Candoro Marble Works facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Candoro Marble Works
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Candoro Marble Works showroom
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | 681 Maryville Pike Knoxville, Tennessee |
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| Area | 5.4 acres (22,000 m2) |
| Built | 1914 |
| Architect | Charles I. Barber, multiple |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 96001399 |
| Added to NRHP | December 4, 1996; July 22, 2005 |
The Candoro Marble Works was a special place in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was a factory where large pieces of marble were cut and polished. This facility started in 1914. Its beautiful marble was used in many important buildings across the United States. This happened mostly in the 1930s and 1940s.
Candoro Marble Works closed in 1982. But other companies still used the buildings for a while. Later, a group that saves old buildings bought it. This group is called South Knox Heritage. In 1996, some of the buildings at Candoro were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites.
By the early 1900s, East Tennessee was famous for its marble. The John J. Craig Company was a top marble supplier. John J. Craig III and three friends started Candoro. They wanted a place to cut and polish marble. The name "Candoro" comes from the first letters of their last names. The main showroom and garage were finished in 1923. A famous architect named Charles I. Barber designed them.
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Where is Candoro Marble Works located?
The Candoro Marble Works is in South Knoxville. It is in an area called Vestal. You can find it along Candora Road. The showroom is the building closest to Maryville Pike. A pretty tree-lined path connects it to Candora Road.
The large building where marble was cut is west of the showroom. The finishing building is next to that. There is also a smaller building. This building held the boilers and company offices.
What is the history of Candoro Marble Works?
After the American Civil War, East Tennessee became known for its marble. This marble was a pinkish stone called "East Tennessee marble." By 1900, Knoxville was called "The Marble City." Many companies worked with marble there. The John J. Craig Company was one of the biggest. They had quarries near Friendsville and Concord.
John J. Craig III started the Candoro Marble Company. He wanted to turn the quarried marble into finished products. The South Knoxville location was perfect. It was close to the railroad. It was also near Goose Creek. The creek provided water for the steam boiler. This boiler powered the big cutting machines. At first, Candoro used local marble. But later, they started using marble from Europe and South America.
In 1927, Candoro hired Albert Milani. He was a stone carver from Carrara, Italy. Milani worked there for 40 years. Candoro marble was used in many famous buildings. These include the Smithsonian Museum and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Milani also carved eagles for the Knoxville Post Office. His carvings were sent all over the world. Some went as far as Pakistan and Japan.
After World War II, less marble was used in buildings. Candoro closed in 1982. Other marble companies used the buildings for a while. Then, people who wanted to save old buildings bought the office building. They made it a center for arts and heritage. This center is now called the Candoro Arts and Heritage Center.
Since 2001, the Candoro grounds have hosted Vestival. This is a yearly festival in May. It has live music and craft sellers. In 2014, the Aslan Foundation bought the Candoro Marble Building. They restored it, and it reopened in 2021. Now, it is home to Tri-Star Arts. This group has an art gallery and studios. The Candoro Arts and Heritage Center still holds Vestival and other events there.
What is the Candoro Marble Works historic district?
The Candoro Marble Works complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. This was because of its role in Knoxville's marble industry. In 2005, the showroom and garage were relisted. This time, their special architecture was also noted. The complex has four water towers that are also important. A marble yard behind the showroom is also part of the historic site.
The Showroom and Garage
The Candoro Marble Works showroom is a two-story building. It has an outside made of marble. It was finished in 1923. Architect Charles I. Barber designed it in the Beaux-Arts style. Albert Milani did the marble carvings. The front of the building has hand-carved designs. It also has a special iron door. This door was made by a master blacksmith named Samuel Yellin.
Inside the showroom, the entrance hall has polished stone walls. It also has a hand-carved marble flower design. Next to this room is a room with pink marble walls. The floor is made of black and white marble tiles. There is also a small apartment on the second floor.
The garage was also designed by Barber. It has four arched openings. These are separated by four marble columns. Albert Milani carved these columns. The bottom part of the garage is marble. The top part is covered with stucco. The roof has Roman tiles. A wall connects the showroom and the garage.
Other Important Buildings
- The cutting facility was built in 1914. It is a large building with a steel frame.
- The polishing and shipping/receiving building was also built in 1914. It is made of concrete and steel. This building used to hold the machines for polishing marble. It was also where marble was prepared for shipping.
- The boiler room and office was built in 1914. The front part was the company offices. The back part had the boiler. The office area has marble floors and walls. It also has a marble railing.
