The Guest House in Oak Ridge, now known as the Alexander Inn, as it looked during the top-secret Manhattan Project in World War II. (Photo by Ed Westcott)
Rick Dover, general manager of the company converting the historic Alexander Inn into an assisted living center, will provide an update on the project during an Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association meeting this evening.
Also present will be Knox Heritage’s Ethiel Garlington, director of preservation field services for the East Tennessee Preservation Alliance.
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. today (Thursday, July 11)Â in the Midtown Community Center at 102 Robertsville Road at the corner of Robertsville Road and Oak Ridge Turnpike.
Dover is general manager of Family Pride Corp. He wants to return the exterior of the building, which was built as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project during World War II, to its original look, a press release said, and Dover will provide details tonight.
Garlington will provide a summary of the ETPA Endangered List of those places in East Tennessee that are identified as the top structures of concern in each county for historical preservation, the press release said.
“As you have noticed if you have driven past the site, the Guest House is being stabilized as a result of the U.S. Department of Energy’s $500,000 grant for that purpose,” the release said. “Ethiel and Rick will bring us up to date on the specific plans and projected dates for the next steps in the renovation of the historic Guest House.”
The Alexander Inn was originally known as the Guest House.
The press release said Dover has requested photographs of the Guest House so he can gain as much information as possible about the original appearance of the structure.
“If you have photographs of the Guest House during the early years, please bring them to the meeting,” the release said. “It is Rick’s stated intent to return the original exterior appearance as nearly as possible. As he has done this type of work before, he fully understands the requirements for historic preservation standards of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Guest House will add immeasurably to the historic Townsite/Jackson Square.”
Andrew Howe says
I’m very glad to hear they intent to maintain the old look-and-feel.
It’s my opinion that updating the facades of our older locations is detrimental to O.R. in regard to exploiting our 1940’s heritage for tourism. I think this mentality should be applied to any and all of our original architectures. People won’t tour our town for the ‘old sites’ unless the old sites actually look old!
Thank you, Rick Dover, Family Pride, Ethiel Garlington, Knox Heritage and all other other countless, tireless, rewardless people who took part in making a ten year goal into a reality.
Sincerely, your friendly neighbor through the woods.
Kay Williamson says
I have got to know many of the guys working hard on the Alexander Inn, what a bunch of good hard working great bunch,,, Trying very hard to maintain the quality of the historic landmark is quite a task..