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Built before the war, this home is for sale

Posted at 1:34 pm April 5, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

One of the few pre-World War II structures left in Oak Ridge, the Luther Brannon House on Oak Ridge Turnpike is now for sale. The home is pictured above on Saturday, April 4, 2020. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was updated at 2:35 p.m.

A home in east Oak Ridge that was built before World War II is for sale. It’s one of the few structures that was built before the war and remains in the city today.

The Luther Brannon House is at 151 Oak Ridge Turnpike, just west of Melton Lake Drive and next to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Scientific and Technical Information. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it was the first home in Oak Ridge to be privately owned.

The single-story stone bungalow was built by Owen Hackworth in 1941 and soon acquired by the federal government as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project during World War II. Hackworth was a longtime resident of the Clinch River Valley.

Don Raby provided Oak Ridge Today with early photographs of the home after a fire damaged the house in 2014. It’s not clear how extensive the damage was or if repairs have been made.

Raby has collected photographs of the original structures that were here before the Manhattan Project, when the “secret city” that is now Oak Ridge helped build the world’s first atomic bombs. The 59,000-acre military reservation, which replaced several rural communities, was known first as Kingston Demolition Range and then as Clinton Engineer Works.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, History, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Don Raby, Luther Brannon, Luther Brannon House, Manhattan Project, National Register of Historic Places, Oak Ridge, Owen Hackworth, World War II

Photos: History talk at Freels Bend Cabin, city’s oldest structure

Posted at 1:51 am October 17, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

freels-bend-cabin-presentation-6-oct-13-2016-smith

Aaron Astor, an associate history professor at Maryville College, discussed life along the Clinch River in Anderson and Roane counties before Oak Ridge was built in a special meeting at the historic Freels Bend Cabin on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016 during a meeting of the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association. The Freels Bend Cabin was built in 1844, and it is the oldest structure in Oak Ridge. It’s on the National Historic Register. (Photo by D. Ray Smith)

 

Aaron Astor, an associate history professor at Maryville College, discussed life along the Clinch River in Anderson and Roane counties before Oak Ridge was built in a special meeting at the historic Freels Bend Cabin on Thursday, October 13.

It was the monthly public and membership meeting of the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association. Here are pictures by D. Ray Smith.

The Freels Bend Cabin was built in 1844, and it is the oldest structure in Oak Ridge. It’s on the National Historic Register. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Community, Front Page News, Nonprofits, Slider Tagged With: Aaron Astor, Anderson, atomic weapons, Clark Center Park, Clinch River, D. Ray Smith, Freels Bend, Freels Bend Cabin, George Jones Memorial Baptist Church, J.B. Jones House, Leslie R. Groves, Luther Brannon House, Manhattan Project, Maryville College, National Historic Register, National Register of Historic Places, New Bethel Baptist Church, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, Roane, Roane-Anderson Company, Ruby Shanks, U.S. Department of Energy, Wheat, World War II

Photos: Luther Brannon House before World War II, Monday morning fire

Posted at 9:46 pm July 8, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 5 Comments

Owen Hackworth Home Before Manhattan Project

This home near the Elza community was built by Owen Hackworth in 1941 and soon acquired by the federal government as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project during World War II. Now known as the Luther Brannon House, the home was damaged in a fire early Monday morning. It’s one of the few pre-World War II homes remaining in Oak Ridge. (Photos courtesy Don Raby)

 

Here are pre-war photos of the historic Luther Brannon House that was damaged in a fire on Oak Ridge Turnpike early Monday morning.

The single-story stone bungalow was built by Owen Hackworth in 1941 and soon acquired by the federal government as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project during World War II. It’s one of the few pre-World War II homes remaining in Oak Ridge. Owner Danny Brannon has said he plans to rebuild it. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Media, Photos, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Clinton Engineer Works, Danny Brannon, Kingston Demolition Range, Leslie R. Groves, Luther Brannon House, Manhattan Project, National Register of Historic Places, Oak Ridge Turnpike, Owen Hackworth, pre-World War II, World War II

Former Manhattan Project headquarters, Groves home damaged in fire

Posted at 12:36 pm July 7, 2014
By John Huotari 6 Comments

Luther Brannon Oak Ridge Turnpike House Fire

The historic Luther Brannon House was damaged, but no injuries were reported in this house fire on Oak Ridge Turnpike early Monday morning. Gen. Leslie R. Groves, commander of the top-secret Manhattan Project during World War II, once lived here, and he had his headquarters in this single-story bungalow, which was built in 1941 and soon acquired by the federal government.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1 p.m. July 8.

A historic house that once served as a home and headquarters for Gen. Leslie R. Groves during the top-secret Manhattan Project in World War II was heavily damaged in a fire early Monday morning.

No injuries were reported in the house fire, which was reported at 1:36 a.m. Monday.

The one-story stone bungalow at 151 Oak Ridge Turnpike is known as the Luther Brannon House, and it’s just west of Melton Lake Drive and next to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Scientific and Technical Information. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it was the first home in Oak Ridge to be privately owned.

Oak Ridge Fire Department Chief Darryl Kerley said it appears that the Monday morning fire started in the kitchen. Owner Danny Brannon and his daughter were returning from a movie when they found the home on fire. They opened the front door and found the home filled with hot, black smoke, an ORFD press release said. Brannon opened the basement door to find that area clear, but he found fire coming from the kitchen window in the back of the house. The family called 911.

“We have not been able to determine what the cause is,” Kerley said. The Fire Department is waiting for an insurance company, which is sending an investigator and claims adjuster, before continuing its investigation. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Fire, Government, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Slider, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: American Red Cross, Danny Brannon, Darryl Kerley, Elza, fire, Freels Bend Cabin, J.B. Jones House, Leslie Groves, Leslie R. Groves, Luther Brannon, Luther Brannon House, Manhattan Project, National Historic Register, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Oak Ridge Turnpike, Office of Scientific and Technical Information, Owen Hackworth, World War II

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Classifieds

Public Notice: Comment period extended for Draft EA for Lithium Processing Facility at Y-12

EXTENSION OF THE COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE LITHIUM PROCESSING … [Read More...]

Public Notice: Draft Environmental Assessment Available for Lithium Production Facility at Y-12

AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE LITHIUM PROCESSING FACILITY AT THE Y-12 … [Read More...]

Availability of the Final Environmental Assessment for the Oak Ridge Enhanced Technology and Training Center (ORETTC) (DOE/EA-2144), Finding of No Significant Impact, and Wetland Statement of Findings

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

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