This home near the Elza community was built by Owen Hackworth in 1941 and soon acquired by the federal government as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project during World War II. Now known as the Luther Brannon House, the home was damaged in a fire early Monday morning. It’s one of the few pre-World War II homes remaining in Oak Ridge. (Photos courtesy Don Raby)
Here are pre-war photos of the historic Luther Brannon House that was damaged in a fire on Oak Ridge Turnpike early Monday morning.
The single-story stone bungalow was built by Owen Hackworth in 1941 and soon acquired by the federal government as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project during World War II. It’s one of the few pre-World War II homes remaining in Oak Ridge. Owner Danny Brannon has said he plans to rebuild it.
Early in the war, the house served as home and headquarters for Gen. Leslie R. Groves, the commander of the Manhattan Project. It’s now at 151 Oak Ridge Turnpike, just west of Melton Lake Drive and next to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Scientific and Technical Information.
Raby has collected photographs of the original structures that were here before the Manhattan Project, when Oak Ridge helped build the world’s first atomic bombs. The 59,000-acre military reservation, which replaced several rural communities, was known first as Kingston Demolition Range and then as Clinton Engineer Works.
The Luther Brannon House is at 151 Oak Ridge Turnpike, just west of Melton Lake Drive and next to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Scientific and Technical Information. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it was the first home in Oak Ridge to be privately owned.
Gen. Leslie R. Groves, the commander of the Manhattan Project, lived at the home and kept his headquarters there until administration buildings were completed.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
Great Work, John. Beside the house being original,that power pole and transformer can found serving the home today. There is a lot of work to do for the upgrades this city and house needs with God’s speed. It is interesting reading about the Fed’s creeping into town.
johnhuotari says
Thank you, Raymond.
johnhuotari says
You’re right about the pole. The Electric Department went there on Monday morning, presumably to turn off the power.
Ray Evans says
Lefty Brannon ran a service station for several years next to where Chuck’s Care Care is now.
johnhuotari says
Thanks, Ray. Danny Brannon told me a few businesses that his grandfather (“Lefty”) owned. If I remember correctly, they also included the city’s first liquor store.