning

Lash Lift and Tint

IV Vitamin Therapy

Vitamin Injections

Infrared Sauna Sessions

Semaglutide Weight Loss Program

Skincare Consultations

We provide a relaxing and inviting atmosphere so you will leave replenished and refreshed!

But First, Consultation!

We can’t tell you how many times a new guest sits down and says, “just do what you think.” No, and let us tell you why. Your stylist doesn’t know you, yet. We aren’t about to give you a high maintenance haircut if you are a low maintenance person! We certainly don’t want you waking up the following morning frustrated with your new style. After all, the stylist’s signature is on your head, so we want to make sure it’s an amazing experience from start to finish, and on into the next day.

Why are consultations so important? We encourage our stylists to ask you- the guest- a few questions before getting started with your hair service. This goes for both new and existing clients! Everyone gets a consultation so that everyone is on the same page. In fact, the consultation often begins on the phone with our front desk staff, because we want to make sure the proper time is reserved for your desired service.

Call or stop into one of our 8 salon locations and schedule a consultation with one of our professionals.

Remodeling as An ‘Epik’ Adventure

PERFECTING THE CRAFT OF KITCHEN AND BATH RENOVATIONS

ARTICLE BY WEST KNOXVILLE LIFESTYLE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHY EPIK KITCHEN + BATH

“A kitchen may look beautiful in an online picture, but if it's inconvenient to use, that beauty fades fast,” says Epik Kitchen + Bath founder David Talley. “There are a lot of moving pieces to a kitchen remodel that need to be professionally coordinated and executed to create the elevated space clients dream about.”

With more than thirty years of experience in the kitchen and bath industry, David always starts the design conversation with functionality.

“We discuss with our clients how they actually use their space. Do they cook a lot? Do they need storage for spices, utensils, electronics, air fryers, craft ice makers, coffee bars – all the various gourmet appliances?”  His clients are looking for design solutions to cluttered countertops they find visually unappealing.  “The typical cabinet space is wasted – both hard to access and keep organized. We like to creatively incorporate drawers (charging drawers, for example) to unclutter counter space and store with ease,” David says.

The Murfreesboro native started working as a teenager in his family’s 40-year-old kitchen business. After an eight-year stint as COO with a large cabinet distributor, David later opened his own kitchen and bath remodeling business in Wilmington, North Carolina. After a few years, he moved his business and family back home to Tennessee.

“I love being hands-on with our clients and helping bring their dreams to life,” David admits. “Epik is a kitchen and bath remodeler. We focus on what we know and devote 100% of our energy into perfecting our craft and continuing our education in the kitchen and bath sector.”

WHAT ARE SOME TRENDS YOU OFFER IN TODAY’S CUSTOM KITCHEN REMODEL?

Smaller profile major appliances are part of the new kitchen footprint (36” ranges for example, instead of 48”-60”).  Free-standing appliances instead of built-ins

that take up a lot of space and are expensive to repair and replace. Hidden outlets allow for more creative backsplash design.  In palette preference, there’s a welcoming back of the warmth of earth shades and brownstain wood tones over the farmhouse white that’s been so popular.

“I enjoy the regional design trends here,” he adds. “Nashville was very modern. Wilmington was, of course, beachy. We work quite a bit with the rustic retreat, mountain-inspired design sensibilities in East Tennessee.”

Timelessness is a priority. People want to update without being too trendy so they don't risk being out of style in five years. “After thirty years of experience,” says David, “we've seen what will last the test of time and still be elegant … and what items and design choices that will quickly date a home.”

ANY OTHER TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND IN PLANNING A KITCHEN REMODEL?

With a significant kitchen remodel, David says that you may be without food prep and cooking space for six to eight weeks. Eating out or adapting what can be prepared at home is often overlooked.

“With food costs today, you’re spending $100+ a day for a family eating three meals out; that’s a substantial amount to plan on in your budget.”

Efficient space usage and creative storage solutions rank high in bath remodels as well, David explains.  “Our clients often forego the double sink, at one time a staple of the primary bath suite, to gain more counter space.”

