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MHC news
Historical Markers: At the June 18th meeting, the Metro Historical Commission approved three new privately-funded historical markers. The Old Woman's Home (2817 West End Ave.), later named The West End Home for Ladies, functioned from 1891 to 1984. A marker for the Germantown Brewery District, to be placed near the corner of 5th Ave. N. and Madison St., will include a map etching with the historic locations of four breweries. The Rev. William Gower/Centenary United Methodist Church (6809 Gower Rd.) will detail the history of the early Gower family settlers, the 1816 Gower cemetery and the 1923 church building. The Lockland Spring marker in East Nashville, which had been previously damaged, was recently refurbished and in June was moved to a safer location at the corner of Woodland St and N. 17th St. The Lockland Springs Neighborhood Association funded the repairs.
 In late June, the historical marker for Randall Jarrell was re-installed on the grounds of Hume-Fogg High School in downtown Nashville. Jarrell was a graduate of Hume-Fogg and Vanderbilt and the 11th U.S. Poet Laureate (1956-58). During his service in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the early 1940s, Jarrell served as a celestial navigation tower operator. A distinguished poet, critic, novelist, essayist, and teacher, he won the National Book Awards for Poetry in 1960. The marker has been placed in a small garden beside the south elevation of the historic school building. Ex-Circuit Court Judge Walter Kurtz (pictured at left) attended the marker re-installation.
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Marker Project: Several historical markers being funded
under the council district Marker Project were also approved at the June
MHC meeting. The Joy Floral Company (District 5) will document the Joy
family and their greenhouse operations along Lischey Ave., started in
the 1890s. A marker for the TN Hospital for the Insane (District 13)
will be placed near the site of where the massive Gothic-style complex,
designed by local architect Adolphus Heiman, once stood south of
Murfreesboro Pike. The Commission also approved a marker for Ravenwood
(District 14), to be placed near the Stones River Park on the site of a
1940s estate that later became the private Ravenwood Club.
 The GranDale marker dedication ceremony will be held Sunday, July 8th at 5:00 p.m. in front of GranDale Manor, 200 Nashboro Blvd. The house was built in 1830, rebuilt in 1859, and expanded in 1880 with wings added in the 1970s. By the 1940s, it was the home of Perry Dale Sr. and Alberta G. Dale, owners of the Dale Foods canning factory, now known as Cannery Row. Here are some behind-the-scenes working shots during the marker manufacturing process at Sewah Studios!
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GranDale marker during manufacturing process at Sewah Studios in Marietta, Ohio. Credit: Sewah Studios.
MHZC news
On Wednesday June 20th, the MHZC recommended approval of three new overlays: a Historic Landmark Overlay for 1431 Shelton Avenue, expansion of the Eastwood Neighborhood Conservation Zoning Overlay (NCZO), and a new NCZO for a portion of the Edgehill neighborhood. Planning Commission’s public hearing on these three rezonings is expected to take place on June 28th and Council’s public hearing for all three overlays will take place on July 3rd.
In late June, MHZC staff participated in some continuing education during a site visit with Childress Construction, Inc. Staff toured two homes in Franklin, TN that are in the process of being rehabilitated. Bo Childress presented information about common issues encountered during the rehab of older homes and potential solutions. Staff also had the opportunity to tour the Joslin & Son’s Sign workshop and learned how different signs are manufactured and installed.
(left) MHZC staff toured the Joslin & Son's sign workshop and two homes being rehabilitated with Bo Childress (right). Credit: Robin Zeigler, MHZC.
