Home of Nathalia Wright ’33 now open for College’s guests

July 18, 2007
Karen B. Eldridge ’94, Director of News and Public Information
865.981.8207; karen.eldridge@maryvillecollege.edu

The home of Nathalia Wright ’33, located at 723 Court Street, was recently opened as the College’s guesthouse. Wright, who passed away in 2004, worked with local attorney Duncan Crawford to bequeath the home and property to the College following her death.

Last fall, the College renovated the “Wright House,” creating three separate guest suites and common areas in a kitchen and library. Many of the rooms have themes that pay homage to its previous owner, who was a Herman Melville scholar and distinguished professor at the University of Tennessee from 1949 until 1982. For example, the “Florence Room” contains artwork with scenes of Italy, where Wright loved to travel for research and leisure. Family photos hang on the wall, and two bedroom suites are original to the home.

Built in 1925, the Wright House has 2,000 square feet on the main floor, according to Dr. Bill Seymour. As vice president for administrative services, Seymour oversaw the renovation and said that the improvements would have made its previous owner proud.

“As soon as you walk in, you get a sense of the home’s history and of Dr. Wright,” he said. “As a guest house, the surroundings provide a warm, quiet and relaxing atmosphere. From the beautiful woodwork to the antique furniture to the huge library assembled by Dr. Wright, this home provides guests of Maryville College with a wonderful bed-and-breakfast-type experience,” he said.

From Court Street, passersby should notice exterior improvements, including painting and landscaping. At night, a light can be seen burning in an upper-floor window.

“This is a perpetual light that Nathalia Wright maintained in memory of Herman Melville,” Seymour said. (Melville penned Moby-Dick, a whaling romance based on his own experiences as a sailor. Sailors often consider a light in a house symbolic of a safe return.)

An Open House was held for the College community in early February. The Rt. Reverend Ken Newell, former moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and the 2007 February Meetings speaker, and his wife were the first guests of the house. Since then, several other guests, including commencement speaker Dr. John M. Ferren, honorary degree recipient Dr. Bryant Cureton ’60 and their spouses, have stayed in the home.

The College plans to open the Wright House to the public during the 2008 Tour of Historic Homes sponsored by the Historic College Hill Neighborhood Association.