He’s also witnessed the growing preference for larger, luxury shower spaces. “We’ve done away with soaking tubs in 50% of our primary bathroom projects to accommodate the trend in spa-like showers,” David says.

We focus on what we know and devote 100% of our energy into perfecting our craft and continuing our education in the kitchen and bath sector.

Timelessness is a priority. People want to update without being too trendy so they don't risk being out of style in five years.

WHAT OTHER BATH UPGRADES DO HOMEOWNERS SEEK?

Replacing tubs with curbless, zero-entry showers is a huge request for aging-in-place renovation, as well as remodels for younger-generation homeowners.

“There doesn’t seem to be negative market feedback as long as there is a tub in another bathroom.”

Many clients who still want a tub in the remodeled footprint often opt for a free-standing design which takes up less square footage, without sacrificing a roomy interior. High-end remodels today feature luxury spa environments with heated flooring, towel warmers, custom vanities, and backlit mirrors. And, after the Covid-era-related toilet paper issue, David reports installing bidets at homeowners’ requests in 90% of their bathroom remodels.

WILL THE HOMEOWNER RECOUP THE INVESTMENT?

Even though the current housing market is motivation to renovate rather than sell, sometimes there’s a hesitation over return on investment.

“We don't tell people they will get their total investment back,” David says.  “In reality, they may only realize a 50-75% return. But remodeling for a family’s own convenience and enjoyment is a source of personal satisfaction and deep pride. Creating a client’s dream space without compromising the ability to sell later is an important goal.  To help achieve this balance, along with creative design solutions, we offer custom cabinet colors, custom hoods, custom tile designs and smart-design fixtures that add just enough WOW! without being overwhelming."

Of course, kitchens continue to be a crucial focus of home remodeling.

“A kitchen is the heart of the home and we like to say that we hold the keys to your heart," says David, laughing. "Kidding! But we do tell our clients that our satisfaction comes from creating the custom spaces of their

dreams where they will enjoy entertaining friends and making memories with their families every day.”

Having worked with clients from middle Tennessee to the Carolina coast and back to East Tennessee, David emphasizes the importance of due diligence.

“Do your research. Request licenses and insurance. Ask for referrals and check them out. Read reviews. Trust your gut.”

The level of experience, expertise, and ethics in the contractor you hire matters. Epik’s approach to ensuring quality control is to keep as much of the work as possible in-house.

“In fact, we have more employees than sub-contractors so we can do everything a renovation requires,” David adds. “If a subcontractor has multiple crews, you never know who you are getting from day to day. We build relationships with our employees as well as our clients. Some of our employees were former clients – just one testimony to the value we place on relationships.”

HOW HANDS-ON IS THE HEAD OF THE COMPANY?

David is on-site every day of the project for at least part of the day, to oversee, listen to his clients and communicate progress – a company core value.

“Hardly any job goes perfectly, but communicating what was completed, what came up, how that affects the schedule, and what is being done to rectify any issue is huge. At the end of every day, our clients know what to expect through email, text, phone or in person – however they prefer to stay in touch.”

David’s team is dedicated to delivering an ‘Epik’ outcome for every client. “Do we want to satisfy our clients? No. We work hard to amaze them. We strive to provide something so incredibly, unbelievably unforgettable that words fail you; that’s how we define the ‘Epik’ experience.”

Visit EpikRenovations.com to learn more.

Epik Kitchen + Bath founder David Talley

APRIL 1 - 30 DOGWOOD TRAILS, OPEN GARDENS AND CAMERA SITES

Thirteen blooming Dogwood Trails cover over 90+ miles of residential neighborhoods in the Knoxville area.

APRIL 6 CHALK WALK

A day-long chalk festival that turns Downtown Knoxville sidewalks into a vast canvas for the region’s most talented professional and emerging artists.

APRIL 20 - 21 SPRING FEATURED GARDENS

Several of Knoxville’s exceptional private gardens open to the public for one weekend only.

