PreservationNation

Written by Ethiel Garlington

Alexander Inn (The Guest House)

Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in East Tennessee, there is a special region where almost every small town finds itself beautifully positioned on a river, lake, or other body of water. The uniqueness of this region is marked by the most visited National Park in the country, a “Secret City” where the atomic bomb was developed, the first court ordered integrated school in the south, and the childhood home of best-selling author Cormac McCarthy.

One of the most important facets of my position as a Partner in the Field for East Tennessee is creating a network of like-minded individuals who can learn from Knox Heritage, each other, and national counterparts. Though I just began in November 2008, I’ve quickly learned the power of collaboration.  There are myriad individuals and organizations interested in preserving different facets of history: historical societies, genealogical societies – even cemetery associations.  But because many of these groups thrive in a region where family roots are still strong, they are interested mostly in personal history – they are driven to save the stories of their people.  For most of these groups, the preservation of the historic built environment is not their main goal.

In some cases, people may not initially see their connection to the preservation of historic structures.  By linking the personal histories with the existing tangible structures, we’re able to strengthen the link to the past, and in turn, strengthen the argument for historic preservation.   While historical markers on the side of highways are useful, they can never compare to the actual historic landmark.  By linking groups that share common interests, collaborating with the historical associations and listening to the various goals of the cemetery enthusiasts and the genealogical societies, the efforts to preserve the built environment are strengthened many times over.

Here’s an example: in February, the newly founded East Tennessee Preservation Alliance (ETPA) helped the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association (ORHPA) host a fundraiser – with a twist.  By combining forces with renowned authors Jon Jefferson and Dr. William Bass, who with HarperCollins Publishing were releasing the fourth novel in their “Body Farm” series, local historic preservationists were able to tap into a new audience – the fans of the Body Farm.   Bones of Betrayal, the latest tome from Jefferson Bass, is set in Manhattan Project-era Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

In the first chapter of Bones of Betrayal, a body is discovered in the swimming pool of the Alexander Inn.  From there, the novel follows famed forensic anthropologist Dr. Bill Brockton, a character based on Dr. William Bass, and his team as they investigate the mysterious victim in the hotel pool.  A small piece of their story links fiction with preservation and the story continues.

The Alexander Inn, originally named the Guest House, was the only hotel in Oak Ridge at the time of the Manhattan Project and one of the most important buildings in the city.  Notable guests included famous physicists Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer and Enrico Fermi, as well as Secretary of War Henry Stimson.  The hotel still stands today, but this incredibly important building has been forgotten and abused.  The Alexander Inn has suffered water damage from bursting pipes, substantial vandalism, and is a victim of demolition by neglect.  With the consent of the Inn’s owner, ORHPA paid for a thorough engineering study and has regularly advertised the property for sale.  Listed annually at the top of ORHPA’s “Endangered Eight” and the 2002 Tennessee Preservation Trust “Ten in Tennessee Endangered List”, the hotel desperately needs a new owner to breathe new life into the iconic building.

But how does a book release relate to historic preservation? Well, that’s where collaboration comes into play.  Because the authors reinvigorated interest in the Alexander Inn by placing it within their book’s latest plot line, it was fitting to host a book signing and have the proceeds benefit the historic hotel.  Attendees of “Books, Bones, and the Bomb” were treated to an evening full of presentations about forensic anthropology, local Oak Ridge heroes, and the importance of preserving the built environment as a way to link our personal stories, real or fictional.  Because the readers now associate the story with the place, devoted followers are now more likely to join in the effort to preserve the Alexander Inn.  Knox Heritage, ORHPA, ETPA, Books-A-Million, and HarperCollins Publishing hosted over 200 people and raised over $4,000 for ORHPA.

By partnering with unlikely supporters, money and awareness were raised to protect an important piece of World War II history.  As ETPA continues to grow and work in the region, collaboration, like this, will be critical to the success of the new organization and the preservation of vanishing resources.

ETPA exists because of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Partners in the Field (PIF) program. The PIF program is the true definition of collaboration and it is an honor to be part of the movement to protect the places that matter.

Learn More:

• Knox Heritage
• The Alexander Inn and the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association
• Bones of Betrayal
• You Tube video of the Alexander Inn with historic images and present day shots

Ethiel Garlington is the Director of Preservation Field Services for Knox Heritage and staff support for East Tennessee Preservation Alliance. Become a fan of the East Tennessee Preservation Alliance on Facebook, follow us on Twitter (@etnpa) or join our BigTent group.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 8th, 2009 at 1:31 pm and is filed under Preservation Matters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.