Members Only Tour: Mary Boyce Temple House, September 17

One of the things our members enjoy the most is the chance to see restoration projects under way that are not typically accessible to the general public. We do these tours twice a year, and past locations have been the Arnstein and Daylight Buildings; the renovated S&W Grand on Gay Street (KH members were the first to enter the space before it opened to the public!); and "Underground Gay Street," a series of historic commercial spaces and sidewalks  in the 100 Block, covered up in 1919.

This fall our location for the Members Only Tour is the Mary Boyce Temple House on the corner of Hill Avenue and Henley Street. If you cross the Henley Bridge regularly, you couldn't have missed the extensive renovations going on in and around this 1907 Queen Anne-style mansion.  The building has had a long and storied past, but the latest chapter has ensured a happy ending for this  home, which is one of downtown Knoxville's last remaining structures designed as a residence.  Brian Pittman purchased the house in 2006, thanks to the intervention of Knox Heritage and collaboration between KH, Pittman, the City of Knoxville, and the owner of the Hampton Inn next door.

The open house, sponsored by Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union, is on Friday, September 17 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The evening will include light snacks and drinks and informal tours of the residence.  Free parking is available at the Main Avenue parking garage (beneath the Bank of America building) and at First Baptist Church (turn left off Locust Street past Hill Avenue). RSVP to Knox Heritage by September 14 by email at rsvp@knoxheritage.org or by calling 523-8008.

Remember, this event is for Knox Heritage members only!  To join, make a donation on our web site or call the office at 523-8008.  We'd love to see you there!