APRIL 26 - 28 DOGWOOD ARTS FESTIVAL

A springtime celebration showcasing over 100 fine art vendors, live entertainment, food trucks, and children's activities in World's Fair Park.

PROTECT THE LEAD

ARTICLE BY BY AARON NOLAN, CFP® PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN FINCH

March is my favorite month of the year. The cold starts to fade. Flowers start to bloom. Most importantly though, March Madness tips off.

Nothing compares to the first four days of the annual NCAA basketball tournament. 48 basketball games in 84 hours is a kind of beauty that only happens once a year. All productivity goes out the window. Basketball is the center of attention for most of the country. Life lessons are being learned.

Okay, that last sentence may sound like a bit of stretch, but it wasn’t when Northern Iowa took on Texas A&M in the second round of the NCAA tournament back in 2016.

With 45 seconds left in the game, Jeremy Morgan knocked down two free throws to put Northern Iowa up by 12 points. As Texas A&M brought the ball up the court, the announcers discussed how Texas A&M’s season was over and grasped for filler conversation to take up the final seconds of their broadcast. Statistics showed that Texas A&M only had a .04% chance of winning the game.

Texas A&M quickly scored 2 points to pull within 10. The next 14 seconds would include 3 turnovers by Northern Iowa and 7 points scored by Texas A&M. When Northern Iowa scored with 17 seconds to go, Texas A&M trailed by 5 and were still only given a 2.37% chance to win. 16 seconds later, the game was headed to overtime where Texas A&M would go on to win the game.

There are two separate lessons to take from this game depending on your perspective. The obvious lesson is to never give up and fight till the final buzzer. The overlooked lesson is to make sure that you don’t do something silly to squander your lead. When most people look at something like this, the former gets far more attention than the latter. It is much more fun to discuss the hero than the failure.

Whether it is basketball, life goals, or financial independence, it is easy to know that you need a game plan when you are down big with the clock about to expire. But what about when you have a large lead?

We can often be our own worst enemies, especially when we have a large lead. If Northern Iowa doesn't turn the ball over four times in the final thirty seconds, they don’t lose that game. The

final 45 seconds were much less about Texas A&M winning the game and more about Northern Iowa losing it.

At PYA Waltman Capital, we recognize that getting a financial lead is a remarkable accomplishment, but protecting that lead is a different ball game. There may be nothing flashy about creating a financial plan to protect a lead, but it is just as important as creating one to overcome a deficit.

PYA Waltman Capital, LLC (“PYAW”) is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about PYAW’s investment advisory services can be found in its Form ADV Part 2, which is available upon request.  PYA-24-06

The obvious lesson is to never give up and fight till the final buzzer. The overlooked lesson is to make sure that you don’t do something silly to squander your lead .

TODD RICHESIN'S GOOD INSTINCTS

Why His Blueprint for Design Begins with Skill, Context, and a Listening Ear

When Todd Richesin was a second grader in Sweetwater, he accompanied his mother to a showroom in Knoxville where she was working with an interior designer to redo a room in their home. One of the things Todd’s mother wanted was a new rug, so off he went, an interested and helpful child, and found a rug he thought might work in the space.

“Based on what my mother said, it was what she was looking for,” says Todd. “The designer said that was the rug she wanted to show them, so they bought it, and they still have that rug in the room.”

From his earliest memories, Todd’s design instincts were strong.

“Good design is instinctual. You can learn about drawing, fabrics, texture, furniture quality, about art, but you can’t learn how to put it together,” he says. “I think scale is instinctual. That’s the most common mistake people make. They buy upholstery that’s too big and rugs that are too small.”

Todd’s path to a career as an interior designer started to take shape when he was 16 years old and, again, accompanied a family member on a design-related errand. This time, it was his grandmother. She was working with a professional designer and the two had agreed to meet at a fabric store.

CONTINUED >

ARTICLE BY JENNIE TREADWAY-MILLER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHAWN POYNTER

“The designer had to leave for some reason, and the woman, Jane Rose, who ran the store and became a mentor of mine, said to fire the designer and hire me,” he says. “So she did.”

