(from the May 2008 Issue)

Historic Crab Orchard Stone

What is now a historic building was built in Rockwood, Tennessee in 1936. The building housed two Tennessee Highway Patrol officers and was along what is known as the Dixie Highway. It was a major route for tourists traveling north and south and a crossroad for those traveling east and west. The east/west route was depicted in the movie Thunder Road and was known for bootleggers trying to supply thirsty customers between 1920 and the late 1960’s. The building became necessary as Tennessee addressed the increased traffic and safety concerns along the growing roadway system. The building served as a Highway Patrol substation until 1952 when a new building was constructed along the new north-south highway. This ended the function of Kingston Avenue (the old Dixie Highway) as a prominent highway.

The building is an early example of the use of Crab Orchard Stone and features a clay tile roof. The architecture is Bungalow/ Craftsman style. The town of Crab Orchard is a small town between Nashville and Knoxville, Tennessee given the name because of an abundance of wild Crab Orchard trees. Crab Orchard in turn has given its name to a rare type of durable sandstone found in the vicinity. The stone was first used in the late1800s and then gained popularity in the 1920s when it was used in the construction of Scarritt Collage in Nashville. Numerous buildings in Crossville, including the Cumberland County Courthouse, have been constructed using Crab Orchard stone. It has gained wide acceptance nationally due to its ability to withstand extreme temperatures and freeze/thaw cycles.

The Rockwood Tennessee Highway Patrol building may be the oldest highway patrol station east of Nashville. The building sat vacant for several decades until the city of Rockwood undertook restoration turning it into a museum honoring the Tennessee Highway Patrol, early history, and stone architecture. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.