No Country for Old Men’s Houses: Cormac McCarthy’s childhood home burns

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No Country for Old Men’s Houses: Cormac McCarthy’s childhood home burns

Tuesday, January 27th, 2009 | East Tennessee |

Pulitzer Prize-winning Knoxville author Cormac McCarthy’s childhood home in South Knox County was destroyed by fire today. The fire was reported just before 5 p.m. at the house at 5501 Martin Mill Pike.

It appears the house was vacant, and there didn’t appear to be power connected to the home, Williams said. Williams said there had been reports of homeless people squatting on the property but there are no indications anyone was there today, and no cause has been determined.

No one appeared to be inside at the time of the blaze. The fire continues to burn, and only an exterior wall remained by just before 8 p.m.

The home was the most-endangered structure on Knox Heritage’s Fragile 15 list and was second overall only to the natural ridge lines around the area.

James Agee’s house in Fort Sanders was torn down years ago, so the childhood homes of both of Knoxville’s Pulitzer Prize winners are gone.

Tags: no country for old men