GLENWOOD PARK AND GLENWOOD LAKE

by Ron Allen

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Not dissimilar from the town and residential development south of the river that was called Cherokee -- a suburb that never made it beyond the drawing board -- it's likely that few (if any) people in Knoxville have heard of the suburban town of Glenwood, featuring Glenwood Lake. Even so, that likelihood is not surprising, considering the fact that no known remnant of the huge lake that was built at that site exists today. On October 16, 1891, an article titled "Beautiful Glenwood Park" appeared in the Knoxville Daily Tribune. The writer of that article reported that he had just taken a trip to the new suburban development to Knoxville, called Glenwood Park, to examine the development and report his findings. According to that article, the central feature of the park was a large man-made lake, approximately a mile in length and with a shore line two and a half miles long. Construction of the lake bed was already finished, with the stone and masonry walls completed, and with a solid stone masonry base four feet thick. A bridge spanned the dam and a drive extended around the lake walls. One of the primary features at the proposed park was to be an annual Chautauqua Summer School. On the same date the article appeared in the Tribune, a large advertisement was in the same newspaper, promoting the "New town of Glenwood", offering lots for sale at auction. While that advertisement makes no mention of the fact, the newspaper article indicates that the park and lake were developed by an organization called the Middlebrook Park Association.

The location of Glenwood Park is described as follows in the Tribune article : "The park is located on a beautiful undulating slope, including a commanding hill on the west, and red oak, poplar and walnut in innumerable groves. It is located on Third Creek, about three quarters of a mile above the old paper mill. Access is to be had by means of Cobb's Ferry Pike. It can also be reached by means of the new Middlebrook Pike. The direction is not quite four miles."

On the same day the article appeared in the Tribune, another was published in the Journal. That article differs somewhat, but not substantially. While providing essentially the same description of the area, it includes additional details not found in the Tribune article. The Journal makes no mention of the name Glenwood, instead calling it the Middlebrook Park. The article explains that the development had been instigated by a Rev. J. H. Moores, who came to Knoxville from Dakota, was impressed with the area, devised the plan for this development after examining the property, secured financial assistance from various sources, and purchased the land. The development comprised 330 acres of land, and the Journal also locates the site three fourths of a mile from the paper mill, and about four miles from the city, indicating and that sixty acres of the land had been set aside for the lake and the Chautauqua assembly grounds. That article states that the dam across Third Creek had been already been completed and water was already gathering in the lake, which would be completely filled within a couple of weeks. The size of the lake is again stated to have been one mile in length. The Journal also reported that one thousand lots, each 50 x 150, had been laid out, rights of way for a connecting electric railway from the city were being secured, and that the sale of lots in the development would be held at public auction on October 27 through 30, 1891. I have searched local newspapers for the week following the final auction date of October 30, 1891, but I find no reports of the results of the auction sale of those lots.

The Middlebrook area had been in existence for many years before the planned development called Glenwood was envisioned. "Middle Brook" is listed as a suburban community in the 1869 Knoxville city directory, at which time G(ideon) M(organ) Hazen and W. T. H. Hazen are listed as residing at "Middle Brook", where their home of the same name was located. The house, constructed in 1845, is still standing on Middlebrook Pike. Hazen, together with M.D. Bearden, also operated a paper mill in the general area. But even earlier references to Middlebrook are also found, including an article that appeared in the November 7, 1832 issue of the Register, where it was announced that the wedding of Solomon Clayton to Minerva Jane Tipton would be held at "Middle-Brook",

If there are any remaining physical remnants today to verify that Glenwood Park and Lake existed, I have been unable to find any such evidence. However, even if no homes or buildings were ever built at the site then (which apparently was the case) it remains a mystery how it is possible that a man-made lake, with masonry walls and a mile in length, completely disappeared from the scene. I can only relate the following details, comments, and guesswork concerning the original site of this failed lake and residential development in west Knox County.

As previously mentioned, the paper mill in the area was owned by Gideon M. Hazen and M.D. Bearden. According the French Broad Holston Country, the mill ceased operation in 1886. However, the mill itself, in operation or not, was still in existence in 1891. Both local newspaper accounts in 1891 refer to the location of the new development as being about three quarters of a mile from the paper mill, and four years later that mill is still shown on the 1895 Knox County map issued by Vance, Coffee and Pill. On that map, the location of the mill is shown south of Middlebrook Pike, just south of an unnamed crossing road, and slightly east of the beginning (or ending) of a another road ( also unnamed on the map, but probably Papermill Road ), that paralleled Middlebrook Pike. The paper mill was located on the east side of the road, apparently on what today in Liberty street, south of the point where today Papermill Road connects with that street. at Liberty street.