After graduating from college, Todd worked as a designer’s assistant at a firm in Maryville, where he spent the next seven years learning the trade and traveling to Paris and London regularly to source antiques. It was the sort of hands-on training that only comes with experiences outside of a classroom or office. He learned how to work successfully with antique dealers, how to recognize quality pieces, and how to see which pieces work in a room and which ones do not. It’s knowledge that has served him well for the last 25 years running his own interior design firm.

“If you look at my work, you may see common threads, but the voice you see is the client’s voice. These aren’t my houses, and they aren’t for everybody. I know I’m not a good fit for everyone, and that used to bother me, but it’s okay now,” says Todd. “I take joy in being able to help the people who have chosen me. We do everything ourselves rather than going to other showrooms, so that helps me listen to what clients are asking for. You want coral silk draperies? I will make those for you and they’ll be beautiful, even though it’s not my personal style.”

“People may look at my work and think, ‘I don’t like that,’ and that’s fine,” he continues, “but if you knew what the client was asking for, you’d understand.”

Todd’s clients extend well beyond East Tennessee on account of the reputation he’s built since establishing Todd Richesin Interiors with his husband, Bobby. Their work has been featured in House Beautiful , Southern Home, and on Houzz, but their clientele is largely built by word of mouth. The goal is always to cultivate a space that provides comfort, functionality, and style that aligns with the client’s lifestyle and preferences.

It’s more than that, though. Todd’s talent goes further than knowing what colors pair well or what size of armchair works well in a corner.

CONTINUED >

shades of blue

Inspiration for this project started with the blue and white rug in the living room. It was a sample piece that Todd intended to use for another project, but when it fell through, and the new client loved it, the rug served as a base for the rest of this Bearden home.

“When doing a whole house, it should have a common thread. It should feel like a complete thought,” says Todd. “We can do different rooms in different colors, but it still needs to feel like every room belongs in that house, no matter what.”

Today, this space is draped in shades of navy, cobalt, royal and silver blue, with a touch of aqua in a chandelier, and gold trim and hardware. The client already had a collection of antique pieces and accessories, so Todd’s team completed the look with new upholstery, drapes, and de Gournay hand-painted wallpaper.

“Context, for me, is important in design. I would never do concrete and razor blades – hard modern design – in a Georgian house. If you’re in a mid-century modern house, but you’re putting 18th-century antiques in it, you don’t have the right house,” says Todd. “Not to say that you can’t incorporate those elements, but you have to think about how to do it. The inside needs to feel like it goes with the outside.”

The best arrangement, as far as Todd is concerned, is to get everyone working together – the client, the contractor, the builder, the landscaper, and the interior designer. When the team can coalesce, it’s a dream.

“Architects don’t consider furniture arrangement, and sometimes you can move a wall a few inches and it changes the whole room. If you want to modify it, do it on paper while it’s free. When it’s being built and the studs are up, you can’t always move it,” says Todd. “When you look at the whole house, it’s a complete thought. Some people go through the process of picking tiles and fixtures, and then get to furniture later. Why would you pick a paint color before knowing what your drapes and fabrics will be? Paint is the last thing you should pick.”

The interior design business has changed dramatically since Todd began his career in the late 1990s, largely because of the way it’s portrayed on social media and, more recently, the onset of artificial intelligence.

Even viewers of popular design television shows can misunderstand how interior design works in the real world. While the internet provides opportunity for inspiration and a way for young designers to get noticed, it can also prompt unrealistic client expectations.

“Now, half of what you look at online for interiors is created by AI. These computer-generated images are beautiful, but the products they’re using don’t exist. If you show me a chandelier that’s in this photo, I can go through every vendor but they won’t have it,” says Todd. “Of course, you can create these pieces, but it won’t be on budget.”

Design trends are another thorn in his side since they will invariably fade and thus aren’t a wise way to spend money or resources. This goes back to building a room or home around the client’s personal style and functional needs rather than choosing pieces and fabrics that reflect commercial novelties.

