Random Homes in Fort Sanders, Part Two

Here are more of the homes that caught my eye as I recently walked through Fort Sanders. I realize one of them is a church, but I thought it was interesting. It seemed to be missing something, as if its soul had been misplaced or somehow truncated. A missing soul would seem to be a serious problem for a church. I'm speaking of the building only, of course. It just seems to lack something that I can't name.

Home on Highland Avenue, Fort Sanders, Knoxville

Home on Highland, Fort Sanders, Knoxville

There were several homes in its immediate area that caught my eye. All of them are located on Highland Avenue. Two were directly beside the church pictured above and one was across the street from them. In two of the three someone was working at a computer just inside the window as I took my photographs. If I'm ever arrested for spying on people you guys are going to have vouch for me.

Home in Fort Sanders, Trying Desperately to Cling to its Christmas Spirit.

These homes were fairly well kept and were probably recognizable when James Agee walked this street as a little guy. Still, they could all use some work and any house that slips into disrepair in this section of town becomes at risk. As an example, the edge of a building visible to the right of the house in the shot above is the apartment complex built over the foundation of James Agee's boyhood home, which brings us to the subject of the next blog: James Agee Park.

Random Homes in Fort Sanders, Part One

Home in Fort Sanders, Knoxville

There are many great homes in and around Fort Sanders. Some of them are lovingly cared for by single-owner occupants. Some of them are sub-divided into as many apartments as could be carved from their insides. In many cases these, or others that are rented as a whole are falling apart. Stories of absentee landlords allowing their property to fall apart, crumble and generally degenerate are probably as old as the neighborhood itself.

Home in Fort Sanders, Knoxville

Home in Fort Sanders, Knoxville

Still, even with the obvious decay, it isn't hard to imagine how grand this part of Knoxville once was and wish it could attain that same grandeur once more. The difficulty in such a proposition is that to renovate, restore and rescue a home of this age, and in the case of many of them, of this size is enormous. It really takes someone with access to large amounts of money and a willingness to continue expending it through the coming years.

Once Grand, Now Falling Apart, Home in Fort Sanders, Knoxville

Most of us couldn't consider doing it and I really appreciate the people who do. As for the people who could do better, but choose to allow these once elegant homes to fall apart while they milk the last pennies from hapless UT students they possibly can, I don't know how they sleep at night.

Smaller Homes with Character, Fort Sanders, Knoxville

Home with alternating colors of siding, Fort Sanders, Knoxville

I'll post another round in part two. I'm sure that there are many more that deserve attention, but I'll at least share a few that caught my eye.