Mike Moser "I Say" Published April 29, 2005

History in the remaking

Corey and John Legare have embarked on a labor of love. The object of their affections is a brick building that has proudly held its place on Main St. since 1921 - the Motel Taylor.

It only seemed natural that the Crossville couple take over renovations of the historically significant Main St. landmark when Dr. Mark Hendricks decided to abandon the project. It was John Legare who was overseeing the project.

So when the auction was held, the Legares suddenly found themselves owners of the unfinished rebirth of Motel Taylor.

Today their vision for Taylor Square continues the renovation effort using a fabric of history and modernistic features for a unique commercial development that they hope will grace 188 N. Main St. for another 100 years.

The Legares discussed their work in progress with the Breakfast Rotary Club this week and their presentation became a group discussion. It is always a joy to witness such talks when native Crossvillians like Bob Mitchell and J.W. Brown are in the audience with their wealth of local history and folklore (a nice word for tall tales).

Corey's vision for Motel Taylor includes specialty shops and a foyer area that would include many vintage photos of the hotel and some of her past owners, employees and visitors.

Because of the poor condition of much of the interior, everything had to be stripped out, but John's vision includes using as much of the original wood from floors to doors.

The hotel once held at least 24 rooms and, according to Corey, each seemed to have a cast iron bathtub.

Rotarian Howard Mercer Sr. remembers the motel well. "I probably stayed in there longer than anyone in this room," Mercer said.

He stayed there for over a month in the early 1960s when he oversaw hiring for the construction of Flowers Bakery, today known as Flowers Snacks, Inc. He rented one room for a month and owners of the motel provided him with a second room to use as a makeshift office and interview room when he was hiring workers for the project.

He arrived in town with a couple of hundred employment applications and over the next month ended up with 650 applications for employment. That is one of the major roles the motel played during its history.

It is legendary that first lady Eleanor Roosevelt stayed at the Motel Taylor during her visit to the Homesteads Project.

WWI hero Sgt. Alvin C. York had more than one meal at the Motel Taylor and the Hollywood crew that worked on the movie of his life used the Motel Taylor for their headquarters while working in the area.

Bob Mitchell asked the Legares if they found evidence of the two fires that took place in the motel. John said they had found evidence of the fires but had not gotten into the former kitchen area where the worst of the two fires took place.

"It was one of the best places around to get a meal," Mitchell noted about the motel's famed cafe. Corey is hopeful that a cafe will open in the newly renovated motel once the work is completed.

The downstairs area was being prepared for a doctor's office when the Legares purchased the motel, and the couple is still hopeful that a medical office will locate in the motel. That section is ready for sheet rock, John said.

They have also found in the courtyard area the old well that, according to Mitchell, provided water for most of the downtown area and northern side of town. Corey said she is hopeful that a fountain can be built over the well.

Eleanor Roosevelt's association with the hotel is often told. She is credited with straightening out some problems that existed in the Homesteads project and many say she saved the federal program from failure.

A favorite story of mine is about the day she came to town. I have no way of knowing if the story I have been told is true, but legend has it that there was a communication snafu about Eleanor's arrival by train in Crossville.

She arrived mid-day and no one was at the station to greet the most powerful woman in the country at that time. No band. No adoring throngs. No banners. No parade.

Probably just an old hound dog or two and the surprised station master.

You gotta love that story; there is just something very Mayberrish about it.

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Mike Moser is the editor of the Crossville Chronicle. His column is published periodically on Fridays.