FTF goes to Klunk!
Brothers Peter and Alfred Buffat emigrated to Knoxville from Switzerland in the mid-19th century (some 20 French-Swiss families came to Knoxville from 1848 to 1860 to escape religious persecution during the Reform era). Alfred Buffat’s family had a farm located in the Loves Creek area, including the current Spring Hill Park. The homestead of the family (now a 2-story) still stands proudly near the corner of Loves Creek and Buffat Mill Rd. (and is on the National Historic Register). In 1860, the family received an inheritance from Switzerland and used it to build a grist mill on the east end of their property. Buffat Mill Road was built to carry their goods, and those of other farms, to the Knoxville’s market. The mill was powered by Loves Creek. The mill began its operation some time in February 1861, grinding corn and other grain. It proved to be a great benefit not only to the family but also to the surrounding country during the trying times of the Civil War. This family helped to feed the local people during the preparation of Sherman's army for the famous march through Georgia. Grain and flour from the mill were requisitioned by General Longstreet’s troops during their march on Knoxville, and also by Wheeler’s cavalry unit. Buffat Mill was described during this period as one of the largest mills south of the Ohio River. The family still has some of the old grinding wheels, one of which I saw in the yard of the home when I interviewed its present occupant.
Harry Weller Tillery married Elise (1880-1965), the daughter of Alfred Buffat. Known as "Uncle Pete," Weller was superintendent and later president of Rich Mountain Coal Company in Habersham, and became a member of the Board of Directors of Tennessee Mill and Mine Supply Company. After Alfred’s death, Weller and Elise lived on the large Buffat family farm for more than 50 years. One of his major hobbies was penning his interesting observations on the habits and antics of the birds that he and Elise saw at their feeder and on the farm. He sent them to Lucy Templeton of the Knoxville Sentinel and J.B. Owen of the Knoxville Journal, and several were published. His essay on the adventures of his pet dog and long-time constant companion, Runt, was a favorite and over a thousand copies of it were distributed over the years. Schoolchildren loved the story about Runt’s playfulness and adventures on the farm.
Two stone columns (the cache location) and part of an old diversion dam remain of the mill. Steps up the bank across the road, south of the mill site, led to the original Buffat home site, which was replaced by the home that stands up the hill, across the road from the mill.
The Buffat family homestead, also known as The Maples, is on the National Register. Alfred built the home for his new bride in 1867, adding a second story three years later. The house has wood siding, with a modest front porch. The property originally included a grist mill and other buildings. In addition to the main house, the miller's cottage, smokehouses, wash house, barns and utility buildings are still standing. The house is a private residence, and is not open to the public. Unfortunately, the home and outbuildings, though restored in 1980, are in disrepair again. Much work needs to be done to return the home to its original condition. The original barn is held up today only by trees which have grown up against it.
The cache is a camod prescription bottle. The present resident has given permission to park in the bottom of the driveway to the homestead, across the street from the cache. We recommend that you back into the parking place if you park there, so you can pull out forward. But please be careful when crossing the road. Most drivers disregard the 30 mph speed limit. An alternate parking place is near the corner of Buffat Mill Road and Loves Creek Road, where you will park when you go after GRF#70, GC26146. The Loves Creek Greenway was planned to run on the road side of the creek from that intersection, to run there southward past Buffat Mill to Spring Place Park, where Healing Waters is hidden. It is intended that the greenway will eventually connect to Knoxville Center, taking advantage of the concrete walkway that lies alongside the creek below WalMart (where Lost Greenway cache is located). In the other direction, it is intended that the Loves Creek Greenway will connect to the Holston River just north of the I-40 bridge. If you park on Buffat Mill near the corner with Loves Creek Road, we recommend that you cross there and walk towards the cache in the space between the creek and the road, and not on the road.
Sources: http://www.discoveret.org/towneast/NewsNov04.pdf http://www.discoveret.org/towneast/NewsSept04.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Buffat_Homestead http://www.fountaincitytnhistory.info/People24-SamuelL.Tillery.htm