History Gram - July 2016

History Gram

June 2016



National Register Update

We haven't received the "official" letter just yet, but the word about town is that as of June 24, 2016, the Fire Hall for Engine Company No. 18 at 1220 Gallatin Avenue is the newest Davidson County addition to the National Register of Historic Places! 

The Metropolitan Council designated the former fire hall building as a Historic Landmark District in May 2006. After years of vacancy, Historic Nashville, Inc., included the historic fire hall on the 2011 Nashville Nine list of the city's most endangered historic places due to concerns about neglect and vandalism. Those concerns became reality when the building was damaged by a fire in December 2011. The building remained vacant until Karen and Gary Goodlow purchased the property in the summer of 2015. The Goodlows are nearing completion of a rehabilitation project that is converting the former fire hall into a multi-purpose commercial and retail space. 

Nashville architect C.K. Colley designed the fire hall for Engine Company No. 18. Completed in 1930, the fire hall is significant under Criterion C as a notable example of the Nashville Fire Department’s period of Residential Fire Hall design, 1910-1945. It reflects the early 20th century trend of utilizing popular residential architectural styles (in this case, Tudor Revival) and a smaller, residential scale for suburban fire halls, a distinctly non-residential property type. The Fire Hall for Engine Company No. 18 is significant under Criterion A as it reflects Nashville’s suburban growth and community development and the city’s efforts to provide municipal services to those growing areas, specifically the areas of northeast Davidson County that the City of Nashville annexed in the 1920s. MHC staff member Scarlett C. Miles completed the nomination.    


Meet the Interns

It's been a "packed house" at Sunnyside this summer as we've hosted five interns at the Historical Commission. Rising high school seniors Joe Henry and Serena Smithfield worked with us for the month of June through the Metro Summer Youth Internship Program offered by the Nashville Career Advancement Center. Thanks to Serena and Joe, our office library is now in stellar shape. They inventoried and catalogued all of our office books, reports, binders, pamphlets--you name it. They also helped organize and digitize our National Register files. Joe and Serena also enjoyed trips to the City Cemetery, Two Rivers Mansion, and the Croft House.

Joe attends Hillsboro High School and is considering a career in computer science. He also works at SLOCO (if you're wondering, he recommends the "redneck reuben" sandwich). Serena attends Hume-Fogg and is considering a career in technical theater. She's spending the rest of the summer working at Camp Woodmont in Georgia.

NCAC Interns
NCAC Interns Joe Henry and Serena Smithfield.

Ryan Jarles is one of our undergraduate interns who is working primarily with the Historic Zoning staff. He attends Savannah College of Art and Design. Ryan graduated from Beech High School in Hendersonville in 2013. Some of Ryan's projects include updating the Waverly-Belmont survey, scanning survey slides and photos, and researching historic motels along Dickerson Pike. Outside of his internship with the Historical Commission, Ryan works in commercial sales for Pep Boys and volunteers at The Hermitage. He hopes to live abroad after graduation.

SCAD intern
Intern Ryan Jarles

Next month, we'll introduce Jenna and Ava!

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Plan to Play: Metro Parks Continues Master Planning Process

Metro Parks and Recreation is kicking off its comprehensive yearlong master planning process – Plan To Play – with a series of community meetings and survey opportunities. They want to hear from you!

If you missed the public meeting in your community, you still have the opportunity to share your thoughts through online surveys, social media and future public meetings. Stay up-to-date by following Plan to Play Nashville on Facebook. 

With an increasing population, shifts in recreation choices and the way people use the parks, the master plan that was created 14 years ago needs to be updated. Public engagement is crucial to this process.

Over 35 historic sites, structures, and monuments, including Fort Negley, the Hodge House, Stone Hall, and Sunnyside (our office home!), are located in Metro Nashville's 185 public parks. We encourage you to participate in the master plan process and we kindly ask you to speak up for these historic places!

The master plan is being developed by the Parks Department Planning Division and a design team led by Hawkins Partners, Inc., a landscape architecture, urban design and master planning firm located in Nashville, in collaboration with the Trust for Public Land and PROS Consulting.

Park officials expect the master plan to be finalized by early 2017. Click here to learn more.

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A New Vision for Music Row

As reported in the June 2016 History Gram, on May 16, 2016, the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) and the Music Industry Coalition (MIC) released A New Vision for Music Row: Recommendations and Strategies to Create a Music Row Cultural Industry District, a report which recommends Metro Government designate Music Row as the city and state's first Cultural Industry District. 

