Several years ago, sisters Kathryn and Mary Waggoner were talking about finding an activity that would be useful and provide them with a creative outlet. Fortunately for Knoxville’s stock of historic houses, they decided that what they would most like to do was to return Victorian-era houses to their former glory.

They first tackled a small shotgun house on Kenyon in Old North Knoxville. After several months of effort, the house shines again, with new paint and a new owner. They then turned their attention to 825 Deery.

The Deery house was built in 1883 for an owner who worked for the railroad. Over the next 100 years, it went through several changes, including a large addition, the installation of upstairs rooms, and modifications to the downstairs. Through all of those changes, it retained most of its wood trim, fireplace mantels, tile, coal grates and covers, built in cupboards, heart pine floors, and doors. All were covered with layers of newer materials, paint, and wallpaper. Dropped ceilings were everywhere in the house, heart pine floors were covered with layers of deteriorated carpet and linoleum, and the c.1900 addition suffered from a massive termite invasion. The termites were largely confined to that addition, and had been encouraged by the exposed cistern, which was found in the crawl space.

The 1900 addition is gone now. A large L-shaped rear porch has highlighted the original architecture. The original front porch is restored, and the original front door introduces the interior gleaming in the light of original and found period light fixtures and sunlight from oversized windows. The Waggoners held an open house on Friday, October 8, to thank family, friends and others who had encouraged and helped them throughout the rehabilitation process, and have listed the house for sale. They have determined that their next project will be a large, c. 1888, Baumann-designed house, also located on Deery.