When the gates opened, visitors saw that the hard work paid off. On April 11, the Eugenia Williams House had its grand opening to the public for visitors to see the dedication that the Aslan Foundation poured into this restoration process.
Katharine Killen, the executive director of the Aslan Foundation, welcomed guests to the estate at the Eugenia Williams House on opening day.
“To see this many people here with us today, it just means a lot,” Killen said. “This has been a long time coming for our board and our team, and to finally see it being used in this way and shared with the community is pretty spectacular.”
Killen and her team put time and consideration into this grand opening. A trolley service eased the parking situation, live musicians played “Bridgerton”-style music on the back patio and Coca-Cola refreshments honored Eugenia’s father’s early investment in the company.
Visitors also had the opportunity to tour the house free of charge, whereas future house tours need to be booked in advance.
Liz Brunetti, a 2006 UT communications alumna, attended the grand opening with her family.
“I’m always trying to expose our children to local history because I grew up here, and I want them to appreciate the area around us,” Brunetti said. “To see the inside of the house that we drive by all the time and letting them see the grounds has been really special.”
Louis Rocconi, an associate professor in UT’s educational leadership and policy studies department, also came to see the estate with his family.
“We live not too far from here, I drive past it every day, and I’ve always wanted to see what the place was like,” Rocconi said. “It exceeded my expectations, and I’m really glad they finally did something with the property and it’s not just sitting here abandoned.”
The opening ceremony involved the passing of the key to the community to commemorate this new space for Knoxville residents to explore.
Numerous events will take place at the Eugenia Williams House in the future, with information and announcements available on its website.
A few of the upcoming events include monthly history lectures, an opera performance, a tree walk in April with an arborist from UT’s agriculture extension and a gallery in June with the Knoxville Museum of Art.
“Sign me up for any of the events,” Brunetti said. “I hope there will be more family-driven events that I can expose (my kids) to and teach them about the history and local stuff.”
The Eugenia Williams House will now be open to the public Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Leashed pets are welcome, and the grounds are free to explore.
“Come see us,” Killen said. “Because it now belongs to you.”
