Montvale History
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Transcript of Montvale History
Historic Montvale
1832-2012
Foute Hotel
The first hotel at Montvale was a
10-room log cabin built in 1832 by Daniel Foute.
Montvale TrailsFoute bought 6,300 acres of mountain
land along the Chilhowee and into
Cades Cove. He used Cherokee Indians to
lay out trails and build roads over Chilhowee
Mountain, to Cades Cove, Gregory’s Bald, and Abrams Creek.
Spring Houses
There were several springs on the
Montvale Springs Hotel property – a
black sulphur spring three miles from the hotel and two springs nearby provided mineral
waters.Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection
Seven Gables Hotel
Asa Watson replaced the log
hotel with this 125 room hotel that
could accommodate
300-400 guests.
Montvale Springs Hotel
By the 1860’s the 125-room Seven Gables Hotel had become known as the Saratoga
of The South.
Historic Trees
Rare Ginkgo trees planted in
the 1860’s by Asa Watson,
survive today.
1920’s photos from Knox County Library’s Calvin M.
McClung Historical Collection
Montvale Cedars
Today Cedar trees planted in the 1800’s line
the old Montvale road
as shown in this 1920’s photo.
Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection
The Bandstand
In the 19th century guests
were entertained by band
concerts, dances, and musical
entertainment.
Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection
The Third Montvale Springs
HotelWhen the original
hotel burned in 1896, it was
replaced in 1901 with this
5-gable hotel that could accommodate
100 guests.
1920’s Montvale
Rear view of the building that
replaced The Seven Gables Hotel – still
guests came to escape summer
heat and to take the waters.
Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection
Montvale’s Springs
Montvale spring water was praised by Dr. John Moorman as
valuable in the treatment of maladies ranging from anemia to dyspepsia, dropsy, paralysis and nervous
afflictions.
Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection
Healing WatersThe mineral waters
were rich in iron and sulphuric acid as well
as lime, magnesia, chlorine, soda and
potash.Montvale water was
described as light, refreshing, and
agreeable to the taste.
Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection
Mountain Views
The view from the hotel’s 200-foot
porch toward Chilhowee
Mountain and the Smokies attracted
guests through the 1920’s and
1930’s.Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection
Pflanze Family
Ludwig Pflaze of Maryville
purchased Montvale in 1911. The family lived in
this house and operated the hotel until it burned in
1933.Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection
Montvale Hotel Kitchens
The hotel was known for its excellent food – especially its
homemade bread and chicken pie.
Roxie Thompson recalled her first job at Montvale was to kill 25
chickens for dinner.
Meals were cooked on wood stoves and fireplaces heated
the hotel.
Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection
Seven Gables Pavilion
The last hotel at Montvale burned in
1933. Only the stone steps remained.
The YMCA purchased the property for a camp in 1947 and
later constructed the Seven Gables Pavilion
on the hotel site.
The Twin House
Little is known of the origins of this unusual
structure. One theory is that the house combines
two of the cabins that lined the main road in
the 19th century. The YMCA used the twin
house as housing for counselors and storage for camping equipment.
The Clay House
Built by Ludwig Pflanze sometime
after 1911, the clay house is an example
of rammed earth construction and is
thought to be one of the first such buildings east of the Mississippi.
The clay house was used by the YMCA as
housing for camp counselors.
Ludwig Pflanze also built the clay barn using rammed earth construction.
Camp Montvale
From 1947-2005 the YMCA’s Camp
Montvale provided special summer
camping experiences and happy memories
for many, many campers.
Camp Montvale Memories
Montvale’s Future
Montvale’s storied history continues
with Harmony Adoptions and the Harmony Family
Center at Montvale.
The grounds at Montvale will once again welcome families and children.
The Infirmary will become the new therapy center.
Montvale Today
Cabins will house children and
families in residential therapy
at the Harmony Family Center.
The lodge and grounds will be available for community events.
And Montvale will continue to be a place of peace, beauty, and healing.