Washburn, Tennessee
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Washburn, Tennessee is a small community located in rural, unincorporated North Grainger County, Tennessee. While many smaller communities exist in the area, such as: Powder Springs, Tater Valley, Liberty Hill, and Thorn Hill, Washburn is considered to be the central town, due to its access to most county services.
Washburn is a very small town, which consists of only the basics of every day civilization. The town has a bank, post office, school, library, and medical clinic, as well as several private businesses.
[edit] History
During the 1890s, construction was buzzing all over the North side of Grainger County. The Knoxville-Cumberland Gap Railroad was coming to town. Sometime within the decade of construction, it was decided the railroad needed a rail yard and depot along the line. The Railroad decided to name the depot: "Washburn" after the man who had helped to build the Railroad and had secured the legislation to make it become a reality.
Prior to all of this activity, the community, then called: "Puncheon Camp", served as the seat of Grainger County from an unknown time until it was formally moved to Rutledge in 1801. This would prove to be the only time the seat of power would be evident in North Grainger County.
The town quickly became a mecca for people wanting to move out of the slums of Knoxville, TN. The town officially became "Washburn, TN" on June 2, 1898 when the United States Postal Service built a new post office within the town, replacing the one nearby which had previously been known simply as: "Clear Spring".
The town continued to grow well into the early 20th Century. In the 1950's, it was decided that North Grainger County needed a secondary school of its own for its students. Prior to this, any student who wished to go beyond the 8th Grade had to find a way to get to Rutledge High School, across Clinch Mountain, in the County seat of Rutledge, TN.
Washburn High School was the beginning of the end of many of the area schools in the community. As the idea of centralized schooling became popular, the smaller Elementary schools, such as Thorn Hill Elementary, Liberty Hill School, and Powder Springs Elementary closed and converged into the new Washburn Elementary School.
At the time, both Rutledge and Washburn High Schools had the same number of students, and both buildings were built in a similar design. This design similarity is still evident in both schools to this day.
Towards the end of the 20th Century, North Grainger County as a whole, as well as the bustling town of Washburn went into a decline. Without the many employment, and educational opportunities that existed in larger cities, many citizens left Washburn, and in most cases, Grainger County altogether as this reverse-migration occurred.
The "North-Side" of Grainger County (the County is split in half by the Clinch Mountain range) seemed to always get the short end of the stick in those days, citizens became angry whenever they thought the County government overlooked them, in favor of the larger "South-Side" which includes the larger cities of: Rutledge, TN, Bean Station, TN, and Blaine, TN.
None of this is more evident than as of late. In early 2004, the Grainger County Board of Education decided a new Comprehensive High School was needed for the students of the county. Rutledge High School, now with over 800 students, is severely over-capacity. The Board met with architects and contractors and laid plans for the new, Grainger County High School.
While many on the "South-Side" are in support of this investment, citizens on the "North-Side" are not so sure. They fear with the opening of the massive, new facility, the County may decide to close Washburn High School, which in itself, serves some 200 students in Grades 9-12, and bus their children across Clinch Mountain, daily.
What occurs in the end is still up in the air. County officials say students will have a choice- Stay at WHS, or bus to the new GCHS- however, parents are still not assured this will be the case. As one resident stated: "They have fooled, and lied to us before."
All of this aside, Washburn is in the midst of an upswing as of late. The community is now served by piped-water, supplied by the Luttrell, Blaine, Corryton Utility District.
Also, Grainger County Parks and Recreation, in conjunction with the Grainger County Board of Education, purchased some 20 acres behind Washburn Schools in 2005, with the intent of building a park, community center, and new sports fields for the School. So far, grant money has not been pouring in, with the fund currently sitting at $75,000 from the State. It is said the ultimate project may cost near $200,000.
Washburn received a grant from the State for the sum of $282,000 to build 6,000 feet of sidewalks in the town proper. Many see this as a step in the right direction for the growth of the area.
[edit] Schools
Washburn is home to the only operating school in North Grainger County. The Washburn School System is a Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade school. The huge complex houses approximately 800 students in all grades.
Washburn is also home to the pride of the Northside, as well as its only active Secondary School- Washburn High School.
