CELEBRATE PRESERVATION MONTH IN MAY WITH KNOX HERITAGE BY ATTENDING SPECIAL AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS
Activities Include A Tour of Fountain City, the 2008 Fragile Fifteen, and A Tribute To Kristopher Kendrick

Citizens in Knox County will join Knox Heritage and thousands of individuals around the country as part of a nationwide celebration of the 2008 National Preservation Month in May. “This Place Matters” is the theme of the month-long celebration, which is sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Since the National Trust created Preservation Week in 1971 to spotlight grassroots preservation efforts in America, it has grown into an annual celebration observed by small towns and big cities with events ranging from architectural and historic tours and award ceremonies, to fundraising events, educational programs and heritage travel opportunities. Due to its overwhelming popularity, the National Trust extended the celebration to the entire month of May and declared it Preservation Month to provide an even longer opportunity to celebrate the diverse and unique heritage of our country’s cities and states and enable more Americans to become involved in the growing preservation movement.  The first official Preservation Month was observed in 2005.

Here in Knoxville the Preservation Month 2008 celebration will be spearheaded by Knox Heritage. Seven events (six in May and one in June) have been planned that will allow residents and visitors to experience the unique history of Knoxville and learn how they can help with preservation efforts in their community. The schedule of events includes:

Saturday, May 3 – 1791 Heritage Society Luncheon
This exclusive Luncheon is for members of Knox Heritage’s 1791 Heritage Society, annual donors of $1000 or more. An invitation-only event, the 1791 Luncheon this year features a visit to the historic Eugenia Williams House followed by an elegant lunch at the home of Charlie and Moll Anderson. For information on joining the 1791 Heritage Society and attending this luncheon, please call Knox Heritage at 865-523-8008.

Wednesday, May 7, 11:30 a.m. – Lunch & Learn with Wes Morgan
Knox Heritage presents Wes Morgan, UT Professor of Psychology and Cormac McCarthy scholar, in a special presentation on McCarthy’s 1979 novel Suttree and the many Knoxville characters, locations, and events mentioned in the book. Lunch & Learn is held at the Foundry, 747 World’s Fair Park Drive. Reservations are required; the cost is $10 for Knox Heritage members and $15 for the general public. Call 523-8008 by Monday, May 5. An informal tour of selected locations will depart from the Foundry after lunch. For more information on the tour, contact Ellen Zavisca at TPO, 215-2500.

Saturday, May 10, 10:00 a.m. – Preservation Network with Bruce Glanville
Preservation Network is a series of free workshops held on the second Saturday of every month. Many people have dubbed this the “support group for owners of old homes,” and in many ways this is true. In a relaxed round-table setting with coffee, smoothies, and other goodies, the workshops present trades specialists in windows, flooring, roofing, stained glass, tile, plumbing, electrical, and more. In May this event features Bruce Glanville discussing the energy efficiency of retrofitting historical buildings to LEED and Energy Star standards. Preservation Network is held at the Time Warp Tea Room, 1209 N. Central, in Historic Old North Knoxville. 

Thursday, May 15, 11:00 a.m. – 2008 “Fragile Fifteen” Announcement
Join Knox Heritage as we announce the 2008 Fragile Fifteen, a list of places and properties that we identify as Knoxville and Knox County’s most endangered. The historic places included on the list are selected by the Knox Heritage Board of Directors from nominations received from members of Knox Heritage and the general public. The list provides a work plan for the organization for the next 12 months. Preservation strategies are developed for each site on the list and can include working with current property owners, government officials, citizens and/or potential new owners to preserve these important parts of Knox County's heritage. This year’s announcement will be made from the Lones-Dowell House, 6341 Middlebrook Pike.

Saturday, May 17, 10:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. – Neighborhood Trolley Tour – Fountain City
Knox Heritage partners with the Knoxville Junior League to present a trolley tour of historic neighborhoods. This year we will feature the beloved north Knoxville neighborhood of Fountain City. During the tour Knox Heritage staff and Knoxville Junior League volunteers will share the history of notable places along the route, including information on the families who called them home. Reservations are required; the cost is $10 for Knox Heritage members and $15 for the general public. Call 523-8008 for tickets. A departure location will be announced.

Thursday, May 29 and Friday, June 6 – A Tribute to Kristopher Kendrick
During Preservation Month we’re honoring the lifetime achievements of a person who could be called “The Father of Preservation” for our community – Kristopher Kendrick. Kendrick was an early advocate for the historic places that made Knoxville unique, and transformed them into thriving business and residences, such as The Orangery, Patrick Sullivan’s Saloon, The St. Oliver Hotel, Kendrick Place, the Dulin Gallery of Art – and much more. Knox Heritage has commissioned a retrospective film tribute, produced by DoubleJay creative, and it includes interviews with Kendrick, his family, and many of his closest friends. An invitation-only premiere of the film will be held at The Orangery on May 29, and the film will be screened for the general public on Friday, June 6, at the Bijou Theatre, as part of downtown’s “First Friday” activities. More details to be announced soon.