The blame game! Richard Ford, left, and Alan Carmichael in the obligatory pose in the stocks on the lawn of James White's Fort.
We stepped back in time Saturday night and, although the evening was lovely, the experience made us so grateful to live in the modern day rather than in Knoxville circa the late 1700s.
The occasion was part of the Summer Supper series benefiting Knox Heritage and it involved cocktails at historic James White’s Fort, a horse-drawn wagon ride east on Hill Avenue to nearby Blount Mansion, and dinner served al fresco on the lawn there.
The well at James White's Fort is a reminder of how difficult frontier life must have been.
James White’s Fort was built by James White, a North Carolina native, in 1786 on 1,000 acres of land given to him for his service in the Revolutionary War. White, known as the founder of Knoxville, built his fort on the property where the State Street Parking Garage is located today. He set aside a part of his property in 1791 to establish the town that would become Knoxville, selling 64 half-acre lots for $8 each. He also gave land for the construction of First Presbyterian Church in downtown Knoxville and for the establishment of Blount College, which would become the University of Tennessee.
The fort was saved and moved south to its current location at the corner of Hall of Fame Drive and Hill Avenue in 1970 through the efforts of the city’s Association of Women’s Clubs.
Blount Mansion was built in 1792 by William Blount, also from North Carolina. He was named by President George Washington to be the first governor of the Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio. He originally governed the territory from Rocky Mount, N.C., but decided to move his capital to what would become Knoxville when he visited here to sign the Treaty of the Holston with the Cherokee Indians.
Although most other structures at the time were log cabins, Blount’s wife, Mary, wanted a “proper wooden house.” And that is what Blount Mansion is. The Cherokee referred to it as “the house with many eyes,” I assume because of its many windows. William Blount served in the Continental Congress and is a signer of the U.S. Constitution (of which you may get a free copy when you visit Blount Mansion).
Every well-to-do little girl played the pianoforte like this one at Blount Mansion.
Although both James White and William Blount were wealthy men, it is clearly evident from visiting their homes that life was hard in those days. The lack of electricity and running water alone would have been enough to do me in. But the sleeping conditions — parents and multiple children in one room and the need to use a chamber pot right in that room when nature called during the night — also makes me feel a little queasy.
Many in our group were surprised to learn that both James White’s Fort and Blount Mansion are independent non-profit organizations. They are not run by the city or county. And they both are in desperate need of funding to continue their operations and upkeep. I plan to contribute to both and encourage you to do the same. Click here for info on how to contribute to James White’s Fort. Click here for info on contributing to Blount Mansion.
Sam Maynard, the affable executive director of James White's Fort, offers biscuits he made with cheese and Benton's country ham.
The signature cocktail with which guests were greeted contained pear vodka, white grape juice and champagne. Very summery.
Advice to future party-givers: do NOT let Richard Ford write his own name tag!
Ha!
Spinning wheel in the family's home at James White's Fort. Can you imagine not only making your own clothes, but making your own fabric?
The kitchen
The blacksmith's house
Inside the blacksmith's house
The pointy fence was designed not to keep out Indians, as some have said, but to keep out wild animals that might prey on the horses, cows, sheep and pigs who lived in the Fort's courtyard.
Today, the courtyard makes a pleasant setting for a cocktail party.
I particularly loved this crepe myrtle tree.
When Sam talks about James White and his associates, you feel as if he is gossiping about the neighbors! Fun talk. Highly recommend.
Here comes the horse and wagon to pick folks up.
He's keeping an eye on me!
Here's the governor's office at Blount Mansion.
Guests Ghada and Faris Eid outside the new education building beside Blount Mansion
Bedroom at Blount Mansion
What a lovely setting for dinner on the lawn!
I thought it was appropriate that the napkins were decorated with sprigs of rosemary, the herb of remembrance.
City Councilman Duane Grieve, one of the hosts, pours wine. (Thanks for having pinot grigio rather than only chardonnay!)
The centerpieces were simple and lovely.
