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The MHC did not hold a meeting in August. In July, the commission approved two new historical markers for the History of Edgehill (#227) and The Edgehill Community (#228). The Edgehill Coalition, Edgehill Neighborhood Partnership, Edgehill Neighborhood Association, and Organized Neighbors of Edgehill funded both markers.
The History of Edgehill marker reads:
"Edgehill’s history dates from the decades before the Civil War, when country estates were located on and around Meridian Hill, now E.S. Rose Park. The construction and defense of Union fortifications during the Civil War drew many African Americans to the area, where they contributed to the Union victory and the end of enslavement. After the Civil War, they built the free communities of “New Bethel” and “Rocktown” that developed during the twentieth century into Edgehill."
Edgehill residents (clockwise from top left) William Edmondson, DeFord Bailey, Moses McKissack III and Calvin McKissack.
The Edgehill Community marker reads:
"Established during and after the Civil War, Edgehill became a vibrant African American neighborhood in the 20th century, drawing residents through its schools, churches and thriving local economy. Edgehill was home to leaders in government, business, education and the arts. Residents played vital roles in the Civil Rights Movement, and their advocacy included opposition to the adverse effects of urban renewal on the neighborhood. Edgehill continues this resilient legacy today."
The Rock Block historical marker. Credit: MHC.
In early August, MHC installed a new historical marker for The Rock Block (#218), located next to Exit/In and Hurry Back on Elliston Place. This marker was funded entirely by public donations and focuses on the commercial history of Elliston Place. It reads:
"One of Nashville’s oldest streets, Elliston Place was a popular commercial corridor by 1930. Elliston Place Soda Shop opened in 1939. In 1971 Owsley Manier and Brugh Reynolds opened the listening-room style music venue Exit/In, named for its main rear entrance. In the early 1980s the area became known as “The Rock Block,” with businesses like The End, TGI Friday’s, Obie’s Pizza, The Gold Rush and Mosko’s shaping Elliston Place’s legacy as Nashville’s counterculture epicenter."
See "Historical Marker Updates" for details about the upcoming Rock Block marker dedication ceremony!
MHZC news
The MHZC’s September public hearing will be on Wednesday, September 16th at 2:00 p.m. and will be a virtual meeting. Guidance regarding meeting access and submitting comments can be found on our Coronavirus Procedures page.
View the MHZC meeting schedule and application deadlines here. Access archived videos of the MHZC meetings on the Metro YouTube channel anytime!
The Haynes Heights neighborhood in North Nashville is considering the adoption of a neighborhood conservation zoning overlay (NCZO). If approved, this will be Nashville’s first post-war neighborhood with an excellent collection of various ranch forms. Developed by and for African Americans during the Jim Crow era, this new neighborhood was populated by doctors, lawyers and educators, among others. Haynes Heights allowed members of the Black community the type of neighborhood that they envisioned for themselves and their families, one that was not available to them in established neighborhoods of segregated Nashville. Leaders within Nashville's Black communities took notice of the subdivision and noted it as a sign of progress. They called the area the "clean outskirts of the city" and believed the private financial backing of the development showed how African Americans had an appreciation for finer living conditions the same as other racial groups.
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(above) Representative homes in Haynes Heights. Credit: MHC.
The Haynes Heights neighborhood remains intact and largely unchanged. Many of the homes are contributing resources to the National Register eligible district, with very few demolitions or new construction. The lots still include large front yards and minimal subdivisions of property have occurred. The values and goals of early residents who created their own family-oriented, middle- to upper-class oasis in a world of segregation and racism remains embodied in the physical layout and architecture of this neighborhood.
This summer, the MHC has been pleased to have the help of intern Madeline Strom, a history major at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Madeline has been working hard to organize many of the MHC's subject files, survey photos and oversized drawings, a daunting yet very important task!
Madeline Strom. Credit: Madeline Strom.
After graduation, she plans to pursue a career in museum studies and become a curator or archivist. In her free time she loves to read, hike, and travel. At UTC, Madeline is actively involved in the History Club and this year served on the board as the social media coordinator. Last semester, she studied abroad at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland where she took history courses for her degree. Madeline believes in the importance and preservation of history, and found her time at the MHC a very rewarding and exciting experience. Thank you Madeline for all your hard work, and best of luck as you pursue your goals!
Madeline Strom and Tori Mason examine an interpretive panel at Grassmere. Credit: MHC.
Historic Nashville, Inc. (HNI) is accepting nominations for historic properties for the 2020 Nashville Nine, Historic Nashville’s annual list of the most endangered historic properties, including landmarks, bridges, signs, and neighborhoods in Nashville and Davidson County. The Nashville Nine list has been one of the organization’s most effective tools for saving the places that are unique to Nashville. HNI is giving the citizens of Davidson County and surrounding areas an opportunity to nominate the most endangered places in Nashville. 2020 will be the twelfth year that HNI has solicited input from the public for the Nashville Nine program.
Nominations are due September 15, 2020. The 2020 Nashville Nine will be announced in October.
Metro Historical Commission Foundation’s Old House Fair is now virtual and ongoing. Visit www.OldHouseFair.org to access various resources that are helpful to owners of old buildings. For instance, did you know that there is a website where you can buy and sell construction materials? Find the link under the Salvage and ReUse section. Access technical resources, information about honoring and researching old buildings, navigating Metro online resources and more! The site will be ongoing and updated frequently.
If you have ideas about information that should be included, please send those to historicalcommission@nashville.gov.
Old House Fair, 2019. Credit: MHC.
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