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In November, Metro Council approved the renaming of an extensive portion of 5th Avenue in Nashville to Rep. John Lewis Way in honor of the late Congressman and civil rights leader. Lewis, who died in July, attended American Baptist College and was a leader of the sit-ins that desegregated Nashville lunch counters. From Nashville, Lewis went on to participate in the Freedom Rides, to help organize and speak at the March on Washington, and to help lead the Selma to Montgomery Marches before representing his Georgia district in Congress for 17 terms.
Staff completed renaming reports for Sharpe Avenue (changed to West Sharpe Avenue) and 10th Circle North (changed to Reverend Kelly M. Smith Way), and preliminary reports for a potential street renaming of either Ensley Boulevard or Carney Street (renamed for Bianca Paige). Additionally, legislation has been filed to rename Dixie Place to Vivien Thomas Way. This is a private street (on the campus of Vanderbilt University), so MHC is not required to submit a report to Council.
Over the last few weeks, MHC staff has been working with a local designer and UNICO, the developer of One Nashville, to create a new blade sign that is proposed for the west corner of Printers Alley and Commerce Street at the southern terminus of the alley. The sign includes historical text developed by MHC and images related to Printers Alley. While this southernmost section of the alley did not historically see the level of activity that northern sections did, the developer is working to activate this portion with a new neon sign, painted sidewalks/walls and bar/restaurant(s) and hopes the historical sign will benefit the development.
Staff has been working with the owners (long-term lessees) of the Customs House and Union Station, as they have renovation projects underway. Both properties are local Historic Landmarks and part of the National Park Service’s Historic Surplus Property Program. The city was given the Customs House in 1977 and Union Station in 1985 with the caveat that any improvements, both exterior and interior, meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and a portion of profits from their leases support historic preservation.
Thanks to CM Nancy VanReece and LDG Development for their contributions to the Bashaw Cemetery in Madison. The cemetery contains the graves of Revolutionary Soldier Peter Bashaw (1763-1864) and his family and is located on Old Due West Avenue just north of Skyline Medical Center. LDG donated monies to the MHC Foundation that will be used for improvements to the site including archaeology, gravestone repairs, a new fence, landscaping, and interpretive panels. Staff made contact with Bashaw descendants and is researching the site's history.
MHZC news
MHZC Zoning Administrator Robin Zeigler worked with Metro ITS to create a new interactive preservation permit tracker map, which will make it easier for the public to find out about both proposed and approved historic zoning projects. View the new map here!
MHZC Permit Tracker Map. Credit: MHZC.
The third reading of BL2020-256, which would apply a historic overlay on Marathon Village, was deferred at Council until December 15th. We anticipate the overlay will be approved in December. A public hearing has been scheduled in February for Haynes Heights, a potential new Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District in CM Brandon Taylor’s district. Staff is also working on a Historic Landmark proposal for the c. 1911 YWCA building at 211 7th Ave. N.
The MHZC’s November public hearing will be on Wednesday, December 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 MHC Foundation’s Nashville Sites project continues to grow with the launch of a new tour this month – Music in Music City (North Broadway). It includes singing by Andriana Haygood and is one of our favorites! The “Fisk University & Meharry Medical College” tour was recently recorded, and is expected to launch by the end of December/early January.
Barbershop Harmony Society building, from Music in Music City North tour. Credit: Barbershop Harmony Society.
In celebration of the one-year anniversary of Nashville Sites, several new behind-the-scenes videos explore some of the city's most popular tour stops. Check out virtual tour videos of the Tennessee State Museum, Nashville Public Library, the Parthenon, Belmont Mansion, Fort Negley, Ryman Auditorium and the Goo Goo Shop on the Nashville Sites YouTube channel. Please consider supporting the ongoing work of Nashville Sites with a small donation that will enable the development of more FREE, credibly-curated tours of Nashville!
On Tuesday, November 17th, Historic Nashville, Inc. (HNI) released the 2020 "'Nashville Nine", an annual list of historic properties that are endangered and under threat of development, neglect or demolition. This year's list includes the following historic properties:
-Tennessee State Prison, 6410 Centennial Blvd.
-Henry Allen and Georgia Bradford Boyd House, 1601 Meharry Blvd.
-Z. Alexander Looby House, 2012 Meharry Blvd.
-Eldorado Motel sign, 2806 Buchanan St.
-Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, 908 Monroe St.
-Chaffin's Barn, 8204 TN-100, Bellevue
-Barbizon Apartments, 2006 Broadway
-Firestone Building, 2416-2418 West End Ave.
-William Edmondson Headstones (various cemeteries)
This video released by HNI talks about the individual histories of each of these important historical resources. While it's always difficult to see historic buildings threatened with development, neglect or demolition, this is a good reminder that many Nashvillians value historic properties and want to see them saved and protected. Hopefully this will inspire historic property owners and aficionados alike to band together and preserve as much of Nashville's built heritage as possible!
(left to right) Eldorado Motel sign, Barbizon Apartments and a William Edmondson headstone. Credit: HNI.
Chaffin's Barn. Credit: HNI.
Legendary music magazine Rolling Stone recently shone the spotlight on an under-recognized part of Nashville's history in a powerful article about the Black Country Music Association (BCMA). Started in 1995 by fourteen artists, journalists, college administrators, branding experts, and music-industry workers, the BCMA's mission was "to educate the public about the role black artists have played in country music’s history and provide a space for black artists currently working in the genre to join together in force."
Cleve Francis (right) singing to patrons at a Virginia restaurant in 1990. Credit: Frank Johnston/The The Washington Post/Getty Images.
The Association was the brainchild of country singer and cardiologist Cleve Francis. In the late 1990s, the organization found a home at Bluebird Cafe and its other venues across Nashville, including Douglas Corner Café, the Sutler, and Caffe Milano, growing into a thriving community of local Black country artists. Much of BCMA's success was owed to local songwriter and nightclub performer, Frankie Staton, who became the BCMA President in 1996 and who himself struggled to break into the country music scene as a Black artist. This illuminating article provides insights from those who formed and sustained the BCMA's mission, including images of some founding documents, photos and videos of these important artists.
This year, Buchanan Log House will celebrate the holidays a little differently due to COVID-19. The house will be decorated for the holidays and is available for small group get-together. Tables and chairs, heated indoor space and a catering kitchen are all provided. Members also get 25% off the rental price. If you are interested in booking, please contact Events Chair Kathy Blums at (615) 871-4524 for availability and pricing.
Buchanan Log House (BLH) also has many wonderful gifts available in the Gift Shop, and all proceeds support Buchanan Log House Chapter, APTA. Check out the BLH Facebook page for more details!
Buchanan Log House in the snow. Credit: BLH Facebook.
The National Park Service (NPS) recently expanded the eligibility criteria of projects funded under the African American Civil Rights Grant Program (AACR). This year the program will document, interpret, and preserve sites telling the full story of the long struggle for African American civil rights from the transatlantic slave trade onwards. Grants may be used to fund physical preservation efforts, survey and planning, research and documentation, or interpretation and education. Deadline for submissions is December 15, 2020.
Civil rights leaders and supporters at the March on Washington, August 1963. Credit: National Archives.
A new Tennessee Historical Commission marker recognizes the Madison Adventist origins and founding of the Nashville Agricultural and Normal Institute, later known as Madison College. The marker stands beside Cumberland View Towers at 1201 Cheyenne Boulevard in Madison. Text on the marker reads:
"In June 1904 near this spot, "The Morning Star" moored for repairs. Seventh-day Adventist visionary Ellen White, mother of boat owner Edson White, saw the nearby Ferguson Farm for sale and told educators Edward A. Sutherland and Percy T. Magan to locate there. The founders occupied the property on October 1, 1904 and chartered the Nashville Agricultural and Normal Institute August 4, 1905 later known as Madison College. They dedicated a sanitarium in June 1908 that served for many years as Madison Hospital and later as Tennessee Christian Medical Center."
Thanks to MHC/MHZC Commissioner and Madison College alumna E. Menie' Bell for sharing this wonderful news with us!
Pastor Ken Wetmore (senior pastor Madison Campus SDA Church), Kristen Fulton (Madison Academy Alumni Coordinator), Al Dittes and Luis Reyes (Director Cumberland View Towers). Credit: E. Menie' Bell.
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