Bleak House (Knoxville, Tennessee) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bleak House
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3148 Kingston Pike Knoxville, Tennessee |
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| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000369 |
| Added to NRHP | November 8, 1984 |
Bleak House is a beautiful old house in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was built before the American Civil War and shows off a style called Classical Revival architecture. This important building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized for its historical value.
History of Bleak House
Building a Special Home
Bleak House was built in 1858 as a wedding gift. It was for Robert Houston Armstrong and his wife, Louisa Franklin. Louisa's father, Major Lawson D. Franklin, gave them this grand house. Robert's father, Drury Armstrong, provided the land for the house. The Armstrong family decided to name their new home after the famous novel "Bleak House" by Charles Dickens. The bricks used to build the house were made right there on the property. People who were forced to work helped create these bricks.
A Civil War Headquarters
During the American Civil War, Bleak House played an important role. From November 17 to December 4, 1863, it served as a headquarters for Confederate Generals James Longstreet and Lafayette McLaws. This was during the Knoxville Campaign, a series of battles around Knoxville.
The house even saw some action! Three Confederate sharpshooters were stationed in the house's tall tower. Sadly, they were killed by cannonballs fired by the Union Army. You can still see two of these cannonballs stuck in the walls today. Inside the tower, there are also sketches from the Civil War era that show the soldiers who died there.
Bleak House Today
Today, Bleak House is owned by a local group called Chapter 89 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Many people now call it Confederate Memorial Hall. It stands as a reminder of the past and the events that happened there.
Other historic homes built by the Armstrong family are also nearby. Crescent Bend was built by Robert Armstrong's father, Drury. Westwood was built by Robert's daughter, Adelia Armstrong Lutz. Both of these homes are just a few blocks away from Bleak House on Kingston Pike.
