The Effects of Urban Renewal on African American Businesses

Knoxville Urban Renewal Projects (1959-1974)

Cal Johnson Building at 301 State Street

Urban Renewal Begins

From 1959 to 1974, the City of Knoxville implemented projects to reshape the landscape of the area, by demolishing both residential and commercial buildings in the downtown area, and building the interstate loop of James White Parkway. Three projects were responsible for the demolition of most of the area: The Willow Street Project, The Mountain View Project, and the Morningside Project. The map below compares multiple maps from 1917 Sanborn Fire Insurance with the current street view of Downtown Knoxville, within what used to be the central business district containing 21 cafes and grills, 16 beauty shops, 9 grocers, 8 barbershops, and many more African American businesses that were destroyed by these projects. Overall, 107 businesses were forced to move or close, 46 of which had been in business for over 10 years. Some of these businesses are shown below in the locations where they would have been before the area was completely changed (Beck Center).

Community As it Once Was

The map below showcases some of the businesses that were affected by urban renewal and had to move or close. Using ArcGIS Pro, we georeferenced maps from 1917 by Sanborn Fire Insurance over current street base maps provided by ESRI, to show accurate locations of where the businesses were. All of these businesses were owned and run by African Americans, and offered services and recreational activities to the community. Using the swipe widget, this map can show the changes in the area from the past to the present.

Click "Open website in new tab" to view a larger version of the map.

Knoxville, TN before urban renewal

A view of Knoxville before the implementation of urban renewal projects courtesy of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center.


Businesses Lost to Urban Renewal

Jarnigan and Son Mortuary

401 Nelson Street

The oldest business affected by urban renewal, Jarnigan and Son had been in business since 1886. In 1909, the company moved to 401 Nelson Street, where they remained until 1969, when the urban renewal project changed the area and they had to move their business. The map pictured to the right shows where the company existed before urban renewal, and when the map is zoomed even further out, the current location of the business can be found. Jarnigan and Son Mortuary is the only business that was operating within this area that still exists today. On the other side of Nelson Street, Carnegie Library offered a Free Colored space for the community.

Clearly labeled "Undertaker" and 401 Nelson Street from a 1917 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map

To view an interactive web app of the Jarnigan and Son Mortuary's former and current locations, visit the link below.


Carnegie Library

Opened in 1917, Knoxville's Free Colored Carnegie Library was funded through Charles Warner Cansler, who received $10,000 from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. This grant equates to over $250,000 today. Designed by Albert B. Bauman, the library remained in operation until 1961 and offered many services to the African American community. The library was not only open to the public but also served as a recreational center for local teachers. Carnegie Library was located across the street from Jarnigan and Son Mortuary. However, a second location, the Murphy Branch Library, opened in 1930, is the only branch that offered services to African Americans that remains in operation.

Professor Charles Cansler


Gem Theater

Originally built on West Vine Avenue across from Central Street, the Gem Theater hosted stage shows and films predominantly for the African American community before the desegregation of other theaters. In 1942, the theater was destroyed by a fire, but was rebuilt on the same site where construction was estimated to cost over $22,000. The theatre had 800 seats. In 1964, the building was closed for construction of the "business loop" which is now James White Parkway.

Interior of the Gem Theater which sat around 800 people


Cal Johnson Building

Still standing today at 301 State Street, the Cal Johnson building was constructed in 1898 and originally served as a clothing factory. It was named after its constructor, Cal Johnson, who was one of the area’s first African American philanthropist, Knoxville's first Black millionaire, and a former slave.

As of 2018, the building is undergoing reconstruction Conversion Properties. The Dance family, who has owned the building since 1980 is overseeing the construction. Cal Johnson building will be renewed into residential and retail facilities. Construction is ongoing.

Plaque outside Cal Johnson Building, from  Inside of Knoxville 

Cal Johnson Building before renovations


The Presnell Building

503 East Vine Avenue

Built in 1922 by black contractor T.C. Deloahe and named after Dr. James H. Presnell, the Presnell building held the offices of Dr. Presnell, Dr. S.M. Draper, and the Katherine Sandwich Shoppe and Cafe. The building also housed apartments and a meeting hall. It was torn down in the 1960's due to the urban renewal project.

In 1937, Dr. Presnell won the "Bronze Mayor Contest," sponsored by the Flashlight Herald, a local newspaper for the black community. He won by over 2,800 votes.

"I feel greatly honored. I went over and bought the boys of the Flashlight Herald cigars after they notified me of nay election."

-Dr. James H. Presnell

Jones Service Station

130 East Vine Avenue

Many of these businesses are much harder to find information on, but we have pictures and addresses from when they existed. Some of these businesses are shown here and below.

Dogan Gaither Motor Court

208 E. Vine Avenue

Georgia Street Food Market

138 Georgia Street


The Landscape After Urban Renewal

The area which was once a thriving African American community was replaced with the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Summit Hill to James White Parkway.

Learn More with the Beck Cultural Exchange Center

Historic Beck Mansion

Established in 1975, the Beck Cultural Exchange Center serves as the "primary repository of black history and culture in the city of Knoxville and throughout East Tennessee" (Beck Center). The center houses historical archives, rare books by African American authors, as well as an educational museum experience and events for the local community and visiting tourists. This project was created because of their need to showcase the change in the landscape and the effects on the African American community because of urban renewal. Visit the Beck Center's website below, or stop by the historic Beck mansion at 1927 Dandridge Ave, Knoxville, TN 37915 to learn more.


Resources to Learn More:


References

Beck Cultural Exchange Center. The Place Where African American History & Culture Are Preserved. Beck Cultural Exchange Center,  beckcenter.net . Accessed 10 October 2019.

Cotham, Steve. "Local Black History: Charles Warner Cansler." Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection, Knox County Public Library System. Knox News Archive. 23 February 2011. Web.

Dennis, Angela. "Knoxville’s Black Business District: History Once A Reality." Medium, Medium. 7 February 2019. Web.

“Jarnigan & Son Mortuary.” Jarnigan & Sons Mortuary,  www.jarnigansmortuary.com/about-us .

Victoria, Anne, "An Ethno-Historical Account of the African American Community in Downtown Knoxville, Tennessee Before and After Urban Renewal." Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 2015.

Images courtesy of Dr. Robert Booker, the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, and The University of Tennessee.

Created with the University of Tennessee's Geography department in Geography 420: GIS in the Community with Dr. Liem Tran

A view of Knoxville before the implementation of urban renewal projects courtesy of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center.

The area which was once a thriving African American community was replaced with the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Summit Hill to James White Parkway.

Historic Beck Mansion

Clearly labeled "Undertaker" and 401 Nelson Street from a 1917 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map

Professor Charles Cansler

Interior of the Gem Theater which sat around 800 people

Plaque outside Cal Johnson Building, from  Inside of Knoxville 

Cal Johnson Building before renovations