What’s behind that wall?

The serpentine wall at 3425 Kingston Pike

I’m sure you’ve noticed the interesting serpentine brick wall on the north side of Kingston Pike near the Sequoyah Hills neighborhood. Ever wonder what’s behind it?

The folks at Knox Heritage decided to show their biggest patrons exactly that. In a special tour for members of the 1791 Society (those who have contributed $1,000 or more to the organization), about 70 supporters wandered through the house recently and heard from Knox Heritage’s executive director, Kim Trent, some interesting facts about the structure.

The house is called Westwood and it is, Trent says, “one of the most significant properties in Knoxville.” Westwood is one of the so-called “Three Sisters,” three historic houses built along Kingston Pike in the 1800s by the Armstrong family. The other two “sisters” are Crescent Bend, built by Drury Paine Armstrong, a merchant and farmer, in 1834 and Bleak House, built for his son, Robert, and daughter-in-law in 1856. (Bleak House, known now as the Confederate Memorial Hall, was used in 1863 by Confederate General James Longstreet as his headquarters.)

Westwood was built in 1890 by Robert’s daughter, Adelia, and her husband, John Lutz.

Hollyhock was one of Adelia Lutz' favorite flowers. They often have been planted in front of the serpentine wall over the years.

Adelia herself is an interesting person. She was a regionally important artist during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She studied art in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, and was one of the first Tennessee artists to study in Europe and introduce European styles and techniques to the state. Her work was displayed during the Centennial Exposition in Nashville in 1897, at the Appalachian Exposition in Knoxville in 1910, at the Exposition of Conservation in Knoxville in 1913, and in galleries across the south.

When Westwood was built, it included an artist studio and gallery. As you will see from the accompanying photos, Adelia did some very unique portraits on the tile surrounding the fireplace in the artist studio, and at one time the walls of the studio were covered floor-to-ceiling with her artwork. Westwood was used as a private residence for descendants of the Armstrong family until 2010. Since that time, it has been vacant, but has been well maintained by the executors of the estate.

Westwood is a Queen Anne design by prominent Knoxville architects Baumann Brothers. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984, and has been part of the Kingston Pike Historic District since 1996. The exterior of the house is essentially original and the interiors are remarkably intact. But there is a problem. These two historic designations in no way protect the house from being destroyed and the property from being reused for new construction.

Knox Heritage has for the past two years been very concerned about Westwood. Significant development pressure has resulted in dozens of historic houses along Kingston Pike being lost, replaced by subdivisions, condominium complexes and other development. But Knox Heritage has some ideas about how to ensure a better future than that for Westwood. And you and I may be able to help them accomplish that. More on that later.

Note: Thanks to Knox Heritage for providing the research material for this blog post. If you’d like to read a previous blog post about Crescent Bend, click here. Or click here for a post about Bleak House.

Westwood earlier this month

Bill Lyons, left, and Alan Carmichael posed for me beneath the signature arch.

The turret made a perfect place to set up the bar.

A huge skylight highlights the artist studio and gallery.

A very interesting fireplace is in the studio.

Here is a close-up of one of the portraits. I can't wait to see it when it is cleaned.

Kim Trent, executive director of Knox Heritage, addresses the crowd from the staircase.

From left, Betsey Bush, Diana Samples and Willene Chalmers. Diana and her husband, Bob, have been taking care of Westwood.

From left, Knox Heritage supporters Ruth Bailey, Donna Kerr and Dorothy Stair

Although most of the furnishings have been removed from Westwood, some items such as these old books remain.

This toy horse is on a mantel in an upstairs bedroom.

And this block.

Ellen Robinson and Peter Acly

John Craig, left, Emily Woodle and her father, Finbarr Saunders

All the bathrooms have fireplaces.

Front porch

The view facing Kingston Pike from the front porch

Stained glass on the stairway landing.

Scott and Annette Brun

Scott Schimmel, left, and Gary Bentley. Schimmel is chairman of the Knox Heritage board.

The parlor

The original wedding china from the house still remains.

And the crystal.

Sheena McCall, left, and Melinda Meador

City Councilman Duane Grieve, left, Kim Trent and Jim Samples

Melissa and Tom McAdams

Gay Lyons, left, and Kim Trent

Tam and Jim Martin in the attic

Another view of that cool serpentine wall

Photo credit: Thanks to Moxley Carmichael’s great intern, Alex Varlan, for taking the photos of the serpentine wall.