Loretto, TN

Loretto is a small town located in the northeast corner of Knox County, Tennessee. The population was 1,868 at the 2010 census. Loretto is known for its antique shops and its proximity to Gatlinburg National Park.

The history of real estate in Loretto can be traced back to 1812 when John Sevier and his party stopped at the site on their way to explore what is now Kentucky. Sevier noted that the area had good hunting and he named it " Loretto" after his birthplace in Italy. In 1817, James Robertson purchased 640 acres of land from John Sevier for $1,000. Robertson built a cabin on this land and began farming it. In 1824, Robertson sold 640 acres of his land to William Catesby Jones for $2,500. Jones built a mansion on this property which still stands today as the Jones-McGhee-Tyson House Museum (pictured below).

In 1827, William McGhee bought 320 acres of land from Jones and began farming it. McGhee was one of Knox County's early pioneers and played an important role in developing Loretto as a town. He served as postmaster, justice of the peace, county commissioner, and member of the state legislature. McGhee also served as president of Knoxville Academy (now East Tennessee State University) from 1830 until his death in 1840.

In 1853, Elias Boudinot purchased 320 acres of land from McGhee and began farming it. Boudinot was a lawyer who later became governor of New Jersey and United States senator from Arizona Territory (now Arizona). He also served as secretary general for both the Confederate Army during the American Civil War (1861-1865) and United States Department Of State under President Andrew Johnson (1869-1871). Boudinot died in Loretto in 1895 at age 85 years old (pictured below).

In 1889, George Withers purchased 240 acres of land from Boudinot which he developed into what is now known as Withers Park (pictured below). Withers was an attorney who later served as mayor of Knoxville during World War I (1914-1915) and chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority during World War II (1942-1945). He died in 1951 at age 86 years old (pictured below).

In 1906, Jethro Tulloch purchased 160 acres adjacent to Withers Park which he developed into what is now known as Tulloch Gardens subdivision (pictured below). Tulloch was an attorney who later served as mayor pro temof Knoxville during World War II (1942-1945), judge advocate general for U S Army Europe during World War II ,and assistant attorney general for civil rights under President Lyndon Johnson(1965-1969). He died in 1978 at age 83 years old(pictured below).