Механиксвилл: История рабочего района Ноксвилла

Mechanicsville is a neighborhood in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States, located northwest of the city's downtown area. One of the city's oldest neighborhoods, Mechanicsville was established in the late 1860s for skilled laborers working in the many factories that sprang up along Knoxville's periphery. The neighborhood still contains a significant number of late 19th century Victorian homes, and a notable concentration of early 20th century shotgun houses. In 1980, several dozen properties in Mechanicsville were added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Mechanicsville Historic District. Post Civil War railroad construction lured heavy industry to the Second Creek valley, starting with the Knoxville Iron Company, which built a massive foundry just southeast of Mechanicsville in 1868. In the 19th century, when the neighborhood acquired its name, the word "mechanic" typically referred to factory workers. Mechanicsville was developed during this period to provide housing for Welsh iron specialists and African American laborers working at Knoxville Iron and other area factories. By the 1880s, Mechanicsville was surrounded by large factories and mills, and contained most of Knoxville's railroad maintenance shops. Several Confederate batteries, which provided part of the artillery barrage during the Battle of Fort Sanders, were situated in the hills where Knoxville College is now located.

The combination of railroad construction and Northern financing led to a post war economic boom in Knoxville, and it was during this period that dozens of factories were built along Second Creek. In 1867, 104 Welsh immigrant families were brought to the area from Pennsylvania by the Welsh born Richards brothers, Joseph and David, to work in a local rolling mill. In 1868, Civil War general turned entrepreneur Hiram S. Chamberlain and the Richards brothers established the Knoxville Iron Company, which erected a massive foundry and nail factory across Second Creek from McGhee's Addition (part of this complex, now known simply as "The Foundry," still stands). Chamberlain provided the business expertise, while the Richards brothers provided the technical expertise. At the time of its annexation, Mechanicsville reported a population of just over 2,000, three churches, two schools, six general stores, and a greenhouse. In the early 20th century, Mechanicsville evolved into a prosperous neighborhood of African American businesses and working families, and remained so for several decades. One of the first African American institutions in Mechanicsville was the Fairview School, built on land donated by John Moses in 1875 (Dora Street is believed to have been named for Moses's sister, Dora Pearson Walker).

Mechanicsville's National Register historic district comprises one of the oldest extant neighborhoods from Knoxville's post Civil War expansion. Some of its Victorian houses exhibit distinctively Italianate and Gothic influences uncommon in nearby neighborhoods such as Fourth and Gill and Old North Knoxville. The section of Old Mechanicsville along Calloway and Boyd contains Knoxville's largest concentration of early twentieth century shotgun houses. 501 Arthur (501 Arthur Street), a two story brick commercial structure with a two tier porch, built circa 1910. This building was for many years home to a grocery store known as Bradley Food Market, and was most recently home to a restaurant. 1524 Western Avenue, a two story wedge shaped building with brick band, built circa 1900; originally a restaurant. 1545 Western Avenue, a two story brick Victorian style commercial structure built circa 1900; formerly home to Western Heights Hardware. 244 Deaderick Avenue, a two story brick commercial structure built circa 1900; wedge shaped to fit the intersection of Deaderick and Carrick. 224 Deaderick Avenue, a two story house with Gothic Revival elements and a bay window with a sunburst motif, built circa 1900. 243 Deaderick Avenue, a two story Queen Anne style house with Eastlake style porch, built circa 1890. 415 Clark Street, a one story Queen Anne style cottage built in 1910. 1007 Oak Avenue, a two story Queen Anne style house with an Eastlake style front porch and a decorated iron fence, built circa 1890. 1008 McGhee Avenue, a one story shotgun house built in 1910. 1012 McGhee Avenue, a one story shotgun house built circa 1900. 1509 Boyd Street, a one story shotgun house built circa 1910.