HISTORIC "SIENKNECHT" STORE

See also, article in Oak Ridger

Photo by Pat McDonald 1998

The recently-released movie, October Sky, which had some scenes shot on location in Oliver Springs, used this store for one of the sets. The above photo was made in 1998, during the time it was re-decorated for the movie.

In his book, The Story of Oliver Springs, Tennessee And Its People, Vol. II" published in 1983 by Snyder E. Roberts, the author devotes several pages to the Sienknecht Family, their businesses, and the store’s history. The following has been excerpted by his daughter:

Dr. Henry C. Sienknecht was a trained medical doctor, but made his niche in Oliver Springs history primarily as an outstanding leader in the mercantile business. He was the son of Dr. Frederick A. Sienknecht (1803-1882) and Katherine Heik Sienknecht. Frederick was born in Preetz, Holstein (later Germany), and died at Wartburg, Tennessee. He came to the German-Swiss Colony of Wartburg in Morgan County in 1848 where he practiced medicine and opened a drug store. After Katherine’s death, he married two more wives. He and his first wife are buried in Wartburg Cemetery.

Dr. Henry C. Sienknecht (1841 Preetz) was brought by his parents to Wartburg when he was 12 years old. He served as a doctor in the Confederate Army, and was captured near Chattanooga. After the war, he practiced medicine at Robertsville in Anderson County, TN.

He married in 1868 Barbara Ann Tadlock who was the daughter of John Blair Tadlock. Most of Dr. Sienknecht’s patients paid him with farm produce, a situation which required that he set up a country store. His help in running the store included his brother-in-law, John S. Keebler.

Dr. Sienknecht and John S. Keebler set up a large general store in Oliver Springs at the corner of Main and Roane Streets about 1885-6. In the meantime, Dr. Henry had bought a part of the John B. Tadlock estate including the present Oak Ridge High School campus. His home was located between the present High School building and the Turnpike, opposite the Oak Ridge Library. R. Sienknecht sold this farm and home in 1890 to Robert Samuel Roberts and in 1889 he bought a hotel on Roane Street and moved his family to Oliver Springs. Dr. Henry died May 25, 1916 and his wife died June 15, 1918.

About 1899 or 1900, Dr. Henry Sienknecht and his brother-in-law, John S. Keebler, decided to dissolve partnership. Keebler continued in business with a large department store under the name of Keebler and Son. Dr. Henry Sienknecht set up an interim store in the old Bradford-McFerrin Pharmacy building. In the meantime, a large magnificent, 2-story brick store building was being erected on Main Street at the Southern Railway crossing to house the new H. Sienknecht Company’s department store. The new building was occupied the latter part of 1901, and/or the first part of 1902. Business flourished.

The need for a bank in the town became obvious. A bank was chartered and operated in Sienknecht’s Store for a short time until a bank building could be built on an adjacent lot. This was the town’s first bank, and was chartered March 12, 1904 as the "Oliver Springs Banking Company, Inc."

Sienknechts was in the forefront with improved methods of merchandizing. It continued to prosper, and in 1918 it claimed in its advertisements that it carried the largest stock of merchandise of any store in Roane, Anderson and Morgan counties. Mr. Fred left the H. Sienknecht Company in the late 1930’s or early 1940’s and opened a store of his own in Knoxville.

For approximately 90 years the Dr. Henry and Dr. Theodore Sienknecht families played an integral part in the Oliver Springs community with their services in medical practice, and by their leadership in mercantile and coal business.