The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-01-13
DICKINSON'S ISLAND.
WHAT is Said About it by a Cor
respondent of a Nashville
Paper.
From the Knoxville Daily Chronicle
A ~ =

A correspondent of the Nashville
RurdI Sun gives his impressions of
that beautiful spot just above town
known as Dickinson's Island, as fol-
lows:
The Island lies in the Holston,
just two miles above the city bridge.
1t embraces about two hundred and
twenty FIVE acres, and was. believe,
originally entered and cleared by
Mr.. Williams, father of Col. John
Williams, of this city. about the be-
ginning of this century. Since that
time it has been in cultivation, and
noted as one of the richest islands
in the river. A proof and the fruit
of this fertility may be seen now in
the few enormous trees left standing
on the island.
In 1867 the great freshet swept
over the island, uprooting and sweep
ing away many of the vegetable gi-
ants, and inflicted very serious dam
age upon the island by depositing
upon the upper end a large bed OF
sand and gravel, and by cutting away
from the lower end a considerable
slice Of the rich surface soil. The
damage to the island was so serious
that until about three years ago
large part of the island was not cul-
tivated. About the time the island
was was purchased by Mr.. Perez
Dickinson, one Of the most success
fuI merchants, and one of the most
esteemed citizens of Knoxville, a
member of the famous firm Of Cowan,
AIcClung & Co. Mr.. Dickinson pur-
chased the island with the view Of
making a model farm of it. and lie is
fast accomplishing his object. The
whole island has been thoroughly
cleaned up, and is rapidly being
brought into high state Of cultiva-
tion.
Mr.. Dickinson hhs long been noted
as the most liberal and hospitable of
Knoxville's citizens, but in the man
age ment of his new possession he
has gone far beyond anything known
in East Tennessee. Finding it in
convenient TO reach his island by
crossing over people land, Mr. Dick
iBson purchased the farm that lies
between the public road and the riv.
er bank. AS soon as he had become
possessed of it, he had the grove
which fronts on the road and extends
back to the river, laid out in easy and
graceful carriage ways, winding about
the grove and leading down to the
island. But the island is the centre
of attraction. 1t is reached by
ford, or by a dry drive in very low
water. Here the real drives begin,
and one can make five miles without
going over the same ground twice.
Nor are these mere fancy drives,
since they separate and serve the
way to different fields into which the
land has been laid off. All of the
cross drives are bordered by fruit
trees of various kinds. and near the
center, where several ways meet, is
an excellent well with convention
pump. There are no fences on the
island, and only few sheds for the
protection of the working stock.
Even now the island presents a
picture to delight the eye Of farmer
or lover of the beautiful, but when
the whole plans of Nr. Dickinson
are completed, it will be a sight
worth long ride to see. And the
whole is to be open at all times for
public use. Already it is the fash
ionable thing for plaasure-seekers to
go to Dickinson's Island. Ofcourse
the citizens here feel proud of the
Island, but still more co they feel
proud Of the kind hearted, liberal
handed citizen who contributes so
much to their own pleasure and to
the pleasurs of all visitors