Marble Springs

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Marble Springs

• Home of Governor John Sevier
• Knoxville, TN

TN Social Studies Standard 4.5.09b
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• Marble Springs was the 355 acre plantation farm
  of General John Sevier, first governor of the
  state of Tennessee. Today it sits on a 40 acre
  lot owned by the state and run by the Governor
  John Sevier Memorial Association. It is located
  in south Knoxville, TN on Gov. John Sevier
  Highway.

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• The Tennessee Historical Commission sign located
  on the highway next to the entrance. Sevier used
  the farmstead when the Tennessee legislature was
  not in session.

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• It is believed that the Governors son, George
  Washington Sevier ran the day to day operations
  of the plantation. His son was named for the
  first president of the United States, likely
  because Sevier served under Washington in Lord
  Dunmores War in 1774-1775.

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• The first stop on the trip is the loom house.
  Marble Springs was known for making their own
  linens due to the lack of availability in the
  area. It was also a fairly profitable business
  for the Seviers

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• Spinning wheel

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• Loom

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• Large Spinning Wheel

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• These spinning wheels and the loom were used to
  make clothing, linens, and quilts for the
  plantation.

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• Plantation life required the Seviers to grow
  their own produce- gardens like these were
  commonly kept to produce vegetation and herbs for
  making food.

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• The building on the right is the only original
  structure remaining on the farm. It is the
  actual house that John, Katherine, and their
  children lived. The log cabin still remains on
  its original footers. The other buildings have
  been rebuilt and restored to the time.

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• The main cabin was two stories. Each floor
  contained one room. The main floor was the
  common room where the Seviers spent their
  evenings by the fire after the day was complete.
  The picture above the fireplace is of Katherine
  Bonny Kate Sherrill, Seviers second wife.

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• The second floor, also one room, was where the
  Seviers slept at night. The portrait above to
  the left of the stairs is of Governor John Sevier.

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• Sevier Family Crest Pro Patria- For Ones Country

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• Typical frock coat and rifle used during the time
  of Sevier. The rifle is a flintlock rifle that
  was the common weapon of the day.

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• The desk is one of the last remaining original
  pieces of the Sevier plantation. Sevier would
  sit at this desk many nights conducting his
  business

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• This is the building directly adjacent to the
  main cabin. This was the kitchen that was used
  during the plantations life. Why is the
  kitchen a separate building? This was to prevent
  a fire starting in the kitchen and burning the
  entire residence down.

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• The kitchen was used to produce meals for not
  only the Sevier family, but the slaves and
  visitors that came to stay at Marble Springs as
  well.

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• Typical serving pieces the Seviers would use

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• Cast iron pots for cooking large meals

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• It is often asked how Katherine got the nickname
  Bonny Kate. Though many rumors have surfaced,
  Katherine got the nickname from her slaves- Here
  is a slave quarter at Marble Springs

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• The final building on the tour is a two-story
  building where the Seviers housed guests that
  were traveling.

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• The plantation was located on the main east to
  west road from Knoxville to Nine Mile. Its
  original use was a stop for pioneers to use as a
  place to sleep before moving on the next day.

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• Here pioneers or friends of the Seviers could
  come and find a place to stay, buy provisions, or
  get something to eat.

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• The last stop on the tour brings us to very
  necessary part of any plantation and the reason
  that this plantation has the name Marble Springs.

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• Every plantation had to have a spring or spring
  house on the property- refrigeration was required
  for things such as milk and butter. Marble
  Springs has several natural springs around the
  property and they were used for refrigeration.

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• These springs are still icy cold today- you can
  tell they are clean and pure due to the plants
  that are able to grow in them

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• I hope you enjoyed your trip to Marble Springs,
  home of Tennessees first governor John Sevier.
  However, nothing can replace seeing this
  beautiful homestead in person.