Statesview facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Statesview
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Statesview's surroundings are much changed since 1806
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| Location | About 10 mi. SW of (Downtown) Knoxville off U.S. 70 |
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| Nearest city | Knoxville, Tennessee |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001805 |
| Added to NRHP | April 24, 1973 |
Statesview, also known as States View, is an old and important house in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can find it on South Peters Road, not far from Kingston Pike. This house was first built in 1805 by a talented architect named Thomas Hope. Later, in 1823, it had to be rebuilt after a fire. Statesview was originally the home of Charles McClung, who was a surveyor. A surveyor is someone who measures land and draws maps. After McClung passed away, a newspaper publisher named Frederick Heiskell bought the house and the land around it. Heiskell renamed the property "Fruit Hill." Statesview is special because of its design and its connection to important history, which is why it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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What Does Statesview Look Like?
Statesview is a simple, two-story house made of brick. It's built in the Federal style, which was popular a long time ago. The house sits on a wooded piece of land. It has a main part, a smaller wing on the northeast side (which is also two stories), and a newer addition at the back.
Inside the main part of the house, there's a central entrance hall. Rooms are on both sides of this hall, and a staircase leads up to the second floor. We don't know exactly how much the house changed when it was rebuilt after the 1823 fire. It's a bit of a mystery if any parts of the very first house are still there.
The Story of Statesview
Statesview was built for Charles McClung, who was a very important surveyor in early Knoxville. He was also the son-in-law of James White, who founded Knoxville. Charles McClung created the first map of Knoxville in 1791. He also surveyed the land for what is now Kingston Pike around the same time.
Building Statesview began around 1804 and finished in 1805. Back then, the house was in a quiet, isolated area west of Knoxville. Charles McClung hired Thomas Hope to build it. Thomas Hope was an architect and builder from England. He had also built the famous Ramsey House in east Knox County.
Who Lived at Statesview?
After Charles McClung died in 1835, his family sold the house and the land to Frederick Heiskell. Heiskell was a well-known newspaper publisher. He had started the Knoxville Register newspaper in 1816, which was the city's main newspaper. Before he bought Statesview, he sold his share of the newspaper and retired. Heiskell then gave the estate its new name: "Fruit Hill."
When Heiskell bought Statesview, the property was huge. It covered about 1,200 acres (or 485 hectares). It also had a gristmill, which is a mill for grinding grain, along a nearby stream called Sinking Creek. This mill was known as "Mansion Mill." Later, around 1870, the current Ebenezer Mill replaced it. There was also a sawmill on the property.
Frederick Heiskell loved to grow things. He planted many orchards all over the estate. He grew different kinds of fruits like apples, pears, peaches, cherries, plums, and quinces. He also raised farm animals such as horses, cattle, and hogs.
Around 1880, when Frederick Heiskell was in his early 90s, he moved back to Knoxville. The ownership of Statesview then went to his stepson, James Fulkerson.
Images for kids
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An old drawing of the Statesview homestead.
