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2010 TEN IN TENNESSEE Most Endangered Sites List. Tennessee State Capitol, May 20, 2010. K-25 Plant City: Oak Ridge County: Roane. Historical Significance
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2010 TEN IN TENNESSEEMostEndangered Sites List Tennessee State Capitol, May 20, 2010
K-25 Plant City: Oak Ridge County: Roane • Historical Significance • The K-25 plant played an instrumental role in the success of the top-secret Manhattan Project, the Anglo-American effort to develop the world’s first atomic bomb during World War II. The K-25 plant was the biggest and costliest of the thousands of Manhattan Project facilities and required 50,000 construction workers to build. In fact, it was the largest building in the world under one roof when it was completed in March 1945, covering 44 acres of a 90-acre site. • The K-25 plant illustrates the enormous scale and ambition of the Manhattan Project, the technological innovation and frantic, round-the-clock effort to produce a weapon before the enemy. The plant played an historic role in bringing an end to World War II by contributing to the production of the world’s first atomic bomb dropped on Japan. It also continued to be of national importance during the Cold War by producing enriched uranium in a cost-effective process for both military and civilian use. • Level of threat to the Property • The Department of Energy believes that the entire building should be demolished, citing cost and safety reasons. However, DOE will not begin the demolition of the North End until June 30, 2011. A decision could be made this summer concerning the MOA and what preservation and mitigation alternative will be chosen.
K-25 Plant Artist Rendering of K-25
Memphis Landing, aka Memphis Cobblestone Landing City: MemphisCounty: Shelby • Historical Significance • The Memphis Landing is significant as a major inland port used for the shipping and transportation of goods, especially cotton, on the Mississippi River. Especially during the nineteenth century, the landing helped establish Memphis as an important commercial city. In the mid-nineteenth century the landing began to be paved with the cobblestones so prominent today. In addition to the cobblestones, moorings/ringbolts and a river gauge remain. The landing is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing part of the Cotton Row Historic District. • Level of Threat • Memphis has a master plan for the downtown riverfront and has worked with residents, historic groups, state, local, and federal officials to take into account historic resources on the riverfront. However there is still concern that the city’s plan will result in the loss of the historic character defining features of the cobblestone landing.
Mrs. A. J. Morton & Son Funeral HomeCity: ColumbiaCounty: Maury • Historical Significance • For the City of Columbia and Maury County, the Mrs. A. J. Morton & Son Funeral Home is historically and culturally significant. The funeral home, established circa 1900, represents a business in the once prominent Black Commercial District. Founded by the Morton family, freed from slavery in the 1860s; this site was a cornerstone of the African-American community as it was the place where final rites were said for the majority of African-Americans living in this area. The building is featured in the Maury County “African American Heritage Tour” . • This site is historically significant to the national civil rights movement for its association with the Columbia Race Riot. It is located on the same street where the first shots of the February 1946 riot were introduced. This event, along with other violent acts nationwide, led to the creation of President Harry Truman’s Executive Order 9808 – The President’s Committee on Civil Rights in December of the same year. • What is the Threat to the Property • The building is considered blighted, unsafe, structurally unsound, and has been unoccupied for several years. In addition, ice storms in February 2010 caused parts of the building to collapse. Under a Federal program, the property met standards for demolition. However, because the property is a contributing building in a federally recognized historic district, the property was removed from eligibility. Demolition of the property would render it completely useless as the lot is small and is unlikely to accommodate any future businesses. The threat of further collapse and/or eventual demolition can only be eliminated by rehabilitation and continued maintenance.
Mrs. A. J. Morton & Son Funeral Home (1) Above: Morton Funeral Home as it exists today (2) Above: side of the building; notice the tree growing through the bricks on the side of the building and the partially collapsed roof
Trenton National Register Historic District City: TrentonCounty: Gibson • Historical Significance • This rural national register district once contained 95 contributing structures dating from the 1830s, which represent some of the oldest existing structures in West Tennessee. For rural West Tennessee it is a large and significant historic district. • Level of Threat • Numerous contributing structures in the district appear to be suffering from demolition by neglect. Recently the c. 1837 Neil House, the second oldest structure in the city, was allowed to be demolished to provide a handful of parking spaces for the Presbyterian Church, even though the house was originally willed with an original $100,000.00 endowment to provide for its permanent care. The district does not currently have any legal protections and there appears to be a continual, ongoing loss of structures which ultimately threatens the basic existence and integrity of the district.
DeKalb County Fairgrounds Grandstand City: Alexandria County: De Kalb • Historical Significance • This is a National Register agricultural structure and thought to be the last remaining functional wooden grandstand in Tennessee. • Level of threat to the Property • Insurance abandonment. It is hoped that proper repairs can address the insurance issues and keep the stands open for use.
Birthplace of Admiral FarragutCity: County: Knox • Historical Significance • David Glasgow Farragut was the first full admiral of the United States Navy. He is recognized around the world as one of the great Naval leaders of all time and was born on the endangered site. Since the cabin is no longer standing, the historic significance lies underneath the soil. Additionally there is a marker placed by the Bonny Kate Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution onsite that was dedicated in 1900. The ceremony was led by Admiral Dewey who served with Farragut at the Battle ofMobile Bay. • What is the Threat to the Property • There is strong speculation that the log cabin where Admiral Farragut was born sat close to the historic marker. This site is in imminent danger of being devastated to make way for a new house. The threat could be eliminated by purchasing the land or at least conducting a proper survey to determine the integrity of the site.
Hardin Cemetery aka Friendsville African-American Cemetery City: Friendsville County: Blount • Historical Significance • The cemetery was established in the 1890s for African-Americans in Friendsville, a historically Quaker community. There are approximately 90 gravesites in the cemetery. Unfortunately, time has not allowed us to conduct thorough research on the people buried in the cemetery to determine the significance. Although the cemetery may not be the most significant cemetery in the state, it represents the unfortunate fate of many rural cemeteries in the country that have been neglected and vandalized. • Threat to Property • The cemetery is suffering from vandalism and neglect. The threat could be eliminated with more police patrol and a visit with the neighbors to discourage them from trespassing and damaging the cemetery.
Hardin Cemetery aka Friendsville African-American Cemetery This tombstone shows clear evidence of being shot with a gun. The small divots compromise the integrity of the stone and obviously disrespect the buried. Many of the stones have been knocked over and the cemetery is being used by the neighbors for campfires, target practice, and a dumping ground.
Quaker Valley – Jefferson County City: Between New Market and Strawberry Plains County: Jefferson • Historical Significance • The area has been predominately farmed since the late 1700s, one farm being in the same family since 1839, it has sites that were used as Civil War encampments, the proposed development is adjacent to the New Market train wreak site. There may be multiple slave cemetery locations in the site. • Level of Threat to Property • While most preservation is centered on the preservation of historic buildings, the conservation of the ever-shrinking prime farming soils, rural landscapes and scenic vistas are also critical to Tennessee. Outside New Market, 1100 acres of historic farmland, some being in the same family since 1839, known as Quaker Valley is in the cross hairs of developers. The land has recently been the center of controversy as residents in Jefferson County try to prevent the proposed development by Norfolk Southern Railroad that would change the rural landscape forever. The use of existing industrial sites for the intermodal rail and truck terminal would preserve the rural farmland and limit the negative environmental impact on prime agricultural land.
Quaker Valley – Jefferson County Center of Intermodal beyond barns looking Southeast. Intermodal will stretch across picture Center of Intermodal looking East
Quaker Valley – Jefferson County Quaker Valley looking South proposed center of rail truck terminal, beyond buildings. Center Intermodal looking North
Stagecoach InnCity: Gruetli-Laager, TNCounty: Grundy • Historical Significance • The Stagecoach Inn is nominated to the National Register of Historic Places under criterion A for its significance to the Swiss settlement in Gruetli, Grundy County, TN in the late nineteenth century. The inn was constructed circa 1875 by Christian Marugg, an early Swiss settler. It served as both a residence for the Marugg Family and an inn for travelers along the McMinnville-Chattanooga stagecoach line. The property operated as an inn until 1915 under the ownership of John and Barbara (daughter of Christian Marugg) Schild. • Level of Threat to the Property • The property owner has a lack of funding to preserve the historic inn. The property has water damage underneath the house, causing deterioration to the foundation. Water damage is also occurring at the rear of the house where a rear addition collapsed within the last several years. Water has entered the house causing significant deterioration to the wood siding and flooring.
Stagecoach Inn Figure 2: Front elevation and west elevation (view from Colony Road; roof is in good condition) Figure 1: Front elevation and west elevation (view from Colony Road; roof is in good condition)
Stagecoach Inn Figure 3: West Elevation Figure 4: East Elevation (siding in need of repair and replacement; water is visible underneath porch)
Sterick Building City: MemphisCounty: Shelby • Historical Significance • At 29 stories, it was the largest building in the south when constructed in 1930. A unique example of a Gothic Style office building with attendant interior and exterior period architectural detailing; this massive structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. • Level of Threat • The property is massive and at 29 stories is a daunting financial undertaking. It has had alterations to its exterior and interior and after being unoccupied for decades it faces an unsure land lease status that affects ownership and any consideration of its redevelopment.