Following up to this report, Planning staff met with Music Row community and stakeholders at a public meeting on June 27 to present draft recommendations for the Music Row Detailed Design Plan. The presentation, which is available online, includes recommendations for building height, building setbacks from the street and alleys, as well as stepbacks from the building façade. The presentation also includes recommendations for implementing the Special Policies described in the Detailed Plan. Carolyn Brackett from the National Trust for Historic Preservation also presented a summary of "A New Vision for Music Row" at the meeting. A public hearing is scheduled during the regular Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, August 11th. In the meantime, we encourage you to visit the Music Row pages and complete two surveys regarding Special Policy Areas (five Special Policy Areas with guidance on height, front and rear setbacks for the building on the site, building facade, and stepbacks) and the proposed Music Row Code/Design Review Committee implementation tool.

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Fun Flashback>>>

July 2010: We had fun watching a pair of red-tailed hawks make themselves right at home in Sevier Park. Here are a few of our favorite photos.

red tail hawk

pair of hawks

tara taking photo of hawks

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CircleSeal

METRO EVENTS


Midday History Munch

Midday History Munch is a lunch hour first person interpretation event. On Tuesday, July 26, spend your lunch hour (Noon to 1:00 p.m.) with Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, Commander of Federal Forces at the Battle of Nashville, as presented by Mr. Daniel E. Hughes. The event is free and open to the public, but register to save your seat!

Fort Negley
1100 Fort Negley Blvd, 37203
615-862-8470 - fortnegley@nashville.gov


Summer at the Archives

Need a break from the summer heat? Visit the Metro Archives! 

The Archives will feature an exhibit about the Nashville Chapter of the American Red Cross in July. In addition to the exhibit, Metro Archives is hosting a blood drive in the Library’s Conference Center. The blood drive will take place on Wednesday, July 20th from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and includes free snacks, comfy lounge chairs, and a chance to win 1 of 3 gift cards to Provence. (for a full list of eligibility requirements, visit the American Red Cross’ website) If you’re interested in helping out, please email Kelley Sirko (Kelley.sirko@nashville.gov) as soon as you can to be added to the list. Whether you are or are not able to donate, please be sure to visit Metro Archives during July to check out the cool exhibit!

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Join Friends of Metro Archives from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. in the 3rd Floor Commons Room of the downtown Nashville Public Library for First Tuesday at the Archives, a monthly speaker series promoting the history of Tennessee, Nashville and other topics of historical interest. It is free and open to the public.

Mark your calendars for these upcoming programs:

July: No meeting scheduled, but be sure to check out the exhibit featuring the Nashville Chapter of the American Red Cross.

August 2: Ridley Wills, II - "Nashville Pikes: 150 Years Along Franklin Pike and Granny White Pike"

September 6: Tom Dolan - "Just Call Me Andy," a presentation on President Andrew McDonough Johnson

Visit the Metro Archives website for details. Missed a meeting?  Check out MetroGovNashville on YouTube!


Music at the Mansion

Mark your calendar and make plans to join the Friends of Two Rivers Mansion for the popular "Music at the Mansion" summer music series on the grounds of Two Rivers Mansion. The series of live outdoor concerts will take a break in July but will continue on Saturday, August 27 and Saturday, September 17.

Admission for each music event is $5.00 per person or $20 per family or car load. Admission is always free for members of the Friends of Two Rivers Mansion. Music starts at 7:00 p.m., but plan to arrive a little early to get a good spot. Rose Mary Lane’s Catering will be on site so guests can purchase summertime refreshments.

For more information for upcoming events and membership visit the website at www.friendsoftworiversmansion.org. All events are supported by Metro Parks & Recreation.  

~Summer 2016 Tour Schedule~

Mondays, Thursdays & Fridays
June, July and August 2016

Tours begin on the hour:
11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (last tour) 

COST:
Members – Free, Adult $10.00, Child $5.00

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skyline of nashville

IN THE NEWS


A few things we've been working on lately...

Excitement is in the air in Madison as plans for the former Maybelle Carter Home begin to take shape. Earlier this year, Tim Walker met with the property owner, Planning staff, and Council Member Nancy VanReece to discuss potential uses for the property, tools for its preservation and protection, and how to best recognize its historical significance. Shortly thereafter, a site visit with staff from the MHC and the Tennessee Historical Commission confirmed the property's eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places. In April, MHC staff met with Dr. Carroll Van West and Ashley Brown of the Center for Historic Preservation to discuss nominating the property to the National Register. We're looking forward to seeing another Davidson County listing in the National Register before too long!  

