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 The Dungan House at 229 E. Scott was built in 1918 and is an eclectic mix of distinctive design elements. The plan of the house is a Four-Square (four square rooms down and four up), while exterior architectural design details are borrowed from the late-Victorian Shingle style (the distinctive front facing gable with the inset arch) and the Neoclassical (porch columns, corner boards and other trim detail). The Shingle styling evident on this house is unique in Knoxville; only two other buildings have been found with this distinctive front facing gable. One of them, on Washington Avenue, is a 1-1/2 story which has been restored, while the other has been altered. The house was a primary concern of the Mayor's Task Force on Historic Preservation, which in 2000 issued a report recommending measures designed to prevent massive deterioration in other distinctive houses in the future. However, by that time, the house was so deteriorated from lack of maintenance that even the Knoxville Historic Zoning Commission despaired of finding a new owner willing to undertake its rehabilitation. The Dungan House began to exert its considerable charm and its new owner has been
restoring it since
2001.
The architect who designed this house originally is unknown, but the architect (Charles Richmond) and his partner (Jim Robinson) who are restoring the exterior and rehabilitating the interior are well known by Old North residents and other interested preservationists. Their contractor, former Old North resident John Wampler and his firm High Oaks, are also well known for their expertise in preservation work. Together, these dedicated old house lovers have repaired the structural problems presented by the house and restored the house's exterior. This exterior work has included roofing the house, rebuilding the first and second story front porches and the rear porch, repairing wood siding and shingles, repairing the foundation, repairing chimneys, and generally making the house "better than new." Interior work has included wiring, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, and restoring light fixtures, fireplace tile, stairs, and other features.
The Dungan House is looking for a new owner who will help it celebrate its 100th birthday, and become a welcomed and active member of Old North Knoxville. The house is ready for that owner to install the interior details - the touches that will give it a new personality - on the framework of this restored architectural masterpiece.
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