1319 Grainger Avenue
"Columned Portals"
A Brief History of Old North Knoxville
The original charter for the North Knoxville City bears the date of January 16, 1889. The goal of the incorporators was to obtain for North Knoxville, in a short time, those improvements wanted by the residents, by forming a separate municipality rather than waiting to become a part of the city of Knoxville.
The first North Knoxville city council, elected on February 2, 1889, consisted of L.A. Gratz A. W. Anderson, S. A. Caldwell, W. E. Moses, 0. T. Roberts, W. 0. White and J. W. Ward, (who organized the corporation). The council got to work on Feb. 4, 1889 by electing Gratz, Mayor, Robert Irwin, Recorder, and A. M. Burns, Policeman. Immediately after organization, the City Council began the work of framing a new charter which would authorize the issuance of the proposed bonds and in several ways amplify the powers of this corporation.
The new charter had been perfected, approved, and accepted formally by March 30, 1889. The form of government of North Knoxville was different from Knoxville, in that each of the six aldermen was elected by a general vote of all qualified voters of the corporation without regard to residence. It differed from West Knoxville, whose aldermen were also elected by general vote of the whole people, in that North Knoxville was divided in six districts or wards, in each of which one of the alderman had to reside. This latter provision prevented the election of too many representatives by a general vote, from the same locality. The general vote rendered each alderman accountable, not to the people of his own ward alone, but to the whole public; and thus checked the rivalry between aldermen to obtain more for their wards than others got, which had at times, been apparent in Knoxville, where the effect was extravagance and waste.
From the time of its incorporation, and before, North Knoxville had had the reputation of being the most desirable area for residences of all the suburbs of Knoxville because its people, in going to and from the old city, were not forced to pass through the disagreeable and dangerous neighborhoods which skirted the city on other sides. Then too, the vicious and degraded classes within its own borders formed a smaller element in North Knoxville than in any other part of the city, which was an additional attraction. For this reason among others, the North Knoxville School stood high in the estimation of parents who were solicitations of their young children. While North Knoxville was remarkably free from the lowest classes of society, no less marked was the absence of the very wealthy. Thus, North Knoxville was the home of the busy and progressive middle classes universally considered to make the best and most public spirited citizens.
The population of North Knoxville in 1895 was about 3,200 of whom, less than 200 were of African American descent. Its area was 575 acres, or about half that of Knoxville, The assessed value of property was 1 million dollars. Its bonded debt was 100,000 dollars! The floating debt was nominal. In the way of public improvements, North Knoxville had, in addition to an excellent school and improved streets, a bountiful supply of clear and wholesome water, as good as any city in the country, and furnished under a pressure sufficient to deal with fires. The contract with the Knoxville Water Co. was far superior to the one Knoxville had. North Knoxville had also guarded the public interests in its contract with street railways better than the old city.
The new Knoxville enjoyed the convenience and comfort of the electric arc light, ever since its incorporation, starting in 1899, with eleven lights and gradually increasing the number. North Knoxville was supplied by the Knoxville Electric Light and Power Co., but later secured a contract with W. G. McAdoo for 21 or more lights.
While there were no public gas lights yet, the Knoxville Light Co. had its mains laid on all the principal streets, and supplied gas to private consumers at the same price as was in Knoxville. A complete system of sewers had already been planned, and all the steps taken, but the city council had decided to postpone, until the arrival of more prosperous times.
Situated as it was, on the border of a city twice its size and ten times its population, North Knoxville was naturally a residence portion of the city, yet not a few of the most important manufacturing establishments of the city were located inside its boundaries.
The elected officials of Knoxville's north section in 1896 consisted of: W. L. Welcker, mayor; Aldermen, W. R. Carter, James A. Hensley, E. B. Mann, David T. McMillan, George W. Peters, and John M. Ross; Recorder W. E. Moses and Marshal; W. J. Larue.
The city hall was located at 977 Gratz St., in one of three buildings formerly used for district school houses, the others being used, one for storing the fire apparatus of the city, and the other one for school purposes, for about 100 students. The main school building was located at the corner of Pearl Place, and Alexander St., and was capable of accommodating up to 575 pupils.
North Knoxville had four churches; Second Baptist on Broad St., Centenary M. E. Church on Gill St., Fourth Presbyterian on Coleman, and the Luttrell Street M. E. Church. No church had more than 500 members.
North Knoxville had a short life. It was annexed by the city of Knoxville in 1897.
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