“When a client has total trust, that’s when the job is really good. Sometimes that happens on installation day, and they’re like, ‘Oh, now I get it!’” he says. “My goal is for people to understand we are an incredible value for the amount of skill and knowledge that we bring to the table. This isn’t a one-meeting thing. You must like the person you’re working with. It’s intimate, and if you’re doing your job correctly, you’re getting to know a person and how they live.”

Learn more at www.ToddRichesinInteriors.com

ARTICLE BY MITAL D. PATEL, AMANDA WEBB FURLOW PHOTOGRAPHY BY SOUTH MADE MARKETING

spaces THE COMPLEXITY BEHIND CURATING

Amanda Webb Furlow’s clients have the privilege of walking into beautifully curated spaces that are move-in ready, reflect their individual personalities, and balance artistic flair with special awareness. This interior architect will take the guesswork out of your project and use her skills to enhance the overall functionality and quality of your spaces.

What’s not to love?

Amanda Webb Furlow will take the guesswork out of your project and use her skills to enhance the overall functionality and quality of your spaces.

While touring her newly opened Design Center, this is what I learned about the intricate web of activities that her clients are fortunate to avoid by enlisting her services.

1. Compliance with building codes and regulations is critical to any project, whether commercial or residential. Having a representative with the education and experience Amanda boasts is crucial to navigating complex regulations and building codes, ensuring that every design element complies with legal standards.

2. The Design Center created a storefront with a meticulous selection of reputable vendors and a diverse array of furniture options. Sourcing materials, keeping up with the latest trends and negotiating with vendors is half the battle. What an asset to have that under one roof at the Design Center and it is open to the public as well as her clients.

3. With the number of contracts in place, and laborers involved in the process of any new build or renovation, project management is crucial. Amanda is able to coordinate the diverse teams, schedule deliveries, oversee installations and stage spaces, sparing clients the logistical challenges.

4. Leaving the creativity and coordination of different styles, materials, and trends to a professional that will utilize her experience and combine it with your preference is probably one of the best gifts you can give yourself during the often-frustrating process of building or renovating.

5. Unexpected delays, design modifications, or unforeseen issues on the construction site are inevitable. Amanda’s expertise allows her to address these challenges with flexibility and creativity. Clients benefit from her ability to troubleshoot and find effective solutions, sparing them the stress.

For more information, visit designaf.co

ARTICLE BY JACK NEELY AND PAUL JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE KNOXVILLE HISTORY PROJECT

Exploring Knoxville through Historic Driving Tours

Through research and engaging programs, the nonprofit Knoxville History Project (KHP) tells the city’s stories, focusing on those that have not been previously told, and those that connect the city to the world. KHP’s downloadable walking and driving tours provide opportunities for residents to discover and appreciate the many historical landmarks found throughout Knoxville that can be explored on foot or seen from a vehicle. Tours include Near-West, North, East, South Knoxville, Fountain City, Fort Sanders, and UT Campus.

A DRIVING TOUR OF MECHANICSVILLE

Mechanicsville offers a cluster of stylish Victorianera historic homes on the northwest side of downtown, west of Second Creek and north of the old Southern train tracks, plus some interesting old buildings still in use today. Developed soon after the Civil War, it’s arguably the oldest suburban neighborhood in Knoxville, and well preserved. The community is named for the “mechanics”—the ironworkers—who worked at the Knoxville Iron Foundry on Second Creek.

This tour begins across from the L&N Station on Western Avenue, heads west and in half a mile turns right across from Second Methodist Church onto College Street by the Prince Building. The tour loops around the residential district before heading west to University Avenue and uphill on College Street toward Knoxville College. Also included is a short exploration of nearby Beaumont and Lonsdale communities.