 In June, the MHC welcomed a new member, Commissioner E. Thomas Wood. A Nashville native, Commissioner Wood has an extensive background as an author of numerous books and other publications about historical events and topics, including several articles on Nashville history. He was a business and investigative journalist for more than 25 years with various local publications, including The Tennessean and the Nashville Scene, and he has also written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and other national media outlets. Commissioner Wood holds an M. Phil. in European Studies from the
Pembroke College, Cambridge and a B.A. in English and classics from
Vanderbilt University. Since 2012, he has been a staff writer for Nashville-based global law firm Pillsbury Winthrop. He co-edited Nashville: An American Self-Portrait with the late John Egerton and recently authored Karski: How One Man Tried to Stop the Holocaust and a centennial history for the Nashville School of Law. Since 1998, he has been a Board member of the state-chartered Tennessee Holocaust Commission, which supports Holocaust-related education in the state's secondary schools. Welcome Commissioner Wood!
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 The newest MHZC Commissioner, David L. Price is a 14-year resident of the historic Lockeland Springs neighborhood in East Nashville. As an Architectural Historian in the Nashville office of TRC Environmental Corporation, David consults with clients to ensure that historic resources are considered in the planning of infrastructure projects and other developments in compliance with Federal and State historic preservation laws. He earned his undergraduate degree in American Studies from Sewanee: The University of the South, and an M.A. in History from the Public History graduate program at Middle Tennessee State University. He has extensive experience in public history interpretative projects and historical rsearch and documentation, including Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) and Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) recordation. A former board member and past President of Historic Nashville, Inc., he currently serves on the board of the Bells Bend Conservation Corridor. He is married with two children and plays mandolin in a local bluegrass band. Welcome Commissioner Price!
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Ann Nielson’s term as a commissioner for the MHZC expired in June. She has served the MHZC since 2001. Prior to that, she served on Nashville's Metropolitan Planning Commission. Her dedication to Metro has been extensive and her insight and direction will be greatly missed. Nielson is the Director of Housing Facilities at Vanderbilt University. Thank you for your service, Commissioner Nielson! |
The Metro Historical Commission Foundation's Back to Cuba celebration was held at historic Grassmere on June 7th. As the Foundation's first fundraiser, Back to Cuba drew about 130 attendees decked out in their best Cuban-inspired attire. Several of the MHC and MHZC commissioners attended to show their support for the Foundation. Grassmere opened its doors for private tours during the event and the yard space behind the mansion was filled with Cuban-inspired decor, including exotic flower arrangements and colorful lanterns. Patrons enjoyed Cuban fare and a photo booth with backdrops of scenic Cuban streetscapes and historic Grassmere photos. The Foundation looks forward to hosting another successful event next year. More Back to Cuba photos are available for viewing on the MHC Facebook page. Thanks to all who supported this event through donations, planning assistance and attendance!
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 (top, L to R) MHC Commissioner Lynn Maddox, Davidson County Historian Dr. Carole Bucy, MHC CommissionerJim Hoobler, MHZC Commissioner Elizabeth Mayhall, MHC/MHZC Commissioner Menie Bell, and MHC/MHZC Executive Director Tim Walker pose at the photo booth; (lower left) festive decor behind the mansion; (lower right) MHC staff member Paula Person showed support for the event by wearing a beautiful flamenco dress. Credit: Paula Person, MHC.
 The DISTRICT is a private nonprofit organization formed in the late 1980s through a collaboration between the Metropolitan Historical Commission and Historic Nashville, Inc. (HNI) with seed money from the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agnecy. Patterned after the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street Program, it is dedicated to economic and community revitalization in three of downtown Nashville's historic districts. This year, The DISTRICT will recognize MHZC Commissioner Elizabeth Mayhall with the 2018 Spirit of The DISTRICT Award, presented annually to a person or persons who have made a
significant commitment to the vitality of downtown Nashville.
Elizabeth co-chaired the Market Street Festival for three years
and produced the first downtown home tours. She previously served on the boards of both HNI and the Historic Riverfront Association. A Vice President and Senior Trust Advisor with Regions Financial Corporation (formerly AmSouth Bank)
for 18 years, she has also served
The DISTRICT as Board Chair and member of the Executive Committee. Elizabeth currently serves as a commissioner on the
Metropolitan Historic Zoning Commission and board member of the Central
Business Improvement District (CBID) and the Nashville Downtown
Partnership. Congratulations Commissioner Mayhall!
