A tall stone house with distinctive windows circled by stone on the left front and the sides was a landmark on the side of historic Cameron Hill.

The home of marble and stone dealer Charles Edward Smith at 521 Pine St. was among those toppled by Urban Renewal.

Smith was born in Germany and as a youth made his way to America. He trained in the stone works of Muldoon Marble Co. at Louisville, Ky. When a wealthy Cleveland, Tn., family wanted to build a handsome white marble Gothic mausoleum in honor of their daughter, the young Smith was sent to oversee its construction. Nina Cragmiles was seven years old when she went on a buggy ride on Oct. 18, 1871. The horse spooked at a railroad crossing and she was struck by a train and killed. The Cragmiles family also built a church at the site, St. Luke's Episcopal. There is an urban legend that the white marble "bleeds" out of sadness for the loss of Nina.

Smith met and married a Cleveland girl, Annie A. Hartdegan, so he did not return to Louisville. The couple lived at Cleveland until moving to Chattanooga in 1881. He started a marble and stone business on Market Street at the site where D.B. Loveman's Department Store was later built. His first job was to place stepping stones across muddy Market Street so pedestrians could make their way across to the jewelry store of the Fischer brothers. 

Smith did the stonework on many of the city's leading buildings, including the First National Bank building and the Dome Building. He did many of the monuments at Chickamauga Battlefield, including all of those honoring the Ohio soldiers. This included the towering Ohio Monument at Missionary Ridge.

Charles Smith built his handsome stone home at the end of Pine near Sixth Street in 1890. The Smiths lived there until they moved to a house on Oak Street about 1902. 

Daniel H. Debardalaben was the next occupant of the stone house. Frank L. Miller, vice president of Miller Brothers department store, lived there in the 1920s. Later it was in use as the Eagles Home. As the final days of Cameron Hill approached, it was converted to the Stoneleigh Apartments. 

The HCSO is alerting the public to a scam being perpetrated in the community. The scam involves a phone call from a person advising they work for the HCSO Fugitive Unit. The caller then ... (click for more)

Attorney Robert L. Bright, who moved to Chattanooga during its Boom period, had a brief sojourn near the top of Cameron Hill. One of his descendants, Fletcher Bright, was a Chattanooga icon. ... (click for more)

The Hamilton County Health Department will begin administering Pfizer COVID-19 shots to individuals ages 6 months through 4 years old at all Hamilton County Health clinics beginning Monday. ... (click for more)

The HCSO is alerting the public to a scam being perpetrated in the community. The scam involves a phone call from a person advising they work for the HCSO Fugitive Unit. The caller then states they have an open warrant for their arrest informing the individual they have missed jury duty or pertains to some other random legal issue. In some cases, the caller will even use the ... (click for more)

Attorney Robert L. Bright, who moved to Chattanooga during its Boom period, had a brief sojourn near the top of Cameron Hill. One of his descendants, Fletcher Bright, was a Chattanooga icon. Attorney Bright lived in a house at 521 W. Sixth St. near the cross streets of Cypress and Pleasant. Pleasant was just off center from Cypress and later it was made a part of Cypress. ... (click for more)

All politics is local is a phrase often attributed to former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Tip O'Neill, although he did not originate it. But is it true? Maybe not. If we look at voting behavior, the turnout for strictly local elections is alarmingly low. It is the U.S. presidential election cycle that drives greater voter turnout, not local issues. An example ... (click for more)

The University of Texas has just landed “The Holy Grail” of college football recruiting. Arch Manning, the nation’s No. 1 prospect with perhaps the best pedigree in the revered game, announced Thursday he has committed to the Longhorns after this fall’s senior season at Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans. Not only is the 5-star Manning the No.1 rated recruit in a packed ... (click for more)

In a case of addition by delaying subtraction, Tennessee softball’s pitching got a whole better on Friday. Ashley Rogers has opted to return for another season with the Lady Vols. She had the option because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which shortened the 2020 season. She sat out that entire season. Rogers went through Senior Day festivities in May at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium ... (click for more)

After 11 successful seasons leading Covenant cross country and six seasons at the helm of the track and field programs, Katie Stanford announced her decision to step down from her position as head coach. Stanford leaves Covenant to take on the role of Head Girls Cross Country Coach and Head Track and Field Coach at Chattanooga Christian School. "I have loved my 11 years ... (click for more)