Explore the full tour and download KHP’s other walking and driving tours at knoxvillehistoryproject.org/ historic-knoxville-driving-tours/

Prince Building: The distinctively triangular Prince Building (1549 Western Avenue) is eye-catching even today. Built by grocer-developer David R. Prince (18541928) in 1901-1902, it has hosted dozens of businesses, including barbers, beauty parlors, butchers, confectioneries, lunch counters and grills, and, in its earliest days, an Irish-family-run saloon, Pat Dewine’s. Located at the sharp end, Dewine’s lasted only until the city banned saloons in 1907. The retail was mainly on the sidewalk level; upstairs were five residences, and sometimes as many as a dozen residents. Three two-story brick “Flatiron” buildings from the turn of the century remain in Knoxville, and two of them are in Mechanicsville.

Victorian Homes: Several of Mechanicsville’s homes belonged to people prominent in Knoxville business, and they built large, elaborate, houses here. Modern owners have painted several of the houses in contrasting colors to highlight their unusual details. The Queen Anne house at 243 Deaderick Avenue, notable for its second-story porch and spindle banisters, was designed in 1888 by the then-new firm of Baumann Brothers. Joseph and Albert Baumann, sons of a German immigrant, were two of Knoxville’s first full-time architects. The original owner of the house was Market Square merchant A.L. Young, whose dry goods and notions store specialized in women’s clothing.

Prince Building KHP

Arthur Street Fire Hall KHP

Arthur Street Fire Hall: The oldest active fire hall in Knoxville was built in 1909 on an “Italian villa” design by Baumann Brothers. It was reputedly the city’s last fire hall built for horse-drawn fire engines. Plaques that list City Council members rarely make interesting reading, but this 1909 plaque includes the name of Dr. H.M. Green, the nationally known physician who, until forced out by a radical streamlining of city government in 1912, was the last African American member of Knoxville’s Board of Aldermen for many years. Also listed here is John Paul Murphy, an Irish Catholic who had served as interim mayor of Knoxville, but was more proudly known as the (honorary) “Mayor of Irish Town,” the immigrant community that was almost adjacent to Mechanicsville to the northeast.

Knoxville College: Up on the hill looking back toward downtown, and originally known as Knoxville Freedmen’s College, Knoxville College was founded by the Presbyterian Church with major assistance from the Reconstruction-era U.S. Freedman’s Bureau, and opened in 1876. By the 1890s, the college was “one of the largest and best-conducted schools for colored people in the country.” By the 1970s, enrollment had swelled to more than 1,200 students. Alumni include journalist George E. Curry (1947-1916); New York politician C. Virginia Fields (b. 1945); longtime Tuskegee, Ala., Mayor Johnny Ford; Jake Gaither (1903-1994), the legendary Florida A&M football coach; Knoxville doctor and City Councilman Dr. H.M. Green; and Knoxville author and pioneering

politician Robert Booker. After desegregation, as many Black students began to favor mainstream, multiracial universities, the college’s enrollment declined and lost accreditation in 1997. Although never formally closed, only a few students are enrolled today, using only a couple of buildings on the old campus.

Freedmen’s Cemetery: Adjacent to Knoxville College is the historic Freedmen’s Mission Historic Cemetery. Among those buried here are formerly enslaved members of Andrew Johnson’s household, some of whom accompanied the president to the White House. Laura Ann Cansler (1846-1926) is also buried here, the mixed-race woman who became the first public-school teacher in Knoxville history when she convinced occupying Union Gen. Burnside to let her open a school for Black children. She was the mother of several educators, including well-known author Charles Cansler. Community leaders James and Ethel Beck, for whom the Beck Cultural Exchange Center is named, are also buried here. In recent years, the cemetery has been the location of ceremonies celebrating the Eighth of August, East Tennessee’s traditional Emancipation Day.

The Knoxville History Project is an educational nonprofit that researches, preserves, and promotes the history and culture of Knoxville, Tennessee. Donations to support the work of the Knoxville History Project, an educational nonprofit, are always welcome and appreciated. Learn more at KnoxvilleHistoryProject.org

Knoxville College KHP

ARTICLE AND

BY AMY CAMPBELL

A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE FELT AT HOME

LONG'S DRUG STORE

Saying goodbye to an old friend is hard. That’s just what Knoxville recently had to do. Long’s Drug Store, the heartbeat of West Knoxville in the commercial heart of Bearden, opened its doors

45 years. Jeanie behind the counter cranking out milkshakes, crinkle fries, the Chuckwagon, tuna salad in a tomato with melba toast, and my father’s favorite – Ruth’s egg salad sandwich with

THE LONG HISTORY OF FAMILY CONNECTIONS DATES BACK GENERATIONS TO 1952 — AN IMPOSSIBLE ACT TO FOLLOW.

in 1956 and closed them for good on January 16.

