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MHC News
MHC staff continue to oversee preservation work being completed at Nashville City Cemetery. Stephen Hutchins, a local stoneworker, is repairing several gravestones in City Cemetery that were recently damaged. In addition to repairs, Stephen will also be cleaning all of the stones in sections 23 and 24. Davey Tree Expert Company has been hired to identify and trim precarious tree limbs, which will hopefully prevent some damage in the future.
Staff are also working with cultural resources firm New South Associates to complete a countywide cemetery survey that is part of a grant project funded through the Tennessee Historical Commission and the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. During Phase I of this project, we surveyed over 100 cemetery sites across the southeast, south, east, and west community subareas of Nashville. Thank you to everyone who attended our July 26th community meeting in Cane Ridge! We had nearly 60 attendees, including several Council members representing districts in the south and southeast areas of the county. Presentations shared during the meeting, which cover background of the countywide cemetery survey, cemetery law, and project updates, will soon post to the Cane Ridge Community Club website. We'll share the link as soon as it becomes available.
MHC staff member Jessica Reeves will be joining a nationwide cohort (led by Ken Lustbader of the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project) that will plan a series of national virtual convenings on LGBTQ place-based history.
Staff are working with Davidson County Historian Dr. Carole Bucy and staff from Metro Archives to make updates to A History of Metro Charter: Then & Now, published by Dr. Bucy in 2013 for the 50th anniversary of the implementation of Metro Government and based on a text written in 1962. We are expanding the booklet’s text, making it more inclusive of non-White perspectives, and adding new Mayor profiles, maps, and images. The group is planning to have the updated text ready for publication by January 2023. An initial 100 copies will be printed, with the aim of requesting funding for additional copies from Metro Council.
Staff continue to work with Metro Finance on the procurement process for a National Park Service African American Civil Rights grant project that will identify historic resources associated with Nashville during the 1944-1966 period. A pre-offer meeting will be held Tuesday, August 2nd