From left, Julia Bentley, Elaine Clark and Dawn Ford
Dinner was fabulous! I'm going to ask Sam Maynard for that black-eyed pea salad recipe.
Jo and L.D. Lowe were two of our tablemates. They also live downtown.
Gary and Julia Bentley
A good sign! Dessert was two kinds of ice cream by Cruze Farm.
Love their slogan!
Alan laughs at his own joke as he and Richard pose with Cruze girls Colleen Cruze, left, and Ayaka Nishijima.
From left, Kay Newton, Wes Goddard, Katrina Vargas, Elaine Clark and Randall De Ford
Two of our hosts, Stacy Moody and Mary Whalen, as night was falling
I caught Michael Foltz in mid-bite of ice cream as his wife, Judith, looked on. They were among the hosts, too. It was great!
Looks like it was a lovely evening. We’ve been here for 10 years and I’m ashamed to admit I’ve never been to either site. Will defintiely go now next month when my sister visits from California! Love the “house with many eyes” and Knox Heritage. When you get the recipe for the black-eyed pea salad, please share!
Richard did it. Or should I say “James White.”
Cynthia,
Thanks for always capturing the moments for us! And yes, just adding food and wine to most anything creates fun!!
Cynthia, I’ll bet Sam’s black eyed pea salad recipe will be in the new Knox Heritage Summer Supper cookbook, due out later this year (in time to purchase for holiday gifts!). So glad you enjoyed the supper! I’m due for a visit to JWF & BM too.
Becky beat me to the plug for the KH Summer Supper Cookbook. Sam has already given me the recipe for James White’s Black-Eyed Pea Salad. It–and many others you’ve enjoyed at Summer Suppers as well as at our KH events such as the Patrons Party–will be in the cookbook. Some that are sure to please are:
Holly Hambright’s Lobster Cobb Salad from Mad Men Mickey Mallonee’s Chilled Peach Soup from Lemonade with the Colonel
Dorothy Stair’s 6 Layer Dip
Lorie Huff’s Garlic- Artichoke Spread
and hundreds more…
Yay, Gay. So glad to know you’ve got Sam’s recipe. Guess we’ll just have to wait for the book to come out. Boo. (Unless you want to put it on the blog!)
Everyone, you really should drop by — and support — these two great local treasurers.
Well, we don’t want to give away *too* much because we want everyone to buy cookbooks, but just to whet your appetitie and because you asked so nicely, here’s Sam’s recipe. It was first served at “Lemonade with the Colonel” at the Williams House in 2009. There will be hundreds more fabulous recipes in the Knox Heritage Summer Supper Cookbook–pre-sale orders will be taken at the Scruffy City Soiree on September 22 with copies available later in the fall.
James White’s Black-Eyed Pea Salad
3 (15- oz.) cans black-eyed peas, drained
1 lg. green bell pepper chopped
1 lg. sweet onion chopped
1/2 c. jalapeno peppers
1/4 c. vinegar
3/4 c. sliced green or black olives
1/2 c. salsa
2 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning
3/4 c. Italian salad dressing
2 bay leaves
1 tsp. salt
Combine peas, green pepper, onion, jalapenos, , vinegar, olives, salsa, Old Bay Seasoning, and salad dressing in bowl: mix well. Stir in bay leaves & salt. Chill overnight.
Gay: Have I told you lately that I love you? Everybody: This is a fabulous recipe!
Glad you approve! We’ve got hundreds more just as good. We have served a lot of great food in the 7 years (Yikes!) we have been doing these. We hope people will enjoy not only the recipes but the memories of great Summer Suppers over the years.
Great blog, Cynthia – we’re so glad you enjoyed the evening! Great photos too….we so appreciate your spreading the word about two of Knoxville’s historic treasures!
And thanks, Gay, for sending out an advance copy of the black-eyed pea recipe — even Sam told our Committee we would have to wait for it, but we all wanted that recipe…..
Thanks, Marsha! You all did a wonderful job on the Summer Supper. I’m betting that cookbook will be a great seller, if this recipe is any indication!
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