Buy A Shingle Campaign
It might have been called Whitesville, but James White, the early settler whose land became Tennessee’s first capital, was a modest man. He preferred instead to honor Secretary of War, Henry Knox, whose office had protected the pioneers from Indian raids. So the name became Knoxville! White arrived here over 220 years ago to claim the Revolutionary land grant given him by North Carolina. It was close to Cherokee territory and miles away from any other settlement. But White intended to remain, having brought his wife and family along. The family’s original cabin provides the anchor to James White’s Fort today.
There is a lot of Knoxville’s history stored in the timbers of the Fort, which comprises the founder’s residence and kitchen and six other cabins surrounded by a stockade wall of upright stakes. Located at the corner of Hill Avenue and Hall of Fame Drive, the Fort is the perfect place to teach our children about life in the days of our forefathers, but more importantly to give them a chance to learn the history of their city and state.
The Fort is now undergoing some difficult times. Building maintenance is a continuing expense and is slowly eating away at financial reserves intended for daily operations. Currently, the most urgent maintenance need at the Fort is replacement of roofs on all of the buildings. In an effort to raise funds to pay for this expense, the Fort has launched a “Buy a Shingle” campaign.
Shingles may be purchased singularly @$35 each or in lots as follows:
Holston Treaty Donor – 5 for $150
TN Williams Literary Donor – 10 for $300
Hugh Lawson White Donor – 20 for $600
James White Guardian Donor – Any amount
If you so desire, your name will be acknowledged as a donor on a bronze plaque to be installed at the Fort. James White’s Fort is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the full extent allowable by law.
We hope you will consider a donation to help us in this effort.
You may make a donation online by clicking the yellow “Donate” button on the right or please send a check payable to James White Fort, 205 E. Hill Avenue, Knoxville TN 37915, Attn: Shingle Campaign. For more information, please contact Sam Maynard, Executive Director of James White’s Fort at: (865) 525–6514 or at jameswhitefort@aol.com.