The research for the origins of the buildings in the Sewanee Village began by default in 1873, given the absence/scarcity of newspapers or other publications prior to that time which listed advertisements or notices from local merchants. The first Sewanee 'newspaper', The University Record, appeared in 1872, through the efforts of three local men, led by Prof. Caskie Harrison. The first advertisements were seen in June, 1873. The growth of a merchant population in the Sewanee Village judged by the proliferation of ads found in the print media from 1874-1879 seems quite spectacular with a robust concentration of cobblers, dry-good purveyors, grocers, etc. Bishop Quintard as the leader of the community encouraged European craftsmen to move to Sewanee in this decade and was very successful in his efforts.
From Germany, Herr F. Fischer was a fine cabinet maker. From England William Philpot was an upholsterer and Harvey O. Judd had a laundry. Charles Wadhams of Scotland was a baker. Pierre Barbot and L. Pillet, the tailors, and Simon Creset were French. Henry Schlapback and Christian Reuf were Swiss butchers.
Joseph Bork was a tinsmith and hardware dealer; Hance Roberts had a hack and horses. Pleasant Gilliam had opened the first small store (with a telegraph office) in 1867. A blacksmith and livery stable were essential; roads were graded earth.
One could speculate that the considerable optimism for the growth of the community beginning in 1874 was the result of the slowness of ripples from the "Panic of 1873", and subsequently the "Depression of 1875" which was drastically affecting the remainder of the country. The dearth of ads or solicitations after 1879, however, suggests the financial tsunami finally arrived on the Mountain.
The "Record" ceased publication in 1879. Subsequent publications, including The University Bulletin, University News, The Weekly Mountain News and numerous other short-lived publications included substantially more ads for "mail order" companies, or listings for local "agents" representing suppliers in Nashville, Chattanooga and Atlanta. House numbers or street addresses were non-existent for this early period, and what is now called University Avenue might be labeled Main Street or Tennessee Avenue on different maps.
Ty E Wilkerson, 15 Mar 2022
Sewanee weathered that initial downturn and a description from Fairbanks' History of the University of the South, p. 393 in 1904 claimed "We have now at Sewanee village, a passenger and freight station, eight business houses, several machinics' shops, a handsome stone church and a very respectable colored church, and forty or fifty dwellings. Also a large steam laundry, a steam saw mill, a lodge of Knights of Honor and a Masonic lodge."
A negative impact of the "result of denuding the surface is already felt at Sewanee Village, where the trees have been largely cut away, with the apparent effect of causing the wells to become dry during the dry season while in other parts of the domain the flow of the springs does not seem to be greatly affected." (p. 357-8). Vice Chancellor Wiggins would initiate reforms that placed Sewanee at the forefront in forestry efforts for the next century.
Photos courtesy of University Archives