History Gram - February 2018

History Gram

February 2018



HONORING NASHVILLE'S AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY


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February is Black History Month, but Nashville has an extensive African-American history that should always be celebrated. From the valiant efforts of the U.S. Colored Troops at the Battle of Nashville, to the works of famed architect Moses McKissack, to the many important "hats" worn by James C. Napier, all around us are significant African-American legacies and sites. Historic communities like Lake Providence and Mount Pisgah, to historic Jefferson Street's music district where Jimi Hendrix and many others beloved musicians played, these are the places that shape the larger narrative of our city. Civil Rights history abounds with stories such as those of Diane Nash, co-founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and Z. Alexander Looby, a Fisk professor, councilman, and lawyer who is credited with beginning the school desegregation movement in Nashville and providing legal defense of students arrested during the local sit-ins. Four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's) have also made, and continue to make, enormous contributions to the city's history: Meharry Medical College (est. 1876), Tennessee State University (est.1912), American Baptist College (est. 1924), and Fisk University (est.1866), home of the internationally-acclaimed Jubilee Singers. MHC has an African-American historic sites brochure that documents some of the many important places in our midst, and will be hosting the annual African-American Conference on History and Culture in early February.


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REGISTER NOW: 2018 African-American History and Culture Conference


Registration is still open for the 2018 African-American History and Culture conference. Forms and conference details can be downloaded here. Payment can be made by check (mail to Jessica Reeves at MHC), or made on-site the day of the event. The 37th annual conference will be held Friday, February 9, 2018 at Tennessee State University's Avon Williams Campus. Programming will explore African-American contributions and impacts to Nashville and Tennessee through history, story, and song under the theme "A Panoramic View of African-American History in Nashville and Tennessee." 

Presentations will cover a wide range of African-American history in Nashville and Tennessee. Some of the talks include: "Researching and Preserving Nashville's Early Black History: from the Hermitage to Fort Negley," "Finding Toussaint L'Ouverture in Tennessee," "James Carroll Napier: Uplifting a Race, 1845-1940," and "The Impact of HBCU-Educated African-Americans in Small Rural Communities." The TSU Meistersingers will also provide a musical performance near the end of the program.

Please join us for this informative and engaging event!


MHC/MHZC UPDATE


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MHC staff completed a third day of architectural survey in Joelton at the end of January. One of the most high-style and intact buildings documented is the St. Lawrence Catholic Church on Clarksville Pike, just across from a vacant Art Deco filling station and a mid-century community center. Survey efforts have also uncovered and documented several rural cemeteries in Joelton, most of which are abandoned but retain markers with inscriptions dating as old as the early 1800s. 

The Historical Marker Project continues, as topics for Council District 1,2 and 4 have recently been approved for the following topics: District 1-Paradise Ridge, home to the Joelton Air Force station, 1956-1961; District 2-Riverside Sanitarium (Nashville Colored Sanitarium), established in 1901 as the first Black Seventh-Day Adventist medical facility in Nashville; District 4-May-Granbery House and Alford Cemetery, built c. 1800 by Dr. Francis May, physician to Andrew Jackson during the Battle of New Orleans. MHC staff continue to meet with council members to select and research potential marker topics. The process in currently underway with council districts 5-9.  

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***Correction*** In the January 2018 newsletter, the source of funding for the Penny Campbell marker should have read that funding was provided by Penny's family, who wanted to recognize her significant contributions to civil rights and LGBT history in Nashville. If you have not yet had a chance to visit the marker, located on McEwan Ave., here are some additional photos from the dedication ceremony.

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SPOTLIGHT: Metro Historical Commission Foundation


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Formed in 2012, the Metro Historical Commission Foundation supports the mission of the MHC through fundraising, partnerships, community engagement and supportive programs and activities, including the Old House FairPreservation Awards and the Nashville Conference on African-American History and Culture. The Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 organization with 15 Board Members, in addition to Ex-Officio Board Member and MHC Executive Director, Tim Walker. The MHC Foundation accepts online donations to help fund projects that otherwise could not be addressed, like training and historical markers, and their online store includes books, maps and other historical-themed items available for purchase. 


FEATURED THIS MONTH: Historic Nashville


Historic Nashville Inc. hosted their annual membership meeting on January 25 at the Fort Negley Visitors Center. Dozens of members attended, with Kix Brooks as the keynote speaker, who rallied the crowd with rousing remarks and support for HNI's role in the preservation efforts at Fort Negley. Jenn Harrman mentioned the recently-released archaeology study by TVAR, which accounted for the likely presence of human remains on site and led to the withdrawl of the Cloud Hill Partnership's development proposal of the former Greer Stadium site. HNI will continue to advocate for music industry properties in Nashville, among other important historic resources.

