Visit Knoxville - Mast General Store

The city of Knoxville was the first capital of Tennessee, but that was some 250 years after Hernando de Soto scoured part of the area in search of El Dorado. The plat for the town was surveyed by Charles McClung and included provisions for a town common along the waterfront, a church and graveyard, and a school, which was chartered as Blount College in 1794 (and was the beginning of the University of Tennessee).

Described as an “alternately quiet and rowdy river town,” Knoxville for a time was indeed part of the Wild West. The infamous Kid Curry, a member of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch, was arrested and held in Knoxville’s jail. He later escaped and galloped out of town on a horse he stole from the sheriff.

Manufacturing and distributing became an important part of the local economy for Knoxville – and the Tennessee River and rail lines made much of the city’s growth possible. Gay Street was the center of commercial development and was lined with stores, warehouses, stables, and more. And then came the Million Dollar Fire of 1897.

It was 4 a.m. in the morning when flames were seen leaping through the roof of the Hotel Knoxville located right where the Mast Store is now. The fire department scrambled and got as many boarders out as possible.

Knowing that the fire could get out of hand, the fire department in Chattanooga was contacted and made the journey to Knoxville aboard a train in record time (at speeds topping 90 miles per hour). One building had to be dynamited to control the blaze. By the end of the day, only five lives were lost, the Chattanooga fire department returned home to cheers, and two blocks of Gay Street lay in smoldering ruins. The losses were valued at $1 million and the cause is yet undetermined.

Out of the ashes arose the building you see today, which was constructed in 1898.

FOOD FOR KIDS 2018 MARKS TEN-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH MERRELL FOOTWEAR

"Have you eaten?"

That's the secret code for love and care in many families, but it's a question of real consequence for more people than many realize. That's why Mast Store is partnering with Merrell Footwear and local food agencies to turn the answer to that question

into a resounding "yes" in our communities, especially for one of the most vulnerable populations, our children.

Fall Foliage Primer - October 10, 2018

It's Week Three for the 2018 Fall Foliage Primer. More color is appearing, but it is appearing slowly. Most areas will have rain through the middle of the week, but the weekend will be great for getting out to local farmers' markets, music festivals, state and national park tours, or a drive along your favorite country road. All locations are filled with abundant color - it's just not from the leaves quite yet.

Fall Foliage Primer - October 3, 2018

Week two of the 2018 Fall Foliage Primer finds that someone has pushed the pause button on the colors ... and fall temperatures, too. There are spotty colors in some of the highest elevations of the mountains, but if you know where to look, there's still fall color to be had. Look for events, mushrooms, vines, and the late blooms of summer. Check out what our reporters are recommending this week.

On the Cutting Edge

Do you carry a knife? What kind is it – traditional, like a “grandpa” pocket knife, or more modern with open assist and a clip? If you spend much time in the Mast Store knife shop, you’ll find that a simple question can open the door to a million and one possibilities. Purchasing a knife is a personal experience, much like choosing a purse for a woman or a wallet for a man. When you visit the Knife Shop at the Original Mast Store in Valle Crucis or the knife collections in any Mast Store location, you’ll want to consider the answers to three basic questions: What is your budget? How will you be using your knife? Do you prefer a folding or a fixed blade?