Historic Buildings & Neighborhoods
Lost
| Endangered | Survivors/Saved
Lost
The First Baptist Church:
The cornerstone for The First Baptist Church was laid in May
of 1888. Architect and church member R.H. Hunt designed this Romanesque
style structure, incorporating pink sandstone with Berea sandstone
trim, and featuring a 140-foot tower. After a fire in 1894, the
church was rebuilt in the same design yet the tower grew to 150
feet. Furthermore, the church possessed a frescoed auditorium.
A site of worship for many Chattanoogans, the church also welcomed
President Theodore Roosevelt and four Southern Baptist Conventions.
A more somber event occurred with the funeral of opera star Grace
Moore. Chattanooga lost an example of the renowned architect R.H.
Hunt’s work, as well as an important structure in its religious
history. The church was demolished after the organization moved
to a different location. Date of demolition unknown.
Centenary Methodist Church:
Located at the corner of McCallie and Lindsay Avenues, this
Neoclassical church was erected in 1921. Architectural features
included a pedimented gable front with six Ionic columns and a
heavy cornice with an unadorned frieze. In the early 1970s, the
Centenary Methodist Congregation and the First Methodist Congregation
combined to form the First-Centenary Methodist Church. They established
a new church near this site. The 1921 church was demolished sometime
between 1973-1978, and the site now holds the annex of the new
First-Centenary Methodist Church. Architect unknown.
Hamilton National Bank Building:
Located on the southwest corner of 7th and Market, this fifteen
story skyscraper, Chattanooga’s tallest at the time, was
built in 1911 for the new, but quickly expanding Hamilton National
Bank. R.H. Hunt designed this Beaux-Arts style building, replacing
the old City National Bank Building that dated to the 1870s. The
building met the needs of the bank until 1966 when a modern upgrade
occurred. Although the building was not demolished, its brick
exterior was masked with a new façade of stainless steel
anchors and bronze colored panels, while the interior was altered
to provide updated facilities. By 1976, Hamilton National was
bankrupt due to over-extension on real-estate loans. The building
was sold to First Tennessee Bank.
American National Bank Building:
Built on the site of the old Van Deman Building in 1928, the
bank was located at the northeast corner of 8th and Market. It
featured Georgia Marble and Minnesota granite. The design team
included Vitzthum and Burns, and local associates Charles Bearden
and William Crutchfield. In May of 1966, demolition began due
to plans for a new, more functional, twenty-story skyscraper in
its stead.
Union Depot:
Chattanooga lost several significant structures of its railroad
history in March of 1971 with the demolition of the Union Depot,
a freight station and old car shed. The Depot had been recognized
for its architecture and history, and was on the National Register
for historic places. Colonel W.C. Smith of Nashville designed
this eclectic style structure built in 1882 on 9th Street. The
features are a Richardsonian Romanesque first floor, with arches
of rough-faced stone above the windows, and a roof ridge made
up of Gothic Revival spires and pointed arched windows. Chattanooga’s
status as a railroad center continued to rapidly grow, and the
Central Passenger Station (Choo Choo) was built in 1888 to facilitate
the overcrowding of the Depot. The Union Depot served as a passenger
station until the early 1970s as rail travel became obsolete.
"Old Main" at Grant College (UTC):
In 1886, the College of Chattanooga became Grant University
after moving to this building on McCallie Avenue. The school was
renamed in honor of Civil War General and U.S. President Ulysses
Grant. Architectural features include a mansard roof with pointed
spires. The building was torn down to make room for modern school
facilities for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Demolition
date unknown.
Woolworths:
Woolworths was built around 1939 in the standard Art Deco design
represented by Woolworths across the country. A rapidly disappearing
example of the American five-and-dime period in consumer history,
Chattanooga’s downtown Woolworths was the site of one of
the very first sit-ins of the Civil Rights movement. Woolworths
closed in 1994. The façade was reclad in post-modern design
masonry and the building converted into a drive through bank in
1996. The current structure’s lack of architectural integrity
diminishes its historical significance and its connection to the
Civil Rights movement.
The Grant House:
A wood-framed structure located on 1st Street, the Grant House
dated back to before the Civil War. The name of the structure
comes from local historians claim’s that General Grant stayed
there during his 1863 visit to Chattanooga. By 1966, the house
was dilapidated due to age and lack of maintenance, condemned
by Chattanooga Better Housing Commission, and demolished in August
of that year.
