Fort Wood National Historic District
Encyclopedia
The Fort Wood National Historic District is a historic neighborhood in Chattanooga, Tennessee
. It is located just east of the UT Chattanooga
campus, bounded roughly by Palmetto St., McCallie Av., Central Av., and Fifth St.
fortification, and was sold to developers in the 1880s. Before long, Fort Wood became one of Chattanooga's finest residential neighborhoods, with an excellent representation of Chattanooga architecture from the 1880s to the 1920s. There are many excellent examples of Queen Anne, Tudor, and Romanesque
, as well as many others. Approximately 120 buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
and together, those buildings comprise the Fort Wood National Historic District.
," many of the residents left for more affluent suburbs such as Signal Mountain
, Hixson
, and East Brainerd
.
By the 1970s, the neighborhood's situation had become critical. Many of the buildings in and around Fort Wood had fallen into disrepair or had become victims of vandalism
or arson
. The neighborhood's bad reputation began to affect the students of nearby UT Chattanooga, many of whom moved off campus and stopped enrolling in evening classes.
had given the Fort Wood area statutory protection and many more houses were under renovation. Today, many of the homes in Fort Wood have been converted into apartments. Indeed, student apartments in this area are highly sought after by UTC
students who wish to live off, but close to, the campus. One reason for this demand may be attributed to UTC's strict alcohol free
policy. Fort Wood's historic preservation is ongoing and land values are rising.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
. It is located just east of the UT Chattanooga
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a public university located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The University, often referred to as UTC or simply "Chattanooga" , is one of three universities and two other affiliated institutions in the University of Tennessee System; the others being in...
campus, bounded roughly by Palmetto St., McCallie Av., Central Av., and Fifth St.
History
Originally, this area was a Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
fortification, and was sold to developers in the 1880s. Before long, Fort Wood became one of Chattanooga's finest residential neighborhoods, with an excellent representation of Chattanooga architecture from the 1880s to the 1920s. There are many excellent examples of Queen Anne, Tudor, and Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
, as well as many others. Approximately 120 buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
and together, those buildings comprise the Fort Wood National Historic District.
Decline
By the mid 1950s, the Fort Wood neighborhood had fallen into a steady decline. Owing to "white flightWhite flight
White flight has been a term that originated in the United States, starting in the mid-20th century, and applied to the large-scale migration of whites of various European ancestries from racially mixed urban regions to more racially homogeneous suburban or exurban regions. It was first seen as...
," many of the residents left for more affluent suburbs such as Signal Mountain
Signal Mountain, Tennessee
Signal Mountain is a town in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. The town is a suburb of Chattanooga and is located on Walden Ridge, a land mass often mistakenly referred to as "Signal Mountain" itself...
, Hixson
Hixson, Tennessee
Hixson is an unincorporated community in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. It is a northern suburb of Chattanooga and is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, and East Brainerd
East Brainerd, Tennessee
East Brainerd is a census-designated place in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 14,132 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Chattanooga, TN–GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
.
By the 1970s, the neighborhood's situation had become critical. Many of the buildings in and around Fort Wood had fallen into disrepair or had become victims of vandalism
Vandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
or arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
. The neighborhood's bad reputation began to affect the students of nearby UT Chattanooga, many of whom moved off campus and stopped enrolling in evening classes.
Rebirth
By the early 1980s, efforts were underway restore the Warner House, at the corner of Vine and Palmetto Streets. Within a decade, the city councilCity council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
had given the Fort Wood area statutory protection and many more houses were under renovation. Today, many of the homes in Fort Wood have been converted into apartments. Indeed, student apartments in this area are highly sought after by UTC
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a public university located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The University, often referred to as UTC or simply "Chattanooga" , is one of three universities and two other affiliated institutions in the University of Tennessee System; the others being in...
students who wish to live off, but close to, the campus. One reason for this demand may be attributed to UTC's strict alcohol free
Dry campus
"Dry campus" is the term used for the banning of alcohol at colleges and universities, regardless of the owner's age or intention to consume it elsewhere...
policy. Fort Wood's historic preservation is ongoing and land values are rising.
Notable structures
- Warner House (1891)
- William Gibbs McAdooWilliam Gibbs McAdooWilliam Gibbs McAdoo, Jr. was an American lawyer and political leader who served as a U.S. Senator, United States Secretary of the Treasury and director of the United States Railroad Administration...
house (1888) - Fort Wood Apartments (1904)
- Kappa SigmaKappa SigmaKappa Sigma , commonly nicknamed Kappa Sig, is an international fraternity with currently 282 active chapters and colonies in North America. Kappa Sigma has initiated more than 240,000 men on college campuses throughout the United States and Canada. Today, the Fraternity has over 175,000 living...
Fraternity House (1903) - Mizpah CongregationMizpah CongregationMizpah Congregation is a Reform Jewish synagogue in Chattanooga.The congregation was founded in 1866 by German Jewish businessmen, many of whom were veterans of the Civil War. The congregation dedicated its first synagogue building,the Walnut Street Temple, in 1882...
synagogueSynagogueA synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
(c. 1928) - Lambda Chi AlphaLambda Chi AlphaLambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men's secret general fraternities in North America, having initiated more than 280,000 members and held chapters at more than 300 universities. It is a member of the North-American Interfraternity Conference and was founded by Warren A. Cole, while he was a...
Fraternity House (1909) - Z.C. Patten House (1892) – Known to most UTC students as "Patten House," home of the Alumni Affairs Department. Also notable are the two Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
-era cannonCannonA cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
on the front lawn. - 900 Oak St, Former Phi Delta Theta Fraternity House now home to a Twelve Tribes CommunityTwelve Tribes (new religious movement)The Twelve Tribes , formerly known as The Vine Christian Community Church, Northeast Kingdom Community Church, The Messianic Communities, and the Community Apostolic Order is an international confederation of religious communities founded by Gene Spriggs that sprang out of the Jesus Movement in...
Further reading
- Cornerstones, Inc page about Fort Wood area
- http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_101718.asp Recent article regarding the clash between college students and older residents.
- Chattanooga Department of Neighborhood Services