The annual Nashville Conference on African American History and Culture will be held on Friday, February 11th, 2022. Our theme this year is "Pioneers, Politics, and Preservation." Due to ongoing concerns surrounding COVID-19, the conference will be held virtually for the second year. 2022 marks the 41st year of this beloved event, presented in partnership with Tennessee State University. Registration is available online for $20 per ticket--see our event page for more details. Mail-in registration forms with check payment are also accepted, please contact Caroline.Eller@nashville.gov or call (615) 862-7970 for this option. All registrations must be received by Wednesday, February 9th. We hope you will join us!

At their 12/15 regular meeting, the Metro Historic Zoning Commission approved local landmark status for Exit/In (left, credit MHC). This designation, a type of preservation zoning overlay, provides protections for the property, including prevention of demolition and inappropriate alterations. Exit/In's significance spans from its early roots (1971-1979) when its national reputation was first established as one of the nation's premier artist showcase venues, to a later era (1980 to c. 1988) when it experienced a significant transformation into a modern rock hall. Learn more about Exit/In's history in the MHZC staff recommendation.

MHZC will host a Contractor Class on Thursday, February 24th. This free training aims to help contractors and applicants better understand MHZC’s permitting and inspection processes, common construction and material requirements, and how to avoid common violations. Details and registration on our event page.

The Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU-funded intern, Meredith Funderburk, completed her work with historic zoning last month. Projects included architectural resource surveys for Cleveland Park and the expansion area for the Bowling House District. She also put together the following short history for the Haynes Manor neighborhood in Council member Toomb’s district:

Otey Development Company began developing Haynes Manor in 1964 as a subdivision for middle-class African Americans. Otey was the first African American real estate agent in Nashville, and the Otey family owned several businesses, such as Otey’s Quality Grocery and a shopping center called Otey’s Center which housed a supermarket, launderette, and shoe shop. The Otey family aimed to increase African American business ownership in Nashville and raised $1 million in capital to found Otey Development Company, with the goal of building more housing for African Americans in North Nashville. Haynes Manor is an example of this goal and also served as a refuge for African Americans who had been displaced by urban renewal in Nashville. One 1966 ad promoted Haynes Manor by saying, “Displaced by Highway Program…Come to Haynes Manor.” Each street in Haynes Manor was named after a famous African American individual, for example Dubois Drive, Baldwin Court, and Augusta Drive named for W.E.B. Dubois, James Baldwin, and Augusta Savage.

At the December MHC meeting, the Commission approved two new historical markers for the Blue Triangle YWCA and Dr. Josie Wells. The marker for the Blue Triangle YWCA is being funded by the Nashville YWCA and will stand at the corner of Pearl and Fisk streets near the site of its original location (1708 Pearl Street). Text on this marker reads:

"The Nashville Blue Triangle, the Negro branch of the Young Women’s Christian Association, was established in 1919. Located downtown in the thriving African American business district, it developed programs that supported the African American community. The largest Blue Triangle in the South, it had more than 700 members. On October 25, 1953, the branch moved to this site. It remained here until 1967, when Nashville’s YWCAs desegregated and merged."

The commission also approved a new marker honoring Dr. Josie Wells (1876-1912), funded by Meharry Medical College. Its location will be on Dr. D.B. Todd Boulevard in front of Hubbard Hospital. One side of the marker will have text while the other side will display a rare graduation image of Dr. Wells (shown at right), courtesy of the Wells family. Text on this marker reads:

"Josie Wells came to Nashville in 1900 to attend Meharry Medical College of Walden University. One of three women graduates in 1904, she specialized in caring for women and children. She held free clinics for needy families, regardless of race. Wells was the campus physician at Fisk University, the first woman on the Meharry faculty, was instrumental in fundraising for Hubbard Hospital and became hospital superintendent in 1912."

If you've ever been curious about Nashville's bookstore history, Metro Archives' latest blog post, "Ye Old Book Shops," provides insight on how some of our city's most beloved book shops came to be.

"The New US Courthouse Site: Untold Stories of Urban Life in Nashville" exhibit is on display at the Main Branch until March 6th. Developed from investigations at the site of the new Fred D. Thompson Federal Building and US Courthouse, the exhibit explores such themes as Sanitation, Archeology, Civil Rights, Urban Slavery, Immigration, Music Industry, and Commerce.

Green Hills History Club will hold weekly meetings beginning February 1st at the Green Hills Branch. Author, historian, and educator Bill Carey will present "Kings, Presidents, and Cowards: Immigrants to Nashville between 1780 and 1800" on February 1st at 1:00 p.m.

Fort Negley's popular Fossil Finders program will hold sessions on Saturday, January 8th from 10:00 a.m.-noon. Our volunteer geologist will lead your group in a guided exploration of the fossil collection area next to the visitors center. Learn about the 400 million year old marine fossils found in Nashville and even take some home with you. Limited space available--RSVP to FortNegley@nashville.gov.

