excerpted from the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for Island Home Park written by Ann Bennett of the Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission

"The Island Home Park neighborhood was named for the model farm and second home of Perez Dickinson, a Massachusetts-born merchant, banker and educator prominent in Knoxville and Knox County, who owned the land from 1875 to approximately 1899. Mr. Dickinson, who maintained a large, elegant home in downtown Knoxville as his primary residence, used his "Island Home" as a summer cottage, a guest residence, and an agricultural and horticultural center. Mr. Dickinson's house, although extensively modified from its original Italianate design, still exists on the grounds of the Tennessee School for the Deaf located at the eastern boundary of the subdivision. The Island Home Park Historic District lies on land that formed the front approach to the grounds, and Island Home Boulevard follows the path established by the original drive to Mr. Dickinson's home.

Mr. Dickinson is reported to have been very gracious in sharing Island Home with the community. He purchased the land from Colonel Thomas L. Spence (for whom Spence Place, a street in the subdivision, is named) in 1869. He also purchased an adjacent island, Williams Island, which now houses Island Home Airport, and was owned by John C. J. Williams. Mr. Dickinson entertained local Knoxvillians, and visiting dignitaries. He encouraged various civic groups and to hold meetings at Island Home, and picnics by Sunday Schools, civic organizations, and the Dickinson Rifles or Dickinson Light Guard, a militia formed by Mr. Dickinson, were common at Island Home. Citizens of Knoxville were accustomed to sharing the hospitality Mr. Dickinson extended; this affection extended to the new Island Home Park Subdivision."

2129 Spence Place

Riverfront home featured on HGTV in historic Island Home, Knoxville TN

This property was just listed! Featured on HGTV/Fine Living, this unique, waterfront home is dockable, convenient to downtown & made for entertaining. Prepare to be awed by its sweeping great room which open to dining room & library with 22 foot ceilings. The library also features a stack-stone wood-burning fireplace & floor-to-ceiling windows. All main rooms open onto 2, 887square feetof covered, bluestone porches & deck complete with a gunite pool & gorgeous river views. The gourmet kitchen features a Viking stove, an abundance of cabinets and Corian bar and counter spaces. Other features include 11' ceilings, new 14.5 seer HVAC, 6-zone irrigation system, 6-zone sound system. 

Property Details

• Asking Price: $798,000

• Sq. Feet: 3504

• Lot Size: 1.33 acres

• Bedrooms: 3

• Bathrooms: 2

• # of floors: 2

• HOA/Maintenance Fees: $0

• Garage Size: 2 Car

• Subdivision: Island Home

• Built: 1998

Property Amenities

- Viking range                                           

- Sink Disposal

- Full Refrigerator

- Microwave

- Washer/Dryer

- Dishwasher

- Kitchen Island

- Security System

- Covered Patio

- Grass Lawn

- Yard

- Swimming Pool

- Great Room

- Secluded Setting

- Central A/C

- Central Heat

- Walk-in closet

- Tile & Hardwood floors

- Family room

- Living room

- Pantry

- Bonus/rec room

- Office/den

- Dining Room

- Breakfast nook

-Corian Countertops 

In addition to the Robins in our backyard another sure sign that spring is here is the beginning of Knoxville’s annual Dogwood Arts Festival now beginning it’s 49th year.

Best described as a month long celebration of spring, the annual Dogwood Arts Festival offers plenty of excitement and things to do for everyone with dance, film, literary arts, music, theater and visual arts.

This are my two dogwood trees in the front yard with neighbor's redbuds in the background.

According to the Festival website the Dogwood Arts Festival is "a celebration of the region’s natural beauty as well as its rich cultural and artistic offerings in all their vast varieties." One of my favorite things to do is tour the many "Dogwood Trails" which are typically residential areas of the city rich in Dogwood blooms and many other spring flowers, shrubs, and trees like the Redbud tree pictured below.

This is the entrance to my office; I find it hard to concentrate on the spring with the coming of warm weather and all the Dogwoods and Redbud trees blooming.