Having determined the location of the paper mill, the next step was to attempt to determine what newspaper reporters meant when they stated that Glenwood Park was located "about three quarters of a mile above the paper mill". It seems likely that "above" the paper mill meant to the north, or northwest, of that place. If the location was directly north of the paper mill, three quarters of a mile in that direction would be approximately where Liberty Street today intersects with Keith Street. However, that location is some distance from Third Creek, where the park is said to have been located, not the mention that the terrain is dissimilar from the description in that article. The development was on located on Third Creek, and the dam had been constructed over that creek. Probably the park was northwest of the mill. Based on that assumption, the location of Glenwood Park and Lake may have been been near the old home and property on the northern side of that Middlebrook Pike, long known as "Middlebrook". Certainly, the steep slope that continues westward along Middlebrook from that location could have been the "commanding hill on the west" referred to by the Tribune reporter. But even if such conjecture is accurate, it still requires some guesswork in attempting to determine precisely where a man-made lake a mile in length could have been located. Considering the steep incline to the west, and the home known as Middlebrook immediately to the north, it seems most likely that the location of the lake was to the south or east of that point. The mill itself was located less than a mile to the southeast from the lake, thus had the lake been to the east it seems logical that it would not have been only "three quarters of a mile" from the mill. That seems to leave only the section south of the Middlebrook dwelling as the most likely location of Glenwood Lake.

If the reader is still confused as to where Glenwood Park and Lake were located, join the club. I have merely recorded here what information I've been able to uncover about this place. The fact that essentially the same description of this facility appeared in both local newspapers seems to lend credence to the existence of the park and lake, since it would seem unlikely that both reporters would have been on loco weed that same day.

While the following repeats portions of several of the statements I've already quoted above, in an effort to provide full information I have reproduced below the complete text of the 1891 Tribune article :

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BEAUTIFUL GLENWOOD PARK. THE NEW LAKE'S BASIN COMPLETED.

Plans of the Middlebrook Park Association. The Summer School will certainly be established. The Great Enterprise Fully on Foot. A Big Sale of Suburban Properties to be held.

Yesterday afternoon a Tribune representative rode out to Glenwood Park, with the manager of the Middlebrook Park Association, to look over the properties of the association , and to note the improvements on the grounds. He was surprised to observe the stupendous scale upon which the project is based.

The main feature of the park and grounds is to be a magnificent lake, the shore line of which will be two and a quarter miles, and the length of which will be almost one mile. The dam being erected, which is nearly complete, is an admirable structure. The stone wall supporting and protecting the embankment at the dam is of solid stone and masonry, which at the bottom is four feet in thickness. A bridge spans the dam over which a splendid driveway extends along the lake wall and around the lake, a distance of several miles. This work is being done in a skillful and admirable character and in a manner which will render it able it to withstand any volume of water that can accumulate above it. It is safe to say that Lake Glenwood will be the greatest suburban features that Knoxville has or is likely to have.

The Middlebrook Park Association is a company having a present capital stock of $100,000.00, which it proposes to spend in the improvement and maintenance of a suburban park. Mention has before been made in the Tribune of the main features of the project. This is the establishment at the park of a Chautauqua summer school. It is not necessary to comment upon the advantages such an institution would be to Knoxville. The mere mention of the fact is enough to bring a full appreciation of its importance and value. Such a school would bring to the city for many weeks each summer hosts of refined and cultured class of people. This cannot but prove a splendid advantage to the city, or fail to add materially to her development and to broaden her into a fine cosmopolitanism.

The company is composed principally of Maine and Massachusetts capitalists and educators. These gentlemen are aware of the find advantages of such a city as Knoxville for the establishment of such a school, and are willing to risk their money upon it. Of the $100,000 capital stock. Subscribed the company has nearly $50,000 paid in. Of this, $40,000 has already been expended in improvements at the park. The association has an acreage of three hundred and fifty acres. Fifty acres will be devoted to the park. The balance will be devoted to cottage and residence sites, which they propose to put on the market immediately.

The manager stated to the reporter that the placing of the lots was something of a sacrifice, as he did not think the lots would command as good prices now as they will when the lake is completed, the summer school established, and the projected electric car line constructed. "But we find it necessary to liquidate certain claims and to continue with the improvements" said the Superintendent. "Hence the seemingly unwise haste in proceeding to market the property". "The business men of Knoxville", he continued, "have never been fully awake to the value and advantage of suburban homes. If the business men, clerks and employees who eke out an uncomfortable existence in boarding houses and flats should try the experiment of investing a small amount of money in a desirable suburban lot, I do not think there is one who would not be satisfied with the change. The rapid transit lines of today annihilate distance, and render the differences between a half mile and five miles of comparatively small importance. The properties which the association propose to dispose of soon will undoubtedly increase largely in value in a very short while. Those who know what a pleasurable resort is a lake such as the one we are now creating, and the importance and scope of the Chautauqua schools will appreciate this."

Lake Glenwood is situated near the center of Glenwood Park. The park itself is located on a beautiful undulating slope, including a commanding hill on the west, with red oak, poplar and walnut in innumerable groves. It is located on Third Creek, about three quarters of a mile above the old paper mill. Access is to be had by means of Cobb's Ferry Pike. It can also be reached by means of the new Middlebrook Pike. The distance is not quite four miles. The proposed electric line is a direct route from the city, and it is understood that the track of this line will be laid at a very early date. The enterprise, which is certainly a commendable one and deserving of liberal support, is taking a solid and substantial shape. The dates of the sales of the properties are fixed for the 19^th, 30^th and 31^st insts., in respect to which further announcement will be made in a few days. The lots to be sold are 50 feet x 100 feet in extent. A number of acreage lots, for larger residences, will also be sold.

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