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For over forty years, the Metropolitan Historical Commission (MHC) has recognized outstanding efforts to preserve Nashville’s historic architecture with its annual Preservation Awards program. Since 1973, the MHC has presented over 450 awards to a broad range of historic structures – dwellings, churches, commercial and industrial buildings, schools, even to bridges and new developments.
Like you, we look forward to celebrating National Preservation Month and the Preservation Awards program each May. While we certainly enjoy honoring excellence in historic preservation, we also appreciate the chance to visit with our many partners – the property owners, contractors, architects, designers, engineers, developers, consultants, and more, who make it all happen. It’s a chance for all of us to celebrate the places that matter and properly recognize the people who have worked tirelessly on their behalf.
Unfortunately, due to concerns and uncertainties related to COVID-19, we are postponing the 45th Annual Preservation Awards program until 2021. We will hold all nominations received for the 2020 program for consideration next year. The call for nominations remains open, and we welcome entries for the 2021 program now through the March 2021 deadline (TBD).
Preservation Awards is a gathering of friends and colleagues, new and old, and we’re disappointed we won’t be able to gather together this May. However, we are already making plans for our 2021 program, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you next spring!
Questions? Please email Scarlett Miles for more information.
MHC News
On March 7th, the MHC dedicated its newest historical marker for the former Turner Grammar School, located at 2949 Nolensville Pike. The Council districts Marker Project sponsored this marker for District 16. A morning dedication ceremony was organized by Turner alumni and drew about 60 participants including alumni and staff from Collier Engineering, whose offices are now housed in the 95-year-old school building.
As part of the event, Collier Engineering opened its doors to attendees and allowed for self-guided tours of the newly-renovated office spaces. Beautiful features like the original hardwood floors, newel posts and balustrades in the stairwell have been preserved. The former cafetorium retains its stage and has been transformed into office and laboratory spaces. With its distinctive stepped parapet roofline and yellow brick accents, Turner School is one of the most highly visible historic properties in South Nashville.
(L to R) District 16 CM Ginny Welsch, Debbie Young, MHC Commissioners Dr. Clay Bailey and Menié Bell, and Ben Collier. Credit: MHC.
Alumni gathered in front of the former Turner School. Credit: MHC.
Thank you to Debbie Young of the Turner School alumni who spearheaded this event and Collier Engineering for making this event a great success. MHC would also like to thank District 16 Council member Ginny Welsch for her support during the project and ceremony. Additionally, we would like to thank former District 16 CM Mike Freeman for selecting Turner School as the marker topic.
The marker reads:
"By 1800 Whitsett’s Chapel became this area’s first school. In Jan. 1899 Flat Rock native, philanthropist and real estate developer R.W. Turner and wife Sallie W. Turner gave 2 acres for a new 9th dist. public school. The first Turner School was overcrowded by the 1920s. Designed by architect George D. Waller, Turner Grammar School opened in 1926 with Otto Prather as principal. The cafetorium dates to 1950. An annex of Cole Elem. in its final years, the school closed in 1989.'
Damage sustained after the March 3rd tornado. Credit: MHC.
Both MHC and MHZC staff have been busy documenting tornado damage to Nashville's historic neighborhoods and overlay properties. Even as we temporarily work remotely, staff continue to provide ongoing assistance to those affected by the storm. As repairs and other post-tornado construction gets underway, please be aware that MHZC design guidelines apply as normal but we are expediting review for permits. A new section on our website features information about disaster preparedness and recovery, technical guidance and potential funding sources for repairs.
MHZC news
The MHZC’s April public hearing will be on Wednesday, April 15th at 2:00 p.m. at the Sonny West Conference Center at Howard Office Building. Please contact staff or check our Facebook page for meeting updates.
View the MHZC meeting schedule and application deadlines here. Access archived videos of the MHZC meetings on the Metro YouTube channel anytime!
As preservation work continues to Warner Park's allée and historic stone steps, a recent article by MHC Commissioner "Bellevue Bob" Allen reflects on the many other successful preservation efforts that have helped make Warner Parks beloved local treasures. Metro Parks anticipates that this restoration will require closure of the allée through May 2020. Read more about park history and details about the scope of this restoration work here.
View of the Warner Park historic allée and stone stpes. Credit: Friends of Warner Parks.
During the current widespread closures in Nashville, it is especially important to support local businesses where possible. Several popular restaurants and stores in our downtown historic districts are still accessible via delivery, curbside pickup and online orders. The Nashville Downtown Partnership has amassed these lists of restaurants and retailers that are open for business!
The Nashville-based American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) recently established a new online forum that allow history practitioners across fields to connect, with equal access to both members and non-members. As part of their existing Affinity Communities initiative, this forum is a way to "provide resources, advice, and networking to those interested in particular aspects or niches of public history work." Institutions can also create unlimited staff profiles that allow individual employees to build their own library of learning resources.
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In light of the impacts of COVID-19, AASLH also released several pieces of guidance and technical leaflets to help history institutions manage their operations and response. This webpage also provides users free access to issues of The Public Historian through June, made possible thanks to NCPH and the University of California Press. (Also through June, UC Press is offering free issues of the Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians.)
You can now support the Metro Historical Commission Foundation through your everyday purchases on Amazon! Shop using AmazonSmile and a portion of each purchase will go towards preservation projects in Nashville and Davidson County.
Check out our online newsletter archives!
Have a preservation-related event that you want us to include?
Send a message to Caroline.Eller@Nashville.gov.
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