After William’s death, his sister Mary Frances Hamilton took over the house. At one time in her career, she was the UT extension agent for the area and was an expert gardener. She had many exotic plants and flowers in the yard and had a full time gardener. She never married and had no children, so when she died in 2001, she left it to her nephew Webster. Webster never lived in it and tried to put it up for sale. Unfortunately he September 11 attack happened right around that time and no house sold in Sewanee until the Askews bought it from Webster in August of 2012. The couple have two out buildings that they call cabins that they have rented to hundreds of alumni and parents over the years. Many have stayed there on their wedding night, others have proposed marriage in the cabin, celebrated anniversaries, attended the school of letters, and studied for comps. The cabins are not fancy, but people might come visit Sewanee in the future and try to remember where they stayed.
]]>
Gailor, C. (1970). Old Sewanee Houses; The First Fifty-Years, 1860-1910. Unpublished manuscript, Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee.
]]>
After William’s death, his sister Mary Frances Hamilton took over the house. At one time in her career, she was the UT extension agent for the area and was an expert gardener. She had many exotic plants and flowers in the yard and had a full time gardener. She never married and had no children, so when she died in 2001, she left it to her nephew Webster. Webster never lived in it and tried to put it up for sale. Unfortunately he September 11 attack happened right around that time and no house sold in Sewanee until the Askews bought it from Webster in August of 2012. The couple have two out buildings that they call cabins that they have rented to hundreds of alumni and parents over the years. Many have stayed there on their wedding night, others have proposed marriage in the cabin, celebrated anniversaries, attended the school of letters, and studied for comps. The cabins are not fancy, but people might come visit Sewanee in the future and try to remember where they stayed.
]]>
Gailor, C. (1970). Old Sewanee Houses; The First Fifty-Years, 1860-1910. Unpublished manuscript, Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee.
]]>
After William’s death, his sister Mary Frances Hamilton took over the house. At one time in her career, she was the UT extension agent for the area and was an expert gardener. She had many exotic plants and flowers in the yard and had a full-time gardener. She never married and had no children, so when she died in 2001, she left it to her nephew,Webster. Webster never lived in it and tried to put it up for sale. Unfortunately September 11 attack happened right around that time and no house sold in Sewanee until the Askews bought it from Webster in August of 2012. The Askews have two outbuildings that they call cabins that they have rented to hundreds of alumni and parents over the years.

Many have stayed there on their wedding night, others have proposed marriage in the cabin, celebrated anniversaries, attended the school of letters, and studied for comps. The cabins are not fancy, but people might come visit Sewanee in the future and try to remember where they stayed.]]>
Gailor, C. (1970). Old Sewanee Houses; The First Fifty-Years, 1860-1910. Unpublished manuscript, The University of the South, Sewanee.
]]>
Dr. Harlow also was the first person Preston Brooks, Jr. partnered with for his general store in the village. When Brooks retired, Harlow acquired the store and turned it into his family home. The house was colloquially known ever after as “The Harlow Place” or “Harlow’s.” Dr. Harlow operated his store as “Harlow and Co. Stationers” where he sold notebooks, pens, and dictionaries, but also household goods like wallpaper and imported pictures. He even kept French harps and Italian violin strings in his inventory. The Flea (another Harlow newspaper) declared in 1882, “‘Brains and Pains’ is the business motto of Harlow and Co. They take the pains to use their brains to please the public and add their gains’” Other ventures of Dr. Harlow’s were poetry, real estate, and medicine (hence Doctor Harlow). He died in Sewanee in 1891. The house’s third resident, Sam Slack, lived with his family in this house for some years. Slack was a clergyman who graduated from the college in 1891 and taught at The Sewanee Military Academy in 1893-1894. As an alumnus, he wrote his reminiscences for Purple Sewanee (pages 29-30, 67, 72-73). The house burned at the turn of the 20th century.
Chace, J. B. (n.d.). Ancient Mariner - The Life and Work of Henry Chase.
Gailor, C. (1970). Old Sewanee Houses; The First Fifty-Years, 1860-1910. Unpublished manuscript, Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee.
]]>
Gailor, C. (1970). Old Sewanee Houses; The First Fifty-Years, 1860-1910. Unpublished manuscript, Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee.
]]>
In 1973 the house was bought by William R. Irwin and his wife Helen Louise Prince Irwin. Louise’s mother was a Hawkins, Irene Hawkins Prince. ]]>
J. Gipson, personal communication, July 11, 2017
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In 1973 the house was bought by William R. Irwin and his wife Helen Louise Prince Irwin. Louise’s mother was a Hawkins, Irene Hawkins Prince.
]]>
J. Gipson, personal communication, July 11, 2017
]]>
In 1973 the house was bought by William R. Irwin and his wife Helen Louise Prince Irwin. Louise’s mother was a Hawkins, Irene Hawkins Prince.
]]>
J. Gipson, personal communication, July 11, 2017]]> On a campus known for its historic buildings Rebel's Rest has always stood out at Sewanee the University of the South.

