The 2025 Tour

1007 Court St

BUILT C. 1930

Built around 1930, this Court Street residence was known as “The Little House.” It was associated with Clemmie Jane Henry and later with Dr. Elizabeth Jackson.

The home later became connected with Bill Ribble and Dr. Margie Stevenson Ribble, continuing its place in the history of the College Hill neighborhood.

1015 Court St

Built C. 1921

Built in 1921 for Ernest Chalmers “Brownie” Brown, this Court Street residence has deep ties to Maryville College. Brown worked at the college from 1910 to 1961 as campus engineer, completing fifty-one years of service. He was also a Maryville College student, married fellow student Jessie McCulley, and their three children later became Maryville College alumni.

In 1981, Brown’s heirs sold the property to Joseph “Joe” Swann, who later served as mayor of Maryville from 2003 to 2008. Swann sold the residence to Gerald and Vivian Lonas in 1987. Patrick and Katie O’Neal purchased the home in 2023.

304 Indiana Ave

Built C. 1885

Constructed around 1885 for Dr. Royal Jennings, this Indiana Avenue residence was the oldest home featured on the tour. The house later became home to several members of the Maryville College faculty, including Dr. Clinton Hancock Gillingham, who taught Bible and religious education and served as registrar, and Dr. Horace Eugene Orr, who taught Bible, religious education, and philosophy.

In 1965, Orr’s widow sold the house to Dr. Dorothy Horn, a member of the Maryville College music faculty. The home, now owned by Ben and Mary Grace Taylor, retains historic details including restored hardwood and wide-plank pine floors, flat-panel pegged doors with original doorknobs, and claw-foot tubs.

918 Hunter Lane

E. R. Hunter, a professor at Maryville College, purchased this property from Lettie Barnes in 1935. Construction of the house began in 1938, when the address was still known as 918 Maple Lane. Built for approximately $6,000, the brick-veneer residence included five bedrooms on the main level, while rooms on the lower level were used at different times as a doctor’s office and as housing for Maryville College students.

Hunter taught English at Maryville College until the early 1960s. The property passed through several owners before James and Maude Volk purchased it in 2013. By then, Maple Lane had become Hunter Lane, named for the home’s original owner.