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On January 5, HNI also announced their newest preservation easement for the Betty Nixon house near Hillsboro Village. This protective tool will prevent demolition from occurring at this significant property. Betty Nixon was a former Metro Councilwoman for District 18 (1975-1987) and ardent preservation advocate, who ran twice for mayor of Nashville. The 1925 Colonial-Revival house served as the headquarters for her political campaigns. Located at 1607 18th Avenue South, the house represents an important aspect of local women's history.

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Fort Negley's Art Crawl events are part of the Arts & Music in Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood art crawl. On February 3 from 6-9 p.m., they will host a WeHome Podcast listening party and recording session. WeHome Podcast is a collaboration between Wedgewood-Houston's Seed Space art gallery and the Metropolitan Nashville Planning Department. Each episode features a conversation between two neighbors from the rapidly changing Wedgewood-Houston and Chestnut Hill neighborhoods. At our February event, participants will be able to listen to WeHome episodes, meet some of the individuals featured, and have a chance to be a part of a future podcast. For more information, visit www.wehomepodcast.org.


The Hermitage--Music of Africa--February 1

Cumberland River Compact--"Mysterious Ruins on the Water: Stories of Tunnels and Other Curiosities"--February 1

Bellevue History & Genealogy Group--Bellevue Y, FiftyForward J.L. Turner Center--East Tennessee Bridge Burners----February 2; Brentwood Library Archaeology Project--February 9; Governors of Tennessee--February 16

Main Library--Researching African-American Family History and Genealogy--February 3

Edmundson Pike Library--Retelling History with Historic Photographs--February 7

Nashville Conference on African-American History and Culture--February 9

TSU Avon Williams Center--Spiritual Songs: Music that Built a Nation--February 10

Chinese New Year Celebration at Hillsboro Village--February 10

Centennial Park--Live Music Event to Recognize African-American History Month with Guest Speaker--February 10

Historic Structures in Warner Park and Beyond--February 17

First Amendment Center--A Journey Through Slavery at the Whitney Plantation: Lecture with Dr. Ibrahima Seck--February 17

Lane Motor Museum--Exhibit: Bicentennial of the Bicycle--starts February 23

The Frist Center for the Visual Arts--Curator's Perspective: the Reach of Rome,Then and Now--February 23

The Frist Center for the Visual Arts--Slavery, the Prison Industrial Complex: Photographs by Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick--February 23 thru May 28

The Hermitage Church--Black History Month Memorial Service--February 24

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First Tuesday

This month's First Tuesday event will be the second held at the new Green Hills branch library. NPL Audiovisual intern Olivia Jensen will speak about her grandfather, country music singer Johnny Seay, and the history and evolution of country music. A native of Gulfport, MS, Seay first rose to fame in the late 1950s, during which time he appeared on The Grand Ole Opry. The talk will be held February 6 from 12:30-2:00 p.m.


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History Exhibits and Programs at the Nashville Public Library


February 1--Donelson Library--Music of Africa at the Hermitage  4:30 p.m. (see calendar for additional branch dates)

February 3--Main Library--Researching African-American Family History and Genealogy  1:00 p.m.

February 7--Edmondson Pike Library--Retelling History with Historic Photographs  5:30 p.m.

February 10--Old Hickory Library--Slavery at the Hermitage  2:00 p.m.

February 23--Main Library--Flashback Friday  3:30 p.m.

February 26--Southeast Library--History Round Table  6:00 p.m.


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What's happening in Metro Parks? 


2018 will be a big year for upgrades to Nashville's parks! Metro Parks has announced several new facilities that are slated to open in early 2018. Phase Two of the Centennial Park Master Plan will begin in the spring, which will include a new underground drainage and irrigation system, concrete paths lined by large, native trees, new lighting for the Parthenon, restoration of the band shell, replacement of the events pavilion, and installation of a new gate and plantings at the West End entrance. These extensive improvements will necessitate the closing of the Great Lawn for the majority of the year.

A new tennis center in Hadley Park will open early this year and will operate as a free-standing facility, providing space for tournaments, instruction and recreational activity.

The Madison Regional Community Center and Park will be a 25,000 square foot LEED-certified facility and include a gym, dance room, fully-equipped fitness center, meeting rooms, and an indoor track. The park space will include a lighted soccer field, new playground, walking trail and parking lot. Completion is scheduled for January 2018.

A new 30,000 square foot facility will be opened at the Smith Springs Park and Regional Center. The building will be LEED-certified and include a gym, dance room, fully-equipped fitness center, meeting rooms, indoor track, and a three-lane swimming pool. The grounds will also see the addition of a playground, walking trail and parking lot. Completion is scheduled for March 2018.

