By John Shearer
The News Sentinel
SEYMOUR, Tenn. — The Seymour Volunteer Fire Department helps save lives, but this week the squad — along with Knox Heritage — also helped save some history.
Officials say the story began when the fire department announced that it was planning to do a live fire training exercise for its firefighters this Saturday at a home located off Huffaker Ferry Road in East Knox County.
However, fire officials were unaware that the residence — which dates to about 1835 and sits on the south side of the French Broad River — was as historically significant as it was. But the nonprofit historic preservation group Knox Heritage, which had seen the announcement, thought the home might be important and quickly sent out the preservationist’s equivalent of a 911 call.
Kim Trent from Knox Heritage and Ann Bennett from the Metropolitan Planning Commission were able to tour the home and discuss its significance with the Seymour fire department, and the volunteer firefighting group gladly backed off on its plans.
“We didn’t realize the home was that old until they started pointing it out,” said Kent Leitch, the department’s spokesman.
Knox Heritage now hopes to discuss preservation options with owner William Hovis, who has a farm there and lives in another home on site.
“We hope to work with him to see if there is a solution to save the property,” said Trent, Knox Heritage’s executive director.
Trent said the home was built by a man named Huffaker, a blacksmith who came to Knox County from Virginia. The Huffakers also operated a ferry across the river, which was operational until it sank during the filming of the early-1960s James Agee-inspired movie “All the Way Home,” Trent said.
The home was also owned by the Grose family for a period.
Trent said the federal style home has had an updated exterior, but the interior retains its original look with wide pine floor planks, doors and fireplace mantels.
Leitch said Hovis had originally contacted the Seymour fire department about using the home. The department regularly gets calls about homes for burning exercises, but this one met the criteria because it is still structurally sound.
While disappointed the exercise had to be canceled after weeks of planning, Leitch said his department certainly did not want to burn down such a significant structure.
Trent, in turn, said Knox Heritage appreciates the efforts of the fire department in providing safety. In fact, Knox Heritage is now looking at taking part in the Seymour department’s 40th anniversary celebration later this summer.
John Shearer is a freelance contributor to the News Sentinel.
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