The log cabin style residence was built in 1866 for one of the University's founders, George Fairbanks.

Wednesday night the building sustained heavy damage in a fire that appears to have started on the upper level.

"When I came here it was engulfed in flames and it was a shock to see," said Sewanee graduate Jaina Patel.

Rebel's Rest is the only structure remaining on campus from the University's re-founding after the Civil War.

Sewanee Professor Waring McCrady says the building is important for more than its history though.

Many students and alumni have known the place in modern times as a location for receptions and the University's Guest House.

"Really does symbolize historic continuity and devotion to this place," said McCrady.

That's why the fire is hitting so many people personally at Sewanee.
Students and alumni like Patel stopped to take pictures Thursday afternoon.

Even people who aren't affiliated with Sewanee like Bob Burns stopped to look at the damage.

"This building in particular has so much meaning to so many people," said Burns.

As chance would have it though the fire does have a silver lining.
Three of the most priceless art pieces, including a portrait of the original resident George Fairbanks were moved recently for renovations.

It remains to be seen if those paintings might someday return home but McCrady is among those who believe it's possible.

He believes there's enough left on the bottom level of the residence to rebuild.

"There's enough here to work with even if they have to pull it down to the ground and build it back up. They got the pieces for the facade," said McCrady.


DOWNLOAD OUR APPS:

NEWS: iPhone/iPad | Android
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Follow us on Twitter @wztv_fox17 and LIKE us on Facebook for updates.]]> published via YouTube.com]]> Standard YouTube License]]> Standard YouTube License]]> On a campus known for its historic buildings Rebel's Rest has always stood out at Sewanee the University of the South.

The log cabin style residence was built in 1866 for one of the University's founders, George Fairbanks.

Wednesday night the building sustained heavy damage in a fire that appears to have started on the upper level.

"When I came here it was engulfed in flames and it was a shock to see," said Sewanee graduate Jaina Patel.

Rebel's Rest is the only structure remaining on campus from the University's re-founding after the Civil War.

Sewanee Professor Waring McCrady says the building is important for more than its history though.

Many students and alumni have known the place in modern times as a location for receptions and the University's Guest House.

"Really does symbolize historic continuity and devotion to this place," said McCrady.

That's why the fire is hitting so many people personally at Sewanee.
Students and alumni like Patel stopped to take pictures Thursday afternoon.

Even people who aren't affiliated with Sewanee like Bob Burns stopped to look at the damage.

"This building in particular has so much meaning to so many people," said Burns.

As chance would have it though the fire does have a silver lining.
Three of the most priceless art pieces, including a portrait of the original resident George Fairbanks were moved recently for renovations.

It remains to be seen if those paintings might someday return home but McCrady is among those who believe it's possible.

He believes there's enough left on the bottom level of the residence to rebuild.

"There's enough here to work with even if they have to pull it down to the ground and build it back up. They got the pieces for the facade," said McCrady.


DOWNLOAD OUR APPS:

NEWS: iPhone/iPad | Android
WEATHER: iPhone | iPad | Android
MORNING: iPhone/iPad | Android
Follow us on Twitter @wztv_fox17 and LIKE us on Facebook for updates.]]> published via YouTube.com]]> Standard YouTube License]]> Standard YouTube License]]>