The Cas Plague

I was appalled at the article by Betty Bean on Cas Walker ["Cas," Vol. 8, No. 30]. That man was one of the worst individuals that this city has ever had. His preying on the poor and uneducated in Knoxville was an atrocity. His grocery stores were the nastiest, most unhealthy places to buy food in Knoxville at that time and most certainly would be now. On several occasions his meat cutters were arrested and put in the workhouse for putting spices on old meat to make them appear to be fresh and healthy. His writings in the Watchdog were the mumblings of an old, senile, power hungry man.

He attacked some good people in this city and I for one hope that Knoxville has heard the last of him. Hopefully we won't be plagued by anyone like him ever again.

Eric Julian
Knoxville

A View From Afar

Six months ago my wife and I moved from Knoxville to Washington D.C. after living in Knoxville for 12 years. The entire time that we lived there we lived in Fort Sanders. It was the only place around that was within walking distance to downtown, the strip, the University and most of the places that we frequented. Yeah, sometimes the place got noisy and filthy (particularly after a football game) but it was happenin' and it had color. Most of that time we lived in Laurel Terrace, that big brick house at Laurel and 15th with the small porch on the top floor. I mention that house because almost everyone in that part of Knoxville knows the house. The reason that most people know the house is because it has character, it is impressive, and it is beautiful. All these things are traits that the city seems to be intent on bulldozing down.

As Steph and I drove the Ryder truck away from "our home," we looked at the place and thought, "I bet pretty soon ole' Trammell will sell that place and tear it down." I don't believe that that house is one of the houses involved in this development fiasco but it might as well be. There have been houses just as beautiful, just as unique, brought down for the hospital, parking lots, and just sheer laziness on the part of the landlords. The whole neighborhood looks like somebody has run amok with a bulldozer.

I haven't met many people up here who know Knoxville or have ever been there but I did meet one man who had been there for a conference at UT and his immediate words were "Yeah, I went there once...now that is an ugly town!" Think about it. Most visitors don't care about the Vols or the new shopping center on Kingston Pike. No, the impression they get is an ugly town just getting uglier.

Will the city ever stop and consider the future? Why must they always let folks buy and sell the very things that give a city character and life? Will they ever make the landlords fulfill their responsibility as landlords and not just let them sell an irreplaceable part of Knoxville history and character because it needs repairs or just a paint job?

Good luck to the people who are trying to make a difference and the ones who have the sense to think about their city's future. And for once maybe Victor will help the city and not the out-of-town developers lining their pockets.

Tim Stutz
Washington D.C.