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MHC update: The Metro Historical Commission Open House was held March 8th at the Fort Negley Visitors Center. Staff met with Commissioners, community leaders and members of the public to discuss and celebrate preservation efforts in Nashville. Many contributed with donations to the Metro Historical Commission Foundation or volunteered their time in order to make the event a success. Thanks go out to the following: Monique Odom, Metro Parks; Krista Castillo and W. Tracy Harris, Fort Negley Park; Lynn Maddox and Menie' Bell, MHC Commissioners and event organizers; Pam Hogancamp, Ribbons of Chocolate Catering, LLC; Helen Morisette, Weddings by Helen; Mark Rogers; Cary Allyn, Flowers by Cary; Rocky Alvey and Team, Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory; Dr. Bill McKee and Dr. Clay Bailey, MHC Commissioners; Doug Havron, Gabby's Burgers and Fries; MHC/MHZC staff and the MHC Foundation.
MHC staff recently conducted a survey of the Highland Heights neighborhood, between East Trinity Lane, Dickerson Pike, Douglas Avenue and Ellington Parkway. Multiple small historic districts were located within the boundary and a few individual significant properties were documented with photos and survey forms. These include the Trinity Lane United Methodist Church (1904), Joy Flowers Greenhouses (c. 1940), the Key Motel (1966) and private homes, including two c. 1900 mansions on Lischey Avenue that were tied to the Joy family.
Historical Marker update: The Metro Historical Commission approved three new historical markers at their March meeting: Alex Green (Council District 3); Odom's Tennessee Pride Sausage Inc. (District 9); and Rock City (District 6). The marker dedication for the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) marker will be held the week of May 7th--stay tuned for further details!
MHZC update: On March 24th, Fred Zahn of the MHZC staff gave a talk at the Casket & Funeral Supply Association of America's Winter Seminar in Nashville. Fred spoke about the ongoing preservation efforts of the Nashville City Cemetery, a property he has been highly involved in helping to document and preserve for many years. He is often consulted on preservation issues within the cemetery and had this to say: "A walk through the cemetery is truly a walk through Nashville's history. The gravestones tell the stories of individuals and families from the 1820s to the present day."
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In late March, Congress approved an omnibus appropriation bill for FY18 that maintains or increases funding for most preservation programs, including the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) and funding for National Park Service Deferred Maintenance and Cultural Programs. Save America's Treasures, a program that was without funding for 7 years until FY17, received an $8 million increase. Several other cultural heritage and land conservation programs, including those under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management (Section 106 and NAGPRA duties) also saw increased funding under the bill. Historically Black Colleges and Universities will receive an additional $1 million, while grants for Civil Rights sites documentation is retained at $13 million. These preservation wins build upon the recently-saved historic tax credit, and a substantial increase from $17.5 million to $50 million for the preservation disaster relief grant program, signed into law in February.
In mid-March, Mayor David Briley announced that funds to demolish the 1970s Greer Stadium would be allocated in April, while updates to the Fort Negley Master Plan continue through Metro Parks. Approximately $1 million is needed to remove the old stadium, and the funds will come from the city's 4% reserve fund. A recent archaeology study by TVAR found a considerable amount of undisturbed soils that could potentially contain the remains of slaves and freed African Americans that constructed Fort Negley. Country star Kix Brooks has provided public support for the protection of the historic fort, speaking at HNI's annual membership meeting in January at the Fort Negley Visitor's Center and offering to fundraise for additional site improvements. Mayor Briley has stated that the best use of the property is to restore it to a public park space that can be enjoyed by all. MHC is working with Encore Interpretive Design to produce a Cultural Landscape Report that will assist Metro Parks in planning for the site.
Belmont Mansion will host the 2018 Tennessee Decorative Arts Symposium on April 20th and 21st, 2018. The event gathers leading experts in the decorative arts field to speak on a varied range of topics at the Leu Center for the Visual Arts at Belmont University. Friday evening’s opening reception at Historic Travellers Rest will give attendees an opportunity to see that museum’s collection of original and Tennessee made furniture. The reception will include wine and light hors d'oeuvres. Saturday's lectures will include lunch served in the Grand Salon of Belmont Mansion.
Speakers and topics this year are as follows:
-Treasures of Historic Travellers Rest, Sarah Campbell Drury, Vice President of Fine and Decorative Arts, Case Antiques Inc., Auctions & Appraisals;
-A Pleasing Prospect: Transforming Middle Tennessee 1780-1845, C. Tracey Parks, Decorative Arts Scholar;
-Grounds for ‘Improvement’: Belmont Mansion’s Antebellum Garden, Dr. Judy Bullington, Professor of Art History & Chair, Art Department, Belmont University;
-A Look Through Extant & Lost Gardens in Alabama’s Antebellum History, Ian Crawford, Executive Director, Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society;
-Period Furniture Reproduction Work in Middle Tennessee, Alfred Sharp, Cabinetmaker;
-Stories Among the Treads: 19th Century Quilts, Mary McFee Alton, Collections Manager, McMinn County Living Heritage Museum.
Reservations are required to attend. The cost for the full symposium (Friday & Saturday) is $125; attendance at Saturday’s lectures only is $100. For full program information and to register visit www.belmontmansion/symposium. Registrations can also be made by calling 615-460-5459. All of the proceeds will be used to support the educational and public programming efforts of Belmont Mansion.
Tennessee State University Elliott Hall Lobby--Art Exhibition: The MLK Six Point Plan--April 1-30
Historic Mansker's Station--Heritage Days--April 6-7
Beaman Park--Wildflower Weekend--April 6-7
Edgehill Village--Edgehill Rocks Festival--April 7
Tennessee Historical Society--State History Day (at State Capitol Complex)--April 7
Bordeaux Library--Protecting the Legacy: African American Women in Tennessee Before 1930--April 10
Fort Negley Visitors Center--150 Years Along the Charlotte, Clifton and Hydes Ferry Pikes lecture with Ridley Wills--April 11
National Pet Day Yappy Hour at Union Station Hotel--April 11
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
Cheekwood Estate--Afoot & Lighthearted: Writing in Bloom at Cheekwood Workshop--April 14
Tennessee State Museum--Lunch and Learn Lecture, "Dr. Martin Luther King and Women within the Civil Rights Movement"--April 19; "The History of the Tennessee State Museum"--April 26
Music City Vintage Radio Club Spring Swap Meet--April 21
Tennessee Decorative Arts Symposium--April 20-21
Lane Motor Museum--Exhibit: Fun In the Sun! Pplayful Yet Practical Convertibles from the 60s, 70s & 80s--thru April 16
Black Abbey Brewery--Books and Brews: The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway--April 28
Project 615's Nash Spring Bash--Public Square Park--April 29
Musicians Hall of Fame--Exhibitionism: The Rolling Stones Exhibit--through June 30
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