Colonel John Williams House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Col. John Williams House
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2333 Dandridge Ave. Knoxville, Tennessee |
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| Area | 5.2 acres (2.1 ha) |
| Built | 1826 |
| Architect | Melinda White Williams |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 80003843 |
| Added to NRHP | December 3, 1980 |
The Colonel John Williams House in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States, is a historic home built between 1825 and 1826. It was built for Melinda White Williams, who was the wife of Colonel John Williams. Melinda White was also the daughter of James White, who founded Knoxville. The house was built while Colonel Williams was away in Guatemala, working for President John Quincy Adams.
The house is designed in the Federal style, which was popular in the early 1800s. A special feature of the house is its pediment, a triangular shape often found above doors or windows, which has a fanlight (a window shaped like an open fan) at the roofline.
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Who Was Colonel John Williams?
Colonel John Williams was an important person in early Tennessee history. He was born in Surry County, North Carolina.
Here are some key facts about him:
- He was Tennessee's Attorney General from 1807 to 1808.
- He served as a U.S. Senator for Tennessee from 1815 to 1823.
- He was known as a hero from the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814. This battle was an important victory for General Andrew Jackson.
- His time as a Senator ended in 1823 when Andrew Jackson won his seat.
- Colonel Williams also helped lead East Tennessee College, which is now known as the University of Tennessee.
Colonel Williams passed away in 1837, and his wife Melinda died eight months later. Both are buried in the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Knoxville.
The House's History
After the Williams family, the house and its property were sold in 1855 to Abner Jackson. He was a co-owner of a dry goods store, which sold items like fabric and clothing. Abner Jackson owned the house until he died in 1869.
Later, in 1883, the state of Tennessee rented the building to use as the Colored Deaf and Dumb School. The state bought the building in 1885 and made it bigger to fit more students.
The house was repaired and updated by the state in 1923 and again in 1948. In 1948, it was changed into classrooms for students. It was last used for classes around 1982. For many years after that, the house was empty while nearby buildings were used by the Sertoma Learning Center.
From School to Restoration
In 1991, the state left the property after asbestos was found in the other buildings. The Sertoma Learning Center moved to a new location.
In 1998, some of the descendants (family members) of the original owners bought the property. They worked to restore the house, bringing it back to its original condition. Today, the house and some of its original land are still owned by these descendants.
The land around the house is now owned by The First Tee of Greater Knoxville. This organization runs an 18-hole golf course called Williams Creek Golf Course.
Another Williams House
It's interesting to note that in 1842, Colonel John Williams's son, who was also named "Colonel John Williams," built another house nearby. This house is also in the Federal style and is still standing today. It is known as the Williams-Richards House and is located at 2225 Riverside Drive.
