Luther Brannon House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Luther Brannon House
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The Luther Brannon House
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | 151 Oak Ridge Tpk., Oak Ridge, Tennessee |
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| Built | 1942 |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/Craftsman |
| MPS | Oak Ridge MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001108 |
| Added to NRHP | September 05, 1991 |
The Luther Brannon House was a special stone house located at 151 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. It was one of the very few buildings that existed in the area before World War II began. This house was built in a style called a bungalow, which is a type of house that is usually small and has one story.
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A Secret Project House
The Luther Brannon House was built in 1941 by a person named Owen Hackworth. Just a few months later, the U.S. Army bought the house. This happened because the Army was starting a huge, secret project called the Manhattan Project.
What was the Manhattan Project?
The Manhattan Project was a top-secret research and development project during World War II. Its goal was to create the first atomic bombs. Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was one of the main sites for this project. The Army needed a lot of land for its new facilities.
The House's Role
When the Army took over the area for the Manhattan Project, they tore down most of the existing buildings. However, about 180 structures, including the Luther Brannon House, were saved. People believe that this house was used as a main office for the project's activities in the area. It might have even been a place for General Leslie Groves to live. General Groves was the military leader in charge of the entire Manhattan Project. The house was used until the Army could build new, bigger office buildings.
After the War
After World War II ended, many of the remaining old buildings in Oak Ridge were torn down. But the Luther Brannon House was kept. By 1991, it was one of only three houses left in Oak Ridge that were built before the war. The other two were Freels Cabin and the J. B. Jones House.
A Historic Place
The Luther Brannon House was important enough to be added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are considered important to history. The house was listed because it was connected to General Groves and the early days of Oak Ridge. It helped tell the story of how Oak Ridge became a city during such an important time in history.
The End of the House
Sadly, the Luther Brannon House was badly damaged by a fire in July 2014. For several years, the damage was not fixed, and the house was put up for sale. In February 2021, the Luther Brannon House was completely torn down.