Listed below are just a few of the many Festival events Knoxville area residents and visitors can look forward to this April:

Events

* » Chalk Walk

* » Dogwood Parade

* » Market Square Art Fair

* » Art in the Park

* » Very Special Arts

* » Diva Luncheon

* » Dogwood Gala

* » Studio Tours

* » Dogwood Mile

* » Rhythm-N-Blooms

* » Jazz Concert

* » Bikes and Blooms Exhibits & Shows

* » Art in Public Places

* » Student Art Show

* » Regional Fine Arts Show

* » Knox County Art Educators Exhibition

* » Gallery Walk * » Historic Tours

* » Art Exhibits

* » Great Performances

* » Cultural Excursions

There's also a powerful legend attached to the Dogwood blossom and the Tree.

If you've ever taken a close look at a Dogwood blossom like the ones pictured below in my front yard, you'll notice each blossom has 4 leaves, 2 long and 2 a bit shorter, and at the end of each one there is a red-brownish area.

So the legend goes when Jesus was hanging from the cross he sensed that being used for the cross had greatly distressed the tree and said: "Because of your sorrow and pity for My sufferings, never again will the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a gibbet. Henceforth it will be slender, bent and twisted and its blossoms will be in the form of a cross -- two long and two short petals. In the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints -- brown with rust and stained with red -- and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see this will remember."

If you're in the Knoxville area during April be sure and enjoy some of the Dogwood Arts Festival events; there is something for everyone from kids to senior citizens.

If you're in the Knoxville area at anytime looking for a house please give me a call or email and I'll be delighted to help you find one. You can do some searching of your own at www.KnoxvilleHomeCenter

All of the great Knoxville area Realtor listings are included plus information on area schools, mortgage information, and other information for home buyers and sellers.

If you still have Thanksgiving turkey left over here's a few quick and easy recipes to deliciously get rid of it.

One of my favorites I fixed last night.

Grilled Turkey Rubens, serves 2

4 slices rye bread

1/2 cup sauerkraut

2 slices of Swiss cheese

1,000 island dressing

turkey

Butter or apply spread to outside of rye bread, place one slice butter side down in skillet.

layer on some turkey, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and thousand island dressing.

Butter other side of bread and place on top with butter side facing up.

Grilled until toasted on one side, turn over and toast other side.

Enjoy, grilled turkey Reubens are delicious especially with a crisp pickle and some chips.

Crunchy Turkey Salad, serves 2

coarsely chop cooked turkey, from 1/2 cup to 1 cup

Mix in a coarsely chopped tart apple like Granny Smith

Throw in a handful of nuts, pecan or walnuts work best.

Fold in some low fat mayo to taste.

You can either use this on a sandwich, by itself, or put a big spoon on top of some torn salad greens.

Both the Reuben and turkey salad recipes are very easy to prepare and both are very tasty.

One huge recreational attraction in the greater Knoxville Tennessee area is our network of beautiful lakes.

Can you think of a better spot to relax and watch the world drift by?

Within a 30 minute drive or less in any direction is one of the 7 lakes that surround Knoxville.

The Tennessee River actually has its headwaters about 2 miles east of downtown where the Holston and French Broad Rivers merge. The Tennessee River and Fort Loudon Lake flow through the downtown area.

Just a few miles south and west are Tellico & Watts Bar Lakes.

North is Melton Hill & Norris Lakes.

East lies Cherokee & Douglas.

You can put your boat in the water in Knoxville and navigate via the Tennessee River to the Tenenssee-Tombigbee Waterway, Tombigbee River, Mobile River, and sail into the Gulf of Mexico at Mobile Alabama.

The "Vol Navy" is also a Tennessee tradition. The University of Tennessee football stadium is one of two major college stadiums accessible by water (The University of Washington is the other) and most home games find 150 to 200 "Vol Navy" boats of all sizes docked across the street from the stadium.

From football tailgating to rowing to fishing, the Knoxville area lakes offers something for everyone.

Visit KnoxvilleMLS.com to pick out your favorite lakefront home.