McGhee’s Addition, later to become known as Mechanicsville, was a thriving suburb of Knoxville in 1868 when the University of Tennessee consisted only of half a dozen buildings with little residential development around it. This suburb was named for Charles McClung McGhee, a wealthy landowner from Monroe County who had moved to Knoxville in 1860 to take advantage of the business opportunities provided by the city’s busy industrial activity. McGhee’s Addition, located on the northwestern fringe of the city, was a residential and industrial community inhabited by the new working and middle classes. Most of Knoxville’s heavy industry was located near this area.
The Knoxville Iron Works was founded in the vicinity of Mechanicsville by Hiram S. Chamberlain, a Union Army Captain from Ohio and Chief Quartermaster of Knoxville at the close of the Civil War. Chamberlain furnished the business expertise, Welsh ironmasters furnished the technical knowledge and skill, and Blacks were employed by mechanics and laborers. Bar iron, nails, railroad spikes as well as ornamental fences were manufactured. Many of these fences still line the streets of Mechanicsville. From 1850-1890 people in this area were largely employed by the railroads, the Iron Company and various mills throughout the area.
Mechanicsville’s 2,000 citizens were annexed to the city in 1883. A local newspaper reported, “Mechanicsville keeps time to the musical hum of the machinery within her borders. Every residence and cottage bore evidence of thrift and contentment.” Welsh technicians and wealthy merchants built large grandiose structures in the area, adjoined by small cottages build by skilled workers. Even smaller “shotgun” houses were built in McAnnaly Flats, now also known as Mechanicsville, by Black mechanics and workers.
In 1875, Col. John L. Moses deeded a tract of land in Mechanicsville for the use and benefit of the Black people. Fairview School was built on this land by Black citizens for this purpose. Knoxville College was also founded in 1875 by the United Presbyterian Church as a grade and a normal school for Blacks. The site chosen for the college was Longstreet’s Hill, that ridge from which the main batteries of Lt. Gen. James Longstreet’s forces shelled the Federal Fort Sanders. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside had moved his Federal Forces Cincinnati to Knoxville in 1862. Blacks, both slave and free fled to Knoxville at that time to be under the protection of Burnside and the Union troops, and settled among the Blacks already established in Mechanicsville.
Many streets in Mechanicsville are named after the leading Black citizens. Cansler Street is named for Professor Charles W. Cansler, a respected lawyer, author, and educator. Cansler was responsible, through Sen. E. E. Patton, a member of the Tennessee State Senate, for a bill which provided for playgrounds and parks for Blacks in Knoxville. He was also responsible for passage of an act by the Tennessee legislature enabling descendants of ex-slaves to inherit real estate in the same manner as Whites. Finally, it was Cansler who was responsible for the erection of a public library for Blacks in Knoxville, with funds provided by the Carnegie Corporation. Other streets such as “Dora” were named for the children of Col. John L. Moses, the great Black benefactor.
In 1883 Mechanicsville, the Ninth Ward of Knoxville contained six grocery and general stores, (the largest being James J. Condon’s on McGhee Street). There was also a greenhouse, a new high school, a Methodist, Christian, and a Welsh Congregational Church.
By the turn of the century, the population of this portion of the city had increased greatly, resulting in an increased demand of service facilities. Fire Station No. 5 was built to service the area in 1909. It was built in the Neo-Classical style, which was typical of the period. Its design fulfilled all the functional requirements of an efficient fire station, while accommodating aesthetic requirements of a Neo-Classical exterior. The tower rising from the center of the front façade was designed for quick drying fire hosed. Three brass fire poles allowed for quick descent from the upstairs to the ground floor.
Fire Station No. 5 is now the oldest remaining fire station in the City. It was designed for horse-drawn fire equipment. A fire company at the time comprised of two pieces of equipment, manned by five to seven men and drawn by four horses. Motorized fire equipment appeared in 1917 and Fire Station No. 5 became a center for repair of motorized fire engines for many years. Located at the intersection of Deadrick, Arthur, and McGhee Streets, it is now included in the National Register of Historic Places.
Mechanicsville began to decline shortly after the turn of the century. The more affluent families moved to newer suburbs that had begun to spring up throughout the city. Absentee landlords allowed housing deterioration and vacant lots unattended while taxes remained unpaid. There was an unwillingness to invest in the neighborhood. In the 1950s construction of Interstate 40 demolished many fine homes in Mechanicsville and caused eventual closing of many businesses and churches in the area.
In 1985, the Mechanicsville Task Force appointed by the city administration prepared a report on the “Mechanicsville Historic Area” which recommended significant revitalization of the neighborhood. The City of Knoxville’s Community Development Department began rehabilitating existing structures and supporting the construction of new homes through various programs, and as a participating partner of “Mechanicsville Project Proud”. Mechanicsville Community Development Corporation was established to assist in the implementation of “Mechanicsville Project Proud” Program. A Task Force assessed the blighting condition in the project area and from this study, in 1989, A Redevelopment Plan For Historic Mechanicsville, Knoxville, Tennessee was written and approved to be administered by the Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation.
Many unfit structures have been demolished; Moses School and Firehall #5 have been rehabilitated and reoccupied. A new building for a Mechanicsville Medical Center has opened. Homes are being restored by new owners as well as long time residents. Knoxville Heritage, Inc has bestowed at least 10 awards on these restoration efforts in the last four years.
The Mechanicsville Community Development Corporation, Habitat for Humanity, the Wesley House Foundation, (OMNI) Old Mechanicsville Neighbrohood Interest, the area churches, and other concerned individuals and groups will be resources for assisting the redevelopment process. The City of Knoxville’s Community Development Department will take the lead in providing funds, and resources and programs to meet redevelopment goals. The Metropolitan Planning Commission and the East Tennessee Design Center will provide technical assistance.
On July 18, 1980 Mechanicsville was listed in the National Register of Historical Places. On September 8, 1991, the Historical Marker approved by the Tennessee Historical Commission is presented to the community as the Knoxville Bicentennial Neighborhood Project for (OMNI) Old Mechanicsville Neighborhood Interest. On September 3, 1991, Knoxville City Council under Mayor Victor Ashe approved an Ordinance to rezone the Mechanicsville Landmark District to Historic Overlay District making Mechanicsville the first residential area in the city to achieve Historic Overlay status.
Old Mechanicsville Neighborhood Interest (OMNI) is providing this short history of Mechanicsville, as taken from a Mechanicsville Study Booklet.