A Professional Approach
In the late 1930s, Eugenia invested heavily in redesigning the estate’s grounds. She replaced her father’s working gardens with a sweeping landscape that would highlight the area’s natural beauty and mimic the country estates of the British aristocracy. Any building constructed on the estate would also have to fit this image, so in 1938, Eugenia hired the Barber & McMurry (later renamed BarberMcMurry) architectural firm to design her stable.
Candoro Marble Building (BarberMcMurry)
Founded in 1915, Barber & McMurry was one of the top architectural firms in Knoxville and the southeastern United States. Still in operation today, the company designed many iconic buildings throughout Knoxville, including the Candoro Marble Building (pictured above) and the Tennessee General Building. They also constructed several residential homes along Lyons View Pike. It remains unclear why Eugenia would hire a prominent firm to design a relatively small building like a stable. Still, her desire to utilize the best architects available paid off with a handsome structure perfectly suited to its surroundings.
Balancing the Picturesque and Practical
Situated on a hillside southeast of the main house, the stable serves as an anchor for the landscape. Its charming facade greets visitors as they meander down the curving side road, while its courtyard offers dramatic views of the Tennessee River. The stable’s simple yet elegant proportions integrate well with the land without overwhelming the naturally wooded area.
Constructed from recycled materials, the building was also environmentally friendly. Its reddish-brown bricks, purple and green slate roof tiles, wood trim, and wooden sliding doors all came from the outbuildings that had previously dotted the estate. The steep gabled roof, irregularly laid tiles, and copper gutters all add additional charm to the exterior.
The stable’s 1,250-square-foot interior has a much more utilitarian design. The ground level is split into three main spaces – an animal stall, an L-shaped workroom, and a large machinery room. A set of simple wooden stairs leads to a hayloft above. The built-in storage bins and work benches make it clear that the stable was a working space.
Eugenia paid Barber & McMurry $2,000 for the completed stable, a newsworthy sum in 1938. So unusual was the permit that a 1938 Knoxville News-Sentinel article noted that Building Inspector Ben England was so shocked, that his “specs nearly dropped off his nose” when the builder applied for a permit for the stable. (“Extra!—Man Gets Permit To Build Barn.” The Knoxville News-Sentinel (Knoxville, Tennessee), Sun. Nov. 6, 1938, Page 6.)
Equestrian Pursuits
By all accounts, Eugenia loved riding horses. As a teenager, she attended the Grier School, an all-girls boarding school in Pennsylvania. There, she cared for and rode the school’s horses in her spare time. Based on the stable’s architectural plans, Eugenia intended to care for at least one animal. One can imagine her taking daily rides into what was then open pasture down from the stable.
While the exterior of the stable has been lovingly restored to its original condition and guests are encouraged to utilize its courtyard, the interior is not currently accessible to the public. The space is utilized by the Eugenia Williams House team to store the equipment necessary to maintain the property.