With national chain pharmacies the norm, and the pandemic giving us a new norm, an independent drug store like the beloved Long’s could no longer compete. Delivering small-town goods and services was what their customers had come to count on for nearly three-quarters of a century. They were always there for their patrons: prescription delivery, a pharmacist and store owner who knew your name, friendly faces behind an old-time soda fountain with swivel stools, University of Tennessee swag, magazines, cards, books, toilet paper, dental floss, hair dye, candy, and pot scrubbers, you name it ... Long’s was unlike any other drugstore around.

The Long history of family connections dates back generations to 1952, making Long’s an impossible act to follow. Ruth Pate at that grill for

tomato and lettuce, please. Oh, and the pickles, those little bright green, flat soda fountain pickles from the past. Finishing your soda, enjoying that crunchy ice while staring up at the wall of framed photos of UT football greats. Making food memories for generations of patrons – long before becoming a foodie became a thing.

Knoxville will miss this treasured place to gather or to enjoy a conversation with the friendly stranger on a diner stool next to you. Right on the bus line, Long’s was accessible to people from all over Knoxville, a source of pride, a place where everyone felt at home. Those of us with sentimental hearts grieved its last day - which ironically happened during the biggest snowfall Knoxville’s had in decades. Thank you to owner Hank Peck and family for keeping Long’s going for as long as you could. May Long’s Drug Store live large in our memories.

TRANSFORM YOUR LIVING SPACE INTO A

ZONE BLUE

What’s the secret to a happy, healthy, and long life? Believe it or not, it’s actually quite simple: There are no secret ingredients, no sizable expenditures, and absolutely zero manufactured elements of any kind. Dive in with us as we share insights from our interview with the internationally renowned Blue Zones Founder, National Geographic Explorer, and award-winning journalist who is revolutionizing the way Americans make choices that can lead to living your best life.

For over twenty years, Dan Buettner has been fully committed to studying the health and longevity of Americans as well as influencing the proper and attainable health-centric environments our communities should embody. What started with identifying five “blue zones” around the world where people are both living longer as well as enjoying a higher quality of life in their elder years has now also evolved into proactively creating eco-systems where our communities engage in setting the standard for clean health.

Buettner’s first cookbook, The Blue Zones Kitchen, is a fantastic resource featuring ingredients and cooking methods that can increase longevity, wellness, and mental health. The recipes also include lifestyle tips such as proper portion sizes and the best times to eat dinner. Plus, check out his additional seven books that dig deep into the exact foods you should eat to how your circle of friends and family can influence your quality of life.

Every time you go out to eat, you will consume an extra 300 calories that are laden with more sodium, sugar, and oil than eating at home. “Get your hands on a plant-based cookbook, pick a dozen recipes, and cook those with your family on Sundays. If you make the effort to cook it with your family, you will gain the skills and learn to make some good and whole food plant-based recipes.”

New York Times Best Selling Author and Netflix Producer, Dan Buettner, Inspires a Better Life Based on Research from the World’s Healthiest Cultures.

Tap into Dan’s wisdom that is creating a new category of places that are not merely the legacy of a healthy culture, but more consciously created by enlightened individuals that are intent on supercharging healthier communities!

