Hale Springs Inn

Infobox nrhp
name = Hale Springs Inn
nrhp_type =


caption = The Hale Springs Inn is located
within a registered Historic District
location = 105 Wast Main Street, Rogersville, Tennessee
nearest_city = Rogersville, Tennessee
lat_degrees = 36.407003
lat_minutes =
lat_seconds =
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 83.006583
long_minutes =
long_seconds =
long_direction = W
area =
built = 1824
architect =
architecture = Federal
added =
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
refnum =
mpsub =
governing_body = [http://www.rogersvilleheritage.org Rogersville Heritage Association] and
the [http://www.rogersville-tn.com Town of Rogersville]

Hale Springs Inn, built in 1824 on the Courthouse Square in Rogersville, Tennessee, was the oldest continuously-operated Inn in Tennessee.

Early history

The Inn was originally built in 1824-25 by John McKinney, a local lawyer and businessman, to compete with the tavern operated by the founder of Rogersville, Joseph Rogers. Rogers' Tavern was originally located a few hundred feet off the Great Stage Road that ran through the new town to Knoxville, Tennessee toward the Cumberland Gap. In 1815, Rogers built a newer building directly on the Stage Road; neither building, however, was very substantial, and there were minimal guest rooms.

McKinney's plan was to build a larger, brick inn directly on the road to compete with both of Rogers' buildings. In 1823, he began construction on a massive, three-storey, Federal style building that would house facilities for a true tavern bar, but also individual guest rooms on the different floors. The building also featured an impressive balcony over its door that would feature prominently later in its history.

Distinguished guests

During the nineteenth century, the Inn played host to many famous personages as they made their way into the thriving new state of Tennessee. Among them were United States Presidents Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk, and Andrew Johnson.

Jackson stayed at the Inn shortly after its completion, while he was still President; he used its balcony to address a crowd of Rogersvillians in a political speech. McKinney, the Inn's owner, saw this as a publicity coup over his rival, and Town-founder, Joseph Rogers, who had also petitioned the President to stay at his Tavern. The deciding factor in Jackson's mind, according to letters from the time, was the balcony over the Inn's main door.

During the American Civil War

During the American Civil War, East Tennessee and her citizens were deeply divided over the issues of slavery, States' rights, and secession that ultimately led to Tennessee's break with the Union.

This conflict was reflected by the buildings Rogersville's occupiers chose when they controlled the town. Early in the war, Union forces captured the town, and during their occupation, they set their headquarters in the Hale Springs Inn, which was on the south side of Main Street, but faced north. The Union soldiers chose to do this despite the fact that the Inn was largely constructed using enslaved laborers.

When the Confederacy retook Rogersville in Spring 1863 during the Battle of Big Creek, they established their headquarters in the building across the street from the Inn, the Kyle House -- which was on the north side of Main Street, but faced south. Again, the choice of the Kyle House was ironic, considering it was built with a mix of enslaved and free laborers.

Into the twentieth century

After the divisive war, the name of the Inn was changed to Hale Springs Hotel, and it began to serve as a stopping point for tourists who were on their way to see nearby Hale Springs Resort, a famous hot mineral springs near Rogersville.

The Inn continued to serve as a hotel until it closed briefly in 1980, when it was purchased, fully restored to its 1820-30s appearance, and reopened as Hale Springs Inn.

The crown jewel of downtown Rogersville

After its owner, Captain Carl Netherland-Brown closed the Inn in 1999, the Rogersville Heritage Association decided to purchase the Inn and continue to operate it as an inn, while discontinuing the function of its kitchen, dining area and garden, focusing on the history of its previous inhabitants as the crown jewel of Rogersville's downtown historic district.

The Inn is undergoing extensive renovations through a public-private joint venture of the Town of Rogersville and the [http://www.rogersvilleheritage.org Rogersville Heritage Association] .

National Register of Historic Places

The Inn is not listed as an entry on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, but it is a constituent part of the Rogersville Historic District; as such, it is an historically-significant part of the reason that the District was itself included on the National Register.

ee also

* Rogersville, Tennessee
* Rogersville Historic District

External links

* [http://www.rogersvilleheritage.org Rogersville Heritage Association]
* [http://www.rogersville.us/ Rogersville/Hawkins County Chamber of Commerce]

References

* Goodspeed, "History of East Tennessee." (Knoxville: 1887).
* Price, Henry, "Old Rogersville: An Illustrated History of Rogersville, Tennessee." Vol. I. (Rogersville: 2001).
* Price, Henry, "Hawkins County: A Pictorial History." (Rogersville: 1996).
* Grubb, Bill, "Town accepts bid for Inn renovations," "The Rogersville Review." Vol. 123, no. 44, p. A1, col. 3 (Rogersville, Tenn.: Dec. 5, 2007).