Cameron Hill:
The top section of this historic hill was literally leveled,
which destroyed several residences that dated to before the Civil
War. Urban renewal and freeway programs in the 1950s and 1960s
determined that the history represented on the hill and in its
buildings was secondary to the needs of modernization and transportation.
The top level of the hill was used as fill dirt for the construction
of the highway below. Early residents in the 1820s chose Cameron
Hill for settlement because of its protective elevation and position
from flooding. Artist James Cameron presented Chattanooga with
paintings of local scenes. In return for this gift, Colonel James
Whiteside gave Cameron land on the hill. After the Civil War,
the hill was desolate and bald, yet old and new residents rebuilt
and replanted. By the 1870s, Cameron hill was a wealthy residential
area, where many of the "Captains of Industry" resided.
Some of the historic buildings lost to urban renewal were the
Chamberlain home, the Nottingham house, the Hooper house, and
the H. Clay Elementary School.
The Bright School:
In 1913, Mary Gardner Bright organized a new elementary school
that continues to educate Chattanooga’s children. Beginning
with two teachers, Miss Bright and Kay Thomas, in a rented building,
the school steadily grew. Due to the increased enrollment, in
1924 the school moved to a larger building on Fort Wood Street.
R.H. Hunt designed this two-story structure. In 1963,
the Bright School moved to a new building, designed by Gordon
Smith, in Riverview.
Elizabeth Apartments (The Professional Building):
The Elizabeth Apartments were built by Coca-Cola success John
T. Lupton and named for his wife. Located at the corner of Georgia
and McCallie Avenues, this five-story building held 40 apartments.
It was designed by architect W.T. Downing and built by George
Baker. In 1950s, Lupton sold the building to E. Cecil Phillip
who converted it into offices and renamed it the Professional
Building. Hit by a fire on New Years Day in 1976, the building
remained a burned out shell until it was purchased by the city
and county and demolished in 1979. The site allowed for McCallie
Avenue to curve into 7th Street and improve traffic flow.
The Park Hotel:
The Park Hotel was built in 1915 next to the Elk Building on
7th Street. Designed by R.H. Hunt, nine stories tall.
In the 1970s, both the Elk and the Park Hotel were purchased by
the county and remodeled for county offices.
Citico Mound:
A piece of Chattanooga’s earlier Native American history
was lost with the destruction of this site. The mound, which was
about 100 feet across and 40 feet high, was the remnant of a Mississippian
town located in the Citico Creek area. It dates to sometime between
1000 AD and European contact. The mound was leveled by workman
constructing Riverside Drive (sometime after 1913?). While several
artifacts have been recovered, including human remains, copper
tomahawks, arrowheads, and a copper crown and bowl, no scientific
excavation has occurred. The mound itself is destroyed and tainted
for further analysis and excavation.
The Vine Street Synagogue (Crutchfield)
Old Hamilton County Courthouse: Built in 1879, burned
in 1910
The Pound Building at 11th and Lindsey (Hunt)
Endangered
UTC Football Field: Chamberland Field- gymnasium was
built in 1915.
St. Elmo town center: Abraham Malone Johnson founder
of the St. Elmo Community at the foot of Lookout Mountain in 1886;
Name came from the title of a Augusta Evans Wilson’s novel
that had its setting at a mountain’s base.
Various Historic Neighborhoods
East Lake: Land firm organized by Charles James called
Missionary Ridge Company; in late 1880s with boom; est. a park
and created a lake for the development.
East Chattanooga: stone quarry there, which was purchased
in 1882 by Fred Lielar-stone used for walls, sidewalks and foundations;
formerly an old farm of John G. Glass was laid out and became
"Sherman Heights" because General Sherman crossed the
area during the Civil War; developed in boom time of late 1880s.
Orchard Knob:
Fort Negley:
8th-10th Street areas:
Various School Buildings:
Main Street Corridor:
Steam Plant:
Ross-Meehan Foundry:
Survivors/Saved
Central Block Building: Built in 1883 in the heart of
downtown Chattanooga, the Central Block is one of the oldest and
most ornate buildings in the city. This Victorian Italianate commercial
building was designed by architect Adrian DeLisle The first floor
was used as retail space, while the second and third floors held
professional offices and social clubs. At the turn of the century,
and for many year there after, it was the home of the popular
"Live and Let Live Drug Store". Slated for demolition
in 1993, Cornerstones has obtained ownership of the building,
stabilize it, and is working to bring it back as a vital part
of downtown activity.
