Upland Chronicles: Dupont Springs Hotel once graced Bluff Mountain - The Mountain Press
Dupont Springs Hotel, along with several cabins, was built in 1901 by a group of local investors which included M.B. McMahan, J.R. Penland and Dr. G.E. Sharp. The owners either lived in the cabins or rented them during the season.
A copy of the handbill promoting the grand opening of the hotel reads as follows:
"Dupont Springs!
"The Cool Chilhowee Health Resort Will be open for reception on Thursday, June 20, 1901"
"These springs are located near the top of Chilhowee Mountain, in Sevier County. A splendid and graded road is being built and will be completed by July 1 and has been built on the north side of the mountain, under the direction of a civil engineer. Only a few hours drive to reach the springs from the city of Knoxville, the meanderings of this road up the mountain present the most picturesque scenery. There is spread out in panoramic view, one of the finest pictures of natural scenery ever presented to the natural eye, from the balcony of the hotel.
"In fact, you have a bird's eye view of the whole valley of East Tennessee. Knoxville, Maryville and Sevierville can easily be seen. The hotel is 3,000 feet above sea level and the air is cool and invigorating. Even in the hot summer months of July and August, persons never suffer from heat, but often use wraps and fire. The water is strong in mineral properties containing iron, Lithia, magnesia, etc.
"Rates: $1.00 per day, $6.00 per week, $20.00 per month of four weeks. A regular hack will leave Knoxville at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday and Saturday. Telephone connection with People's Telephone Exchange of Knoxville. For further information, address J.F. Sharp, Dupont, Tenn."
After the first few years, the owners hired James Davis and his wife, Margaret Bowers Davis, to manage the property. As previous summer guests, Mr. and Mrs. Davis were well acquainted with the place and the lodging business as well. At one time, they managed the old Central Hotel on the public square in downtown Sevierville. After James' death, Margaret was manager of the Davis Hotel that later became Rawlings Funeral Home.
The hotel was a white weather boarded structure with two large porches on both floors and consisted of 10 guest bedrooms upstairs with double beds. Water was piped from one of the springs to the kitchen but there was no indoor plumbing.
A large dining room with long wooden tables was located on the first floor. The spacious room was used as a dance hall on Saturday nights and a chapel for Sunday morning worship service.
A wash house was available to guests beside the hotel with wash tubs and black kettles under which fires were built to heat water.
Refrigeration for the hotel and the nearby cabins was supplied by a spring house in a hollow located east of the main building through which passed water from a sulphur spring in a trough. Mainly milk and butter were kept there.
A barn to stable the four horses used to pull the hack was on the west side of the hotel.
After passenger train service began between Knoxville and Sevierville in 1909, many of the hotel guests arrived at the Sevierville Depot and were met there by the hotel's hack driver, who transported them and their luggage to the top of Bluff Mountain.
"Mail time" was an anticipated event at the hotel. The mail was carried by foot on a trail straight up from the foot of the mountain from the Reagan Town Post Office, which was nothing more than a small, shed enclosed with chicken wire.
The hotel closed at the end of the 1916 summer season. Like other establishments featuring mineral springs, the resort succumbed to a combination of contributing factors such as mobility due to the accelerated use of automobiles for traveling and completion from lodging that was situated in more convenient locations.
The hotel fell into disuse and became a victim of a forest fire. Most of the cabins finally disappeared as well.
In 1945, Frank Oates of Knoxville, who had spent summers there with his family during his youth, began buying property that was once part of the resort. He envisioned a revival of interest in Bluff Mountain and promoted a movement to revitalize the place for summer houses. In 1947, Frank Oates constructed a small rustic log cabin half way up the mountain which served through many years of development.
He acquired property, built 10 miles of road, established three subdivisions with some owners having been Dupont Springs Hotel visitors.
Frank and his wife, Emma Ree, built a home in 1964 on a spot where they planned to live yearround after Frank's retirement. Unfortunately, Frank passed away later that same year. Emma Ree chose to remain on the mountain and was joined there by her daughter, Marian, in 1986. Both lived in Bluff Mountain for the remainder of their lives.
Shortly before Marian Oates passed away in 2009, she signed documents donating 510 acres to the Foothills Land Conservancy, whose purpose and mission are protection and preservation of conservation values.
— Carroll McMahan is the special projects facilitator for the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce. The Upland Chronicles series celebrates the heritage and past of Sevier County. If you suggestions for future topics, would like to submit a column or have comments; please contact McMahan at 453-6411 or email to cmcmahan@scoc.org; or Ron Rader at 604-9161 or email to ron@ronraderproperties.com.
03 Oct, 2011--
Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNETWLff-1JzNG5aWOWEZFGrR71PeQ&url=http://themountainpress.com/view/full_story_free/15868125/article--Upland-Chronicles--Dupont-Springs-Hotel-once-graced-Bluff-Mountain-?instance=features
~
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
