Magnolia Court | A Heritage Home in the Heart of Maryville with towering columns and a stately front porch overlooking the spirited fields of Maryville College, Magnolia Court stands as a proud, storied symbol of Blount County's past and a beautifully preserved invitation to its future. Believed to be the first Colonial Revival home built in the county and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Magnolia Court is as rich in history as it is in character. While some records place her origins in 1896 and others in 1920, all agree on her architectural significance and the legacy she holds. Originally commissioned by Samuel Houston Dunn and his wife, Mary Alice Bird Dunn (close friends of Eleanor Roosevelt), this home has long been a beacon of grace and civic pride. Eleanor herself named Mrs. Dunn Blount's first female Postmaster Mistress, a title that adds yet another chapter to this home's remarkable story. In later years, one of Blount County's esteemed bankers made his home at the cherished Magnolia Court. With a deep sense of pride and purpose, he served at the historic Blount Bank, an institution that once stood as a cornerstone of the community and now endures as Preservation Plaza on Broadway, a lasting tribute to the county's rich heritage and enduring spirit. Over the past five years, Magnolia Court has been lovingly and respectfully restored. Every improvement has been made with reverence for her roots. From the reclaimed vintage farmhouse sink in the newly remodeled kitchen, to the hand-crafted cabinetry by Gillenwater that echoes throughout the home. The addition of an efficient scullery, a new powder room with exposed brick, pedestal sink and penny round flooring and a full bath attached to the main level office or guest suite blend modern function with timeless style. Original elements like 8-foot solid wood pocket doors in the grand foyer, untouched for over 58 years await a visionary new owner to return them to their former glory. This 4-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom residence boasts spacious rooms, tall ceilings, generous moldings and five fireplaces (one operating with new gas lines and logs 2024). The front porch floor was replaced in 2023 and now shines with updated lighting. The front steps were refaced with brick. A space of 38ft +/- spanning nearly the entire width of the home, this porch has helped to create decades of memories and it still invites you to slow down and savor the rhythm of Southern life. Upstairs, a newer HVAC system, this floor's first, keeps the entire home comfortable year-round, while the whole house updated electrical, plumbing (2021) and water heater (2024) ensure modern peace of mind. There's quiet poetry to an old house, the kind built not just with lumber and nails, but with time, memory and the graceful settling in of generations. This home has held laughter in its walls, candlelight in its windows and the steady rhythm of everyday life worn into its very floors. At the front of the home, white oak flooring sets a stately tone, solid, grounded and warm with age. As is typical of homes from this era, the back rooms and upper levels transition to heart pine, a softer wood chosen for its availability and character. These floors are unapologetically timeworn, bearing the patina of decades: scuffs where chairs were dragged back from family dinners, uneven patches where footsteps have favored certain paths, a softness in spots where the sun has lingered too long. They are flawed, certainly. But they are honest. I've always loved how these imperfections speak quietly of a life well lived never sterile, never staged, always real. The next owner may choose to restore them, buff them back to a former glow, preserve them with care or simply live with them as I have, appreciating their authenticity as part of the home's ongoing story. Buyer to verify all square footage and taxes. Table and shelf in kitchen do not convey. Owner/agent.