Follow @DanBuettner and @BlueZones for full insights and visit BlueZones.com to shop exclusive products.

events

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

MARCH 3RD

Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Chamber Classic Series presents Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony

Bijou Theatre | 2:30 PM

Guest conductor Michelle Di Russo takes the Bijou Theatre stage to present the March installment of the Chamber Classics Series. This lighthearted Italian-centric programming includes Rossini’s delightful Overture to The Italian in Algiers and Mendelssohn’s spirited “Italian” Symphony No. 4. Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Cellos features Knoxville Symphony Cellists Adam Ayers and Sarah Senn. knoxvillesymphony.com

MARCH 9TH

Home & Garden Show

Knoxville Expo Center | 9:00 AM

The Knoxville Home & Garden Show showcases industry leaders and their latest products and services to enhance homes and gardens, increase efficiency and security, and create personal paradises.

MARCH 10TH

Steven Curtis Chapman: Still Tour

Bijou Theatre | 7:30 PM

Steven Curtin Chapman is probably one of the biggest names in Christian Contemporary music. From his 20 albums, five Grammy awards and 58 (!) Gospel Music Association Dove Awards Chapman has been bringing his talent to fans across the States for the last 30 years. knoxbijou.org

MARCH 14TH

Knoxville Symphony Orchestra

Tennessee Theatre | 7:30 PM

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra welcomes to the stage guest conductor Vinay Parameswaran, Associate Conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra, to present a program featuring two prominent Romantic-era composers – Tchaikovsky and Dvorak. Dvorak’s hauntingly beautiful Silent Woods and Tchaikovsky’s ornamental Rococo Variations feature cello virtuoso Thomas Mesa, who has been described as “one of the most charismatic, innovative, and engaging performers of his generation.”

MARCH 16TH

Knox Saint Patrick’s Day Parade

Gay Street | 1:00 PM

Enjoy the annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade, which benefits Catholic Charities East Tennessee, with “The College Mascot Guy” on social media, with Josh Mancuso as parade lead.

MARCH 17TH

East Tennessee Kidney Foundation Knox Shamrock Fest

World’s Fair Park Performance Lawn | 1:00 PM

Knox Shamrock Fest™ 2024 is the region’s premier, family-friendly St. Patrick’s Day Festival!  Join families, runners, and other festival-goers for an afternoon of live Irish music, inflatables, face painting, balloon twisting, Irish dancing, delicious food, Irish whiskey and beer! etkidney.org

MARCH 21ST

Big Ears Festival

Tennessee Theatre | 12:00 AM

Big Ears collaborates with artists, audiences, and communities to create joyful, meaningful, and transcendent cultural experiences that defy boundaries, fuel curiosity, ignite the spirit, and nourish the soul. bigearsfestival.org

MARCH 24TH

Anon(ymous)

Clarence Brown Theatre | 2:00 PM

How do you create a home when your homeland no longer exists? Separated from his mother while fleeing their war-torn country, a young refugee called Anon journeys throughout the United States. On his quest to find home and family, he dodges those who would entrap him, finds unexpected friendship, and experiences supernatural help from a goddess. This is a modern retelling of Homer’s "The Odyssey." clarencebrowntheatre.com

MARCH 25TH

Banff Mountain Film Festival

Bijou Theatre | 6:00 PM

The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival is an international film competition and the annual presentation of films and documentaries about mountain culture, sports, environment, and adventure and exploration.

MARCH 27TH

REO Speedwagon and Rick Springfield

Knoxville Civic Auditorium | 7:00 PM

REO Speedwagon will be playing a new and exciting set list this year, and the band is raring to go. The 2024 tour officially begins in March with very special guest, Rick Springfield. Buy tickets at Ticketmaster.com.

MARCH 30TH

Paw Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure

Knoxville Civic Auditorium | 10:00 AM

It’s Pirate Day in Adventure Bay, and Mayor Goodway is getting ready for a big celebration! But first, Ryder and his team of pirate pups must rescue Cap’n Turbot from a mysterious cavern. The pups will need all paws on deck for this pirate adventure, including some help from the newest pup … Tracker! pawpatrollive.com/shows

MARCH 30TH

Ethel Beck Society Brunch

Beck Cultural Exchange Center

Come enjoy the annual celebration of Women of African American Descent. Learn more at BeckCenter.net

BUYING EVENT THE MONTH OF MARCH COINS,