The Fourth and Gill Tour of Homes and Secret Gardens arrives May 4 with a burst of natural color and architectural beauty. Featuring the Gothic Revival Architecture of Central United Methodist Church, along with six homes and four gardens, the tour always delivers an afternoon of architectural interest and spring beauty. Running from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm, tickets are now on sale for $20 until the day of the event when they increase to $25.
As in the past, I toured one of the homes early to get a sample of what we might expect, touring 621 Eleanor Street. The beautiful home remains a work in progress. Workers applied finishing touches to the exterior paint as I arrived. A beautiful garden in the rear continues to evolve. Megan Brown, co-owner of the home and my host explained that they continue to bring art into the rather large home.
Designated the Mayo-Ashe House, the structure dates to 1893. One of the earlier homes built in the neighborhood, it’s hard to imagine, but this area was once considered rural and Arin Streeter (whose work is the source of all this information) notes that it was mocked in 1872 for its residents being “overfond of rural living.” While no one would accuse the area of being rural in 2025, this particular home features a large yard, a cul de sac location, and a greenway to one side.
The original owner, George and Sarah Snyder bought the property in 1887, but sold it in 1894 to “Daniel R. and Annie E. Mayo, who moved in with their three children.” Yes, those Mayos. “Born in Monroe County, Arkansas in 1854, D.R. arrived in Knoxville in 1880. He soon married Annie Swift and opened a grocery store on Gay Street, eventually adding seeds to his product line. You can still find the descendants of those seeds at Mayo Garden Center locations in Knoxville.
D.R. died in 1917 and the funeral was conducted in the home “by Rev. W.Y. Durrett of Knoxville’s First Cumberland Presbyterian Church.” Just two years later, Annie sold the home to the Ashe family. Of note, James Ashe was “one of the first six mail carriers to be employed by the Knoxville Post Office . . . If the name “Ashe” sounds familiar in Knoxville, James J. Ashe was the great-uncle of former Mayor and U.S. Ambassador Victor Ashe.”
The family owned the home until 1943 and by the 1940s it had been divided into four apartments. The wealth of the 1890s had given way to the struggles of the great depression and few could operate a large house. Smaller spaces were called for and many homes in the Fourth and Gill neighborhood were similarly subdivided. “By 1963, the house was described in a court record as being “very deteriorated,” and it was sold to Thomas B. and Helen C. Walker.”
The next significant shift in the history of the home has it shifting to a group home in 1998 by owner and contractor John Wampler. He later remodeled it and moved in as a resident. “The current owners purchased the house in 2021.”
I found it really quite surprising that so many architectural details have survived. The stairwell, floors, doors, and fireplaces appear to be original to the home. It’s quite remarkable that those details survived so many years and remodels. The home also features so many built-in book shelves it could make a bibliophile tremble with delight.
The two story Victorian home features three full baths, three bedrooms, and large spots for lounging and gathering. A large island anchors the modern kitchen, and a range of living spaces, including a landing area at the top of the stairwell. Completely updated, the home offers every modern convenience, while retaining its historic charm. An outdoor seating area to the rear and a beautiful landscaped area to one side make this a home of dreams.
Of course, you are wondering, “but is it haunted?” Megan said she was told it is so by a contractor who explained that he knows these things. He assured her the spirit intended no harm. See for yourself when you visit this beautiful home and five others, along with beautiful gardens on May 4. Get your tickets early and save five large ones.