yesterday's tennessee

Proposal for the Electrical System at the Hinson Springs Hotel

from the collection of Brenda Fiddler

Fairbanks, Morse & Company provided a combined power plant that generated electricty and pumped water for the Hinson Hotel.  The power plant was powered by a gasoline engine.  Fairbanks, Morse & Company was the first company to successfully market a gasoline engine in the United States.  These engines were intially used to pump water but dynamos were added later to generate electicity. Lexington Machine Works with Eli Jones as manager was the local agent for the Fairbanks, Morse & Company. These plans were prepared to detail the proposal for installing the power plant for providing water and electricity for the hotel.  The plans also show the general relationship of the hotel to the train tracks and the three spring houses that were part of the resort.  The power plant supported the luxury of the Hinson Hotel but ultimately led to the final burning of the hotel.