Mabry–Hazen House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Joseph Alexander Mabry Jr. House
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| Location | 1711 Dandridge Ave. Knoxville, Tennessee |
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| Built | 1858 |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 89001974 |
| Added to NRHP | November 13, 1989 |
The Mabry–Hazen House is a very old and important home in Knoxville, Tennessee. It sits on a hill called Mabry's Hill. This house was built in 1858 for a rich merchant named Joseph Alexander Mabry II. He called it Pine Hill Cottage. The house shows off two cool building styles: Italianate and Greek Revival. Today, it's a museum where you can see how families lived long ago. It has over 2,000 original items, like old furniture, china, and crystal. This makes it one of the largest collections of its kind in America! The Mabry-Hazen House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a special historical site.
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A Home Through the Civil War
The Mabry-Hazen House played a role during the American Civil War. Joseph Mabry II was a wealthy businessman in Knoxville. He supported the Confederate side. He even gave a lot of money to help equip soldiers. Because of this, he was given the honorary title of General.
The house was in a very important spot, right next to Fort Hill. Both Union and Confederate armies used the house. Confederate General Felix Zollicoffer made it his headquarters in 1861. Later, Union forces took control of Knoxville. They used the grounds around the house to build up their defenses.
From Family Home to Museum
Joseph Mabry II passed away in 1882. After his death, his daughter, Alice Evelyn Mabry, and her husband, Rush Strong Hazen, lived in the house. Their youngest daughter, Evelyn Hazen, later lived there by herself for many years. She loved animals and had many pet dogs and cats.
Evelyn Hazen lived in the house until she passed away in 1987. In her will, she said the house had to become a museum. If it didn't, it would be torn down. Luckily, the house opened as a museum in 1992. This means visitors can still explore its history today.
The Confederate Cemetery: A Place of Remembrance
Near the Mabry-Hazen House is the Confederate Cemetery. It is also known as Bethel Cemetery. This cemetery covers about 2.4 acres. It is owned by the same museum foundation that runs the house.
About 1,600 Confederate soldiers are buried here. There are also 50 to 60 Union soldiers, who were prisoners, and 20 other veterans. In 1892, a tall monument was built in the cemetery. It is 48 feet high and made of Tennessee marble. On top of it stands a statue of a Confederate soldier. The cemetery also has a caretaker's house, built around 1881.
The Mabry-Hazen House in Books
The families who lived in the Mabry-Hazen House have been mentioned in books. The famous author Mark Twain wrote about the Mabry family in his book Life on the Mississippi.
Another book, Christy, also has a connection. This novel tells a fictional story based on the life of Leonora Whitaker Wood. Rush Strong Hazen, who lived in the Mabry-Hazen House, was a helper to Leonora. In 2007, author Jane Van Ryan wrote a book about Evelyn Hazen, the granddaughter of General Mabry.