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The MHC continues to stay involved in the preservation story of the Cordell Hull Office Building. As WPLN reported on June 20th and The News reported on June 29, renovations are underway as the building is converted from offices for state/contract employees to offices for state legislators, with larger committee rooms included. Demolition of the non-historic connector building, one of the first steps in the project, is already complete. The project will include an underground tunnel to Capitol Hill.   

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Places Spaces & Voices: Northeast Nashville's Historic African American Community

We were excited to work with Dr. Carroll Van West and Denise Gallagher of the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU, Sam McCullough, and First Baptist Church East Nashville on the development of a new driving tour of community landmarks in northeast Nashville and the planning of community history days. Pick up a copy of the tour brochure, which highlights over 20 community landmarks in Maxwell Heights, McFerrin Park, and Cleveland Park, at Sunnyside. For more information about the project, visit Northeast Nashville Community History Days on Facebook


Coming Soon...

Stay tuned for updates on these master plans and projects currently underway:

Two Rivers Mansion: Encore Interpretive Design is nearing completion of the master plan process. The firm anticipates that the preliminary plan will be ready for review in early August. Find more details about the master planning process in the Friends of Two Rivers Mansion newsletters

Kellytown: In 2013, Hodgson Douglas completed a conceptual design of the Kellytown property for the City of Forest Hills and the Friends of Kellytown in anticipation of Metro Government's purchase of the site (2014). The firm is now working on a master plan for the site.

Fort Nashborough: Construction is set to commence shortly on the Fort Nashborough Interpretive Center. Visit the Metro Parks and Recreation's website for more information about the design and interpretive plan. 


Call for Nominations

2016 Ten in Tenn:

The Tennessee Preservation Trust’s Ten in Tennessee Endangered Properties List Program is TPT’s strongest advocacy tool for the state’s most endangered historic sites. Each year, TPT seeks nominations for the “Ten in Tenn” from the public from each of Tennessee’s nine Development Districts. Listing on the Ten in Tennessee Endangered List raises awareness of the property’s historic value, gives credibility to restoring the building, and draws the much needed attention of the public. Submit your nominations now through July 30th! 

2016 Nashville Nine:

Historic Nashville, Inc., is now accepting nominations for the 2016 Nashville Nine, the organization’s annual list of the most endangered historic properties, including landmarks, bridges, signs, and whole blocks or neighborhoods, in Nashville and Davidson County. Since 2009, the annual Nashville Nine list has highlighted significant historic properties throughout the city that are in danger of being demolished or are suffering from neglect.

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Old School Farm Recognized with Certificate of Merit

Congratulations to our friends at Old School Farm, who were selected to receive a 2016 Certificate of Merit from the Tennessee Historical Commission! 

Historic Wade School was constructed in 1936 by the Works Progress Administration to serve the rural population in the Scottsboro and Bells Bend area of Davidson County. Following school consolidation, Wade School closed in the 1990s. Metro Nashville Public Schools surplused the building, with hopes of the building finding a new owner and giving the building a new purpose. Unfortunately, the building changed hands a few times and inappropriate work damaged and endangered the building. Historic windows were removed but replacements were not installed. The building was also vandalized as it sat empty and open. Historic Nashville, Inc. listed Wade School on the 2012 Nashville Nine as one of the most endangered historic buildings in Davidson County.

Luckily for Wade School, the Bells Bend community, and the Nashville preservation community, 2012 also saw the new beginnings for Wade School, when it was purchased by MillarRich, LLC, a local company dedicated to providing both residential and employment assistance to adults with intellectual disabilities. Susan Richardson and Rowan Millar, the principals of MillarRich, saw in Wade School the potential to provide office space for their business, as well as employment opportunities for their clients while also providing a much needed community gathering place in the rural Bells Bend area.

Throughout 2013-14, the abandoned and vandalized school building received a loving rehabilitation, creating office and meeting space on the interior, and using the cafetorium, kitchen, and one classroom to create a new resataurant, the Old School Farm-to-Table. The schoolyard has also been repurposed, with playgrounds and playing fields now growing organic produce. Enhancements continue as the Old School Farm has become an event venue, hosting weddings, parties, and community events, including an art and photography exhibit highlighting the historic Bells Bend community.

Old School Farm is more than just a historic preservation/building rehabilitation project. It is contributing to the rural lifestyle that is so important to the Bells Bend community by encouraging organic farming and a farm-to-table restaurant. They also provide field trips to local schools to educate children about agriculture and horticulture.

Wade School/Old School Farm received a Preservation Award from the Metro Nashville Historical Commission in 2014.

The Tennessee Historical Commission Awards Program began in 1975. Certificates of Merit are presented annually to individuals, groups, agencies, or organizations that have made significant contributions to the study and preservation of Tennessee’s heritage. 

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