BAKER'S CAFE was the last building heading up the hill towards the Sewanee Elementary School. It burned and its remnants torn down by the University in 1968, and eventually John Stephens built his law office on the site. His red brick building is now owned by FOLKS AT HOME, a non-profit community organization that uses about half the building and rents out the rest to several independent enterprises.
The earlier building had been a residence in combination with a shop from before the end of the 19th century. The Sanborn maps of 1893 and 1907 show a two-story building with a one-story ell at its back, and it is labeled "S" for shop. In 1899 Christian Ruef leased it and his son had the lease for 10 years, operating a bakery, before the lease went to T.J. Reid, who with his wife opened a cafe in 1922. The 1922 Tennessee Inspection Bureau map labels it as cafe. By the issuing of the 1930 Sanborn map, the building had been altered and the ell filled in as domestic space, and Henry P. Baker had acquired the lease. He and his wife Bessie W. Baker maintained the lease and cafe until their heirs turned it back to the University in 1968. The Bakers had also held the lease across the street (that had originally been the Wadhams' Bakery and home) since 1933. Heirs turned that lot back to the University as well.
see FOLKS AT HOME