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On June 29, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson visited Nashville and the newly-completed J. Percy Priest Dam on the Stones River. At an event that was attended by over 4,000 people, the President honored the late Congressman James Percy Priest by renaming the dam (originally Stewarts Ferry Reservoir) after Priest, who served as a state representative in Tennessee's 5th and 6th districts from 1941-1956. Construction of the dam began in June 1963 and was completed in December 1967. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has posted historical photos of the dam's construction, news articles and other information here. See the J. Percy Priest Lake's Facebook page for coverage of the 2018 commemoration ceremony.The Nashville Retrospect also featured a piece with photos from the dam's dedication and a podcast interview with nonagenarian Frank Schwartz.
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(upper) View of the newly-completed dam in 1968. Credit: TSLA; (lower) 2018 view of J. Percy Priest Dam from the Stones River Bend Park. Credit: Caroline Eller, MHC.
 The Bellevue History & Genealogy Group has just launched a new website with all of their program listings! The group regularly hosts excellent historical lectures with local authors and historians, and has been doing so for 13 years. Events are held weekly at the Bellevue YMCA at 8101 Hwy 100, Bellevue, 37221. All programs are free of charge to YMCA and FiftyForward members and guests are always welcome. Several lectures for July and August have been posted. For further information, please contact MHC Commissioner and historian Bob Allen or visit the new website on Author's Corner.
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 The Old Hickory Centennial event was held June 1st-3rd and was a great success! As a result of the connections made during the event planning and historical research, one resident located 1940s home videos in her family's attic that show the early development in the area and homes along Hadley Ave. This and other historic photos, many of which were digitized during the event, can be explored on the Old Hickory Centennial Facebook page. Davidson County Historian Dr. Carole Bucy spoke to the crowd during her session, "Nashville Women in World War I" while Councilman Larry Hagar (District 11) and Congressman Jim Cooper also attended to show their support.
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(left) Dr. Carole Bucy speaking to a crowd at the Old Hickory Centennial; (right) Councilman Larry Hagar and Congressman Jim Cooper showing their support. Credit: Jessica Reeves, MHC.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced on June 13th that guided walking tours of Nashville’s legendary Music Row will be offered to the public beginning June 20th. The tours will be conducted in partnership with Let’s Go Travelin’ Tours and Historic Tours of America’s Old Town Trolley Tours.
“Amid its unassuming former homes and small commercial buildings, visitors will discover that Music Row is truly a one-stop-shop for every aspect of the music industry," said Carolyn Brackett, Senior Field Officer for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “Everything from recording studios, record labels, publishing houses and even housing are all found along the streets of this district, creating a musical ecosystem unlike anything that can be found anywhere else in the country.” Tours will trace the history of Music Row’s development, spanning from the 1950s and ‘60s (when artists including Patsy Cline, Elvis Presley, and Bob Dylan recorded there) to the present day, with the presence of stars such as Chris Stapleton and Jason Isbell. Visitors will see the places that shaped the emergence of pop artists like Neil Young and Contemporary Christian artists like Amy Grant in the 1970s and ‘80s, as well as the places associated with the explosion of Garth Brooks’ “Garthmania” in the 1990s. In addition to highlighting many of the artists who have recorded on Music Row, the tour will share behind-the-scenes stories of how music is created, from songwriting to recording and promotion.
Walking tours will be offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Summer evening tours are also offered on Mondays and Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. (Old Town Trolley transportation is not provided for evening tours). Tickets are $35.00 and may be purchased through Trusted Tours: Music Row Walking Tour or Let's Go Travelin'. Private group tours may also be booked for other dates through Let’s Go Travelin’. A portion of each ticket sold will support a new Music Row Preservation Fund managed by Historic Nashville, Inc.
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