Unique Fortwood Home That Belonged To Unique Lady Now For Sale

A unique Fortwood home that belonged to a most unique lady is currently offered for sale.

Joe and Evelyn Shaver of Dayton, Tn., are the first owners of the home at 1007 E. 5th St. other than members of the Severance family. After working to remodel it for eight years, they have decided to pass it on to new owners.

One of the things that catches your eye about the house at the top of the hill overlooking the Erlanger campus at the rear and Engel Stadium to the east is the mysterious entranceway to the left of the house just off the sidewalk.

That was just one of the touches dreamed up by the fanciful Margaret Adelaide Everett Severance and her husband, C.E. Severance.

There's also a stone basement, time capsules hidden behind one of the rocks inside the arching entryway, artwork by Mrs. Severance, and yellow stones that don't match any other in the neighborhood. Also inside are tall ceilings, beveled glass, French doors, gleaming hardware and original unpainted moldings and trim along with a stone fireplace with a little indention for a guest welcoming area.

The main floor showcases two frescoes handpainted by Mrs. Severance. A third fresco is on the second of the three floors.

C.E. and Margaret Severance had a winding journey before landing in Chattanooga. Mr. Severance was born in Maine and he later moved to Hudson, Wis. He was an agent for an express company in St. Paul, then moved to Winnipeg, Canada, where he was involved in the custom house brokerage business. Then it was back to St. Paul as a contracting agent for Red Line Fast Freight. He was in Dakota for two years in real estate, loans and insurance. While there, he (though he was not Swedish) was one of three men establishing the first Swedish daily newspaper in America.

It was failing health that brought Mr. Severance to the South. He settled on Chattanooga, moving here in February 1888. He became a loan officer in 1889 and was cashier of the Union Bank and Trust Company. He and the much-younger Margaret later had a son, Paul.

The salubrious Tennessee air, unfortunately, was not a cure for Mr. Severance and he died. His widow never remarried, and she and Paul lived for many decades in the house on Fifth Street.

Margaret Severance was born in 1878, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Abner Everett of Madison, Wis. One of her ancestors was Edward Everett, the famous clergyman, teacher, orator and statesman.

She inherited his oratorical skills and, having to fend for herself after being left a young widow, she began giving dramatic readings at the campgrounds at Monteagle. Word of her eloquence and the way she could vividly recite long poems from memory led to her to go on the Chautauqua circuit for 15 years.

Then she began working with the great inventor Thomas Edison, writing and directing his first experimental motion pictures.

Mrs. Severance was also a poet and many of her works were published in national magazines. She was a portrait artist as well in addition to her landscapes and frescoes. She wrote a book about Lookout Mountain, and also maintained a deep interest in the Cherokee Indians.

When she had completed her traveling career, there were lively entertainments in the living room of the Fifth Street home with guests enjoying her spirted conversation and dramatic readings. Paul was a writer with the Chattanooga Times and also spent much time in New York. He often brought home friends to be entertained by his mother.

Kitty Maycann was a boarder at the Severance home from 1951-1953, and her husband proposed to her on the house's front porch. She said Mrs. Severance told her that she and her husband designed and built the home as they could afford to - adding on a new section from time to time. She said Mrs. Severance said that the yellow rock was ordered from their former homeland of Wisconsin and it arrived in Chattanooga on railcars.

She said Mrs. Severance would tell about her friendship with many of the silent movie stars, including Mary Pickford.

Ms. Maycann started out staying in a room on the third floor, and she later moved to the second floor. By the time she left to get married, her room was on the main floor. She became acquainted with sisters of Mrs. Severance who came to live there. One of the sisters inherited the house.

She said when she was living there that Paul had the idea for adding a second time capsule to go along with the one that had been installed when the house was built. She said she was honored that some information about her was included. She said Paul removed a stone from the wall of the garage and inserted the newest time capsule, which now would be over 60 years old.

Ms. Maycann recently toured the house that has so many warm memories for her. "I've always loved that house," she said.

The house is being marketed by Debbie Radford of Re/Max Renaissance Realtors. She can be reached at 

 debbieradford@remax.net 
423 718-1680 (cell) 
423 756-5700 (office)