Kingsport in Sullivan County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Martin-Dobyns House
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 23, 2022
1. Martin-Dobyns House Marker
Sullivan County 1796
[illegible]
Historic Site
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Government & Politics. A significant historical year for this entry is 1884.
Location. 36° 32.453′ N, 82° 32.071′ W. Marker is in Kingsport, Tennessee, in Sullivan County. It is at the intersection of Watauga Street and Pecktal Street, on the right when traveling west on Watauga Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1434 Watauga St, Kingsport TN 37664, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee and in the Tri-Cities Area. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, the State of Franklin, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Stone-Penn House (approx. 0.4 miles away); Veterans Monument (approx. half a mile away); The First Kingsport Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Douglass High School (approx. 1.1 miles away); Battle of Island Flats (approx. 1.1 miles away); a different marker also named Battle of Island Flats (approx. 1.3 miles away); Church Circle (approx. 1.4 miles away); Lesley Riddle (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kingsport.
Regarding Martin-Dobyns House. Excerpts from the National Register nomination:
In 1835, Thomas Bachman purchased 1,270 acres of land from Thomas Titsworth.Bachman began and developed a plantation on the land, and married Titsworths daughter, Rebecca. Their union produced six children, the last of whom was a daughter, Elizabeth, born in 1856. In 1878, Elizabeth Bachman married Andrew F. Martin (18531924).On land given to him by his father-in-law, Martin built the house now known as the Martin-Dobyns House in 1884.
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The Martin-Dobyns House is locally significant for its historical association with James Wiley Dobyns (J.W.), the first Mayor of the City of Kingsport and his wife, Lulu Lee Cooper Dobyns. J. W. Dobyns purchased the home and moved into it with his family in 1915. They lived in the house prior to and during the time he served as mayor.
Also see . . . Martin-Dobyns House. National Register nomination (PDF) for the property, which was listed in 2014. (National Park Service) (Submitted on November 12, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 23, 2022
2. Martin-Dobyns House Marker
Marker is above the flagpole anchor to the left of the door.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 12, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 793 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 12, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
