Knoxville Courthouse Blues

My business/legal trip to Knoxville was supposed to be a one day, in and out trip. However, contingencies arose, and it was extended. Luckily, I found something to do during my idle hours. I visited the East Tennessee Historical Society in downtown Knoxville. A friend of mind from graduate school at the University of Louisville works there, Mr. William Hardy. Mr. Hardy was kind enough to show me around the museum, including one of its prized possessions, a Knoxville streetcar.

Knoxville Power and Light number 416 is a 1922 product of the Cincinnati car company. It is a single-truck"curvesider" car. It is a sister to car 419 in the IRM collection. The 416 was retired in 1947 at the end of Knoxville service, and ended up being used as a house. About 12 years ago, the historical society contracted with The Miner Company of Iowa cosmetically restore the car, including fabricating a non-functioning replica of the Cincinnati type H truck. The quality of work to make the car look complete is impressive. It has correct-looking controllers, brake valves, and even a functioning gong. While I was hoping to be able to spend just one day in Knoxville, the hold-over certainly resulted in a neat reward!