St. Johns Hotel: Built as the Ellis Hotel, ca. 1915,
the St. Johns Hotel is one of the several hotel buildings constructed
following the opening of the Terminal Station (Chattanooga Choo
Choo) in 1909. Occupying the corner of Market and King Streets,
it is one of only a few historic "flat-iron" buildings
that mark the juncture between the city’s two grids. The
original city was oriented North-South. As the city grew it was
more practical to adjust the expanding grid to align with the
Northeast-Southwest oriented ridges and valleys. R.H. Hunt designed
the St. Johns Hotel, one of Chattanooga’s most prominent
twentieth century architects. It is listed on the National Register
of Historic Places for its architectural significance, and contributes
to the historic character of Market Street.
Lovemans: The D.B. Loveman and Co. Store, built in 1880
on a prominent corner of Market and Eighth Street in downtown
Chattanooga, served as one of the city’s premier department
stores for a little over one hundred years. The building experienced
several major exterior renovations throughout its history. In
1892 it was damaged by fire, and in the 1950s and 1960s several
buildings were purchased to accommodate store expansion. In 1971,
in an attempt to compete with development of suburban retail malls,
the exterior was covered with an aluminum façade. This
façade has been removed recently, yet the future of this
structure is still in jeopardy. Cornerstones is attempting to
encourage the owner to follow architectural guidelines in the
renovation of the building.
Industrial YMCA: in South Chattanooga on Mitchell Avenue;
Built in the early 1920s; Designed by T. Jones; Eclectic Spanish
style with arched doorways and windows and tiled roof.
Engel Stadium: In late 1920s, Clark Griffith of the
Washington Senators chose to pick up the Chattanooga baseball
franchise; His scout Joe Engel was sent here to establish the
franchise-was very successful and used crazy stunts and promotions
to gain national recognition; New Stadium with 12,000 seats was
named Engel Stadium-at the site of the old Andrews Field; in 1959
Washington dropped the franchise-a group of citizens (Lookouts
Youth Foundation) stepped in and kept organization running until
1965; In 1975 businessman Woodrow Reid brought professional baseball
back through the Oakland Organization, then later through Cleveland.
Robinson Apartments: on Georgia Avenue between Oak and
Vine Streets; Businessman Fred Robinson erected them; architectural
firm of Huntington and Sears Designed them (1911-1920); Part of
the apartment building development occurring at the time-also
included Elizabeth apartments, Flatiron Building, Albermarle Apt.,
Hogshead Apt.
Market Street Bridge: Construction begun in November
of 1914-Grand opening on Nov. 17, 1917; Designer was Benjamin
H. Davis of New York City; Cost $1 million and included a 300
foot bascule span in the center; history-Chattanooga growing,
North Chattanooga/Hill City was increasingly popular with suburbs
like Riverview and Walnut Street Bridge was no longer adequate.
Highland Park Neighborhood: John L. Divine and C.V. Brown and Olmstead
were key figures in the development of area in Chattanooga’s
boom in the late 1880s; T.G. Montague helped finance and name
it; 1889 – the electric street car is established and ran
from downtown to Highland Park and Missionary Ridge.
Broad and Market Streets Area
Market Street and and Georgia Avenue
Area
The Federal Courthouse and Post Office on Miller Plaza (Hunt),
which is not to be confused with the Old Post Office on 11th and
Lindsey:
The Brabson House on 5th:
The First Presbyterian Church on McCallie: (White)
The Second Presbyterian Church on Pine: (Hunt)
Walnut Street Bridge:
Dome Building:
Bus Barns:
Chattanooga Choo Choo:
Miller Brothers:
Warehouse Row:
Western Half of the 1200 block of Market Street:
Read House:
Hunter Museum:
Lyndhurst House:
Pickle Barrel:
One Central Plaza:
Volunteer Building:
Flat Iron Building:
Hoggs Head:
Brass Register;
Sports Barn:
Bluff View:
County Court House:
Frazier Avenue:
Electric Shuttle-rebirth of trolley:
Fountain Square:
Great Churches:
Catholic:
St. Pauls:
Historic Districts:
Fort Wood
Battery Place:
Ferger Place:
St. Elmo
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