Fourth & Gill: rich in architecture and history
Located just off of Broadway is the picturesque district of Fourth and Gill, a great treasure of Knoxville history. This community was founded in the late 1800s as a "trolleyburg," meaning people rode trolleys from downtown Knoxville to visit. A scene of beautiful architecture, Fourth and Gill has a long and colorful history.
Much of the architectural styles of the houses are attributed to George F. Barber, a Knoxvillian and nationally respected architect. A wide variety of architectural types exist in the neighborhood, but most are Craftsmen or Queen Anne styles.
The neighborhood had a diverse mix of wealthy and working class people, according to Tina Rosling, president of the Fourth and Gill Neighborhood Organization. Many of the early residents were railroad workers (mostly management). The railroad industry was a thriving business at the turn of the century, and this boom helped Knoxville to expand.
The Governor's Mansion was one of the major attractions of the neighborhood, but sadly it was destroyed by fire about ten years ago. One governor lived in the neighborhood: Robert Love Taylor. Taylor served as the Governor of Tennessee from 1887-1891, and again from 1897-1899. Governor Taylor is most remembered for the gubernatorial election of 1886, dubbed "The War of the Roses." In this famous race, Democrat Robert L. Taylor ran against (and defeated) Republican Alfred Taylor, his own brother! Predictably, this campaign gained nationwide attention.
Governor Taylor was a colorful and charismatic character. He earned the nickname "the pardoning governor," for his generous pardons of prisoners. This gained him criticism from Sam Jones, a popular evangelist, who felt he exercised his pardoning power too recklessly. Taylor responded to Jones by saying, "If it hadn't been for the pardoning power of God Almighty, you, Sam Jones, would have been in hell long ago." Taylor was well known as a fiddler, was married three times, and repealed a prohibition measure in 1887. These actions probably did not improve his standing among devout evangelicals like Sam Jones.
The Sullivan family, who lived on Luttrell Ave, is a familiar family name to many Knoxvillians. The most well remembered member of this family is likely Patrick Sullivan, who lent his name to a famous Old City restaurant. According to Jack Neely, the Sullivans emigrated to the U.S. from Ireland during the potato famine, and settled in Knoxville in 1853. Patrick Sullivan was a charter member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, before leaving and starting the Holy Ghost Church, probably due to political disagreements with Immaculate Conception's Father Abram Ryan, a staunch Confederate sympathizer. Patrick Sullivan served in the Union Army during the Civil War. The Sullivans would gain fame by operating a saloon.
The Fourth and Gill community began to slowly decline during the Great Depression. This decline continued throughout the 1940s, as young men returning home from World War II chose to leave the area for more convenient suburban homes. The area would eventually become a popular residence for graduate and older students at the University of Tennessee during the 1970s and '80s. Even so, many citizens recognized the importance of this historic district and worked hard to preserve it. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
Today, the Fourth and Gill neighborhood's lovely architecture and rich history attract both out-of-towners and locals who wish to get a glance at what Knoxville was like many years ago. Though the houses of the neighborhood are private residences, they open to tours periodically. The next tour is scheduled for April of 2004.
Anyone interested in more information about this historic neighborhood should contact Tina Rosling at tinaanderic@mindspring.com.
- John Brown is a senior in political science and history at the University of Tennessee @ Knoxville. Contact him at johnnyb325@aol.com, or visit www.johnnorrisbrown.com. This column originally ran in the November 6-12, 2003 edition of The East Tennessee Scene.