Phase 1 of the I-440 Greenway plan is underway. The route will connect Centennial and Elmington Parks and will ultimately be part of a 7-mile greenway that will link 6 parks, create new green spaces and reconnect 14 diverse historic neighborhoods divided by the interstate.

Contact information for the parks, along with activity schedules are available on the Metro Parks website here.


Resilient Nashville: Hazard Mitigation for Historic Properties

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As the Resilient Nashville initiative continues to strategize for hazard mitigation and recovery procedures, it is important to be aware what kinds of hazards my affect you and your historic building. One of the top shocks identified in a recent Resilient Nashville stakeholders meeting was the potential for flood damage in our community, as evidenced by previous occurrences. The National Trust for Historic Preservation posted a "Choose Your Own Adventure"-style flood protection quiz, which allows users to explore a variety of preventative and mitigation measures for historic properties. These include various technologies, ranging from wet or dry floodproofing to permanent floodwalls, temporary barrier systems and elevation measures.

Two upcoming community workshops on Regional Resilience and Flood Protection will be held February 1 (6:00 p.m. at East Park Community Center) and February 22 (5:30 p.m. at the Bellevue YMCA). Meetings are an opportunity for the public to learn from Metro staff about how the resilience strategy is being developed, and for the community to provide input on issues to be addressed. 


Did you Know?


The Municipal Public Works Garage Industrial District, located along Lebanon Road in an area known as Rolling Mill Hill, is a property often mistakenly referred to as the "trolley barns." Funded by the Public Works Administration (PWA) in 1939, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) provided labor for the construction which occurred in 1940. The City has owned the property since its construction, utilizing the buildings for offices and auto service centers for vehicles from various departments. The property was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on November 29, 2010.


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2018 PRESERVATION AWARDS!


The Metropolitan Historical Commission is now accepting nominations for the 43rd Annual Preservation Awards program. The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, March 9, 2018. To learn more about the awards program and to download the nomination form or complete the online nomination form, please visit Preservation Awards or email scarlett.miles@nashville.gov.


The Rest Is History


Kim Trent, longtime Executive Director of Knox Heritage, will be retiring in early 2018. After 15 years leading the wildly successful non-profit organization, she leaves behind a huge legacy and big shoes to fill in Knoxville's preservation scene. 

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LifeWay's Draper Tower was imploded on January 2, with many Nashvillians looking on. Constructed in the 1990s, the building housed offices for the Lifeway Christian Resources, the publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention.

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Funding Opportunities


Grants through the National Trust for Historic Preservation now include funding for bricks-and-mortar projects. The Johanna Favrot Fund and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors both offer awards ranging from $2,500 to $15,000 and uniquely provide grants for construction activities. These grants are open for applications from public agencies and nonprofit organizations to cover planning and education activities. Proposals for both are due March 1, 2018.

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The Metro Greenways and Open Space Commission is accepting applications for the Conservation Assistance Fund grant program, designed to help protect land in both urban and rural areas. Projects may address the planned protection of sensitive environmental habitats, including view sheds, park buffers, and wildlife corridors. Conservation NGOs and nonprofit entities may apply for funding to help cover fee simple acquisition or conservation easements that result in permanent land protection. Program guidelines and criteria are detailed on the Metro Parks and Recreation website, or can be obtained by contacting shain.dennison@nashville.gov. The next biannual application deadline is March 15, 2018.


HALS Challenge 2018


The National Park Service has announced their 2018 HALS (Historic American Landscapes Survey) Challenge entitled, "Memorialization, Commemorating the Great War." In honor of the centennial of the end of WWI, NPS is accepting projects that document WWI memorial sites across the country. The World War I Memorial Inventory Project serves as a basis of this documentation, and can be a source for ideas related to this effort. Entries are due by July 31, 2018 and cash prizes will be awarded to the top three entries.


COMING SOON


The Frist Center for the Visual Arts--Curator's Tour: Rome, City and Empire--March 1

The Hermitage--Exploring Your Scots-Irish Genealogy--March 12-13

The Hermitage--President Jackson’s 251st Birthday Celebration and Hosting the People's House: An Evening with the First Ladies--March 15

Riverfront Park--Music City Irish Fest--March 17

East Park--East Nashville Eggstravaganza--March 24

The Frist Center for the Visual Arts--We Shall Overcome: Civil Rights and the Nashville Press, 1957–1968--March 30 thru October 14

Sevier Park--Easter Celebration--March 31

Tennessee State University Elliott Hall Lobby--Art Exhibition: The MLK Six Point Plan--April 1-30

Frist Center Auditorium--Voices from the Front Lines: A Panel Discussion with participants in the local Civil Rights movement, moderated by historian Linda Wynn--April 14

 


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