On Tuesday, January 18th, the Nashville Civil War Roundtable will host author and historian Greg Biggs at Fort Negley Visitor Center. Biggs will present “Logistics for William T. Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign.” The program begins at 7:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Park staff will provide a Guided Walking Tour on Saturday, January 22nd from 2:00-3:30 p.m. Join us to learn about the story of Fort Negley Park. From a tree-topped oasis outside early 19th century Nashville, to an imposing fortress guarding the Union stronghold, to restoration and neglect, and its recent addition to UNESCO sites of memory we’ll cover it all on a one-mile guided walking tour. Limited space available--RSVP to FortNegley@nashville.gov.

The Fort Donelson Camp No. 62, Sons of Union Veterans (SUV) will hold their bi-monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 25th at 6:00 p.m. at Fort Negley Visitor Center. The program includes a scholarly presentation and is free and open to the public.

Above left image: Aerial view of Fort Negley, 1958. On file at MHC.

Dr. Joseph Y. Garrison passed away in early December at age 73. A native of Georgia, he worked at the Tennessee Historical Commission (THC) from 1984 to 2016, handling over 70,000 Section 106 Review and Compliance cases over the course of his remarkable career. In 2016, Garrison authored a book entitled Section 106 and Game Theory, which synthesized decades of his experience into a useful reference guide for practitioners. Remembered as a 'tough but fair' reviewer, Garrison often displayed a quirky yet intelligent sense of humor as an astute preservation specialist. Many also knew of his preference to dress in all black, a style tradition he held to for many years. MHC sends its deepest condolences to the Garrison family and to our friends and colleagues at the THC.

Above right image: Dr. Garrison (center) with THC colleagues David Calease and Louis Jackson. Image courtesy of THC Facebook.

Metro Council recently approved Mayor Cooper’s 2022 Capital Spending Plan which, thanks to the efforts of Council member Jeff Syracuse, includes funds for the Two Rivers Mansion property. Among other projects, the plan commits funding for the completion of design and construction plans for an event center that will be built in the tree line behind the Mansion. Once completed, all events will be moved out of the Mansion, enabling the house to be fully furnished and used for educational purposes as an 1800’s house museum. This is a major step forward in achieving part of the long-range plan for the Mansion property that was adopted by the Parks Board in 2016.

The Friends of Two Rivers Mansion (FOTRM) enters into 2022 with several plans for an expanded vision at the Mansion and in the Donelson area. Plans include: exterior painting and repairs, increased outreach via social and traditional media, and increased use of the property for private events. FOTRM also plans to extend support to two other nearby historical properties in the Donelson/Pennington Bend area at Stone Hall (Ravenwood Park) and the Lock Two House (Lock Two Park).

Above left image: Two Rivers Mansion, c. 1978. Courtesy Nashville Public Library.

Friends of Gower Cemetery is a group of descendants, related family, friends and neighbors working with historian Fletch Coke and MHC Executive Director Tim Walker to plan for and preserve this historic site. This pioneer cemetery was established in 1816 by Reverend William Gower (1776-1851), who arrived with his family to the Bluffs, now Nashville, in April 1780. The first burial was that of William’s mother, Obedience Blakely Gower. The Cemetery sits on less than one-half of an acre located behind the Centenary United Methodist Church on Gower Road.

With assistance from donations received through the MHC Foundation, Gower Cemetery restoration was completed in 2018, including the location of 125 burials--at least 6 of which were of enslaved African American persons connected to this family. Other recent accomplishments include a vast amount of historical research, boundary survey, installation of new fencing and an MHC historical marker, and development of an ongoing maintenance plan and biographical sketches. The Gower Cemetery Restoration Project was honored with a Metro Historical Commission Preservation Award in May 2019.

Ongoing maintenance is accomplished through the MHC Foundation's Historic Cemetery Maintenance Plan, which helps fund the roughly $1,000 annual cost to maintain the grounds at Gower Cemetery through private donations. This upkeep (begun in May 2019) is vital to the preservation of Gower Cemetery's historic value and integrity, covering needs related to tombstones, plantings, trees, fencing, etc. Donations are accepted through the MHCF website and are tax-deductible!

Above left image: View of Gower Cemetery after installation of new fencing, 2019. On file at MHC.

In a recently-released video from The Nashville Retrospect, editor Allen Forkum tells the story of the disastrous collapse of the city reservoir in November 1912. Using numerous photos, maps, and newspaper clippings, Forkum explains why and how the reservoir came to be built, what happened to nearby residents when it collapsed, and what the future holds for the historic Eighth Avenue Reservoir. Stories include: previous waterworks disasters, survivors’ tales, “water famines,” and the legal aftermath.

Don't forget--The Nashville Retrospect website includes a store, links to history videos and podcasts, and access to the free Nashville Retrospect Dispatch!

You can 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.

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Have a preservation-related event that you want us to include? Send a message to Caroline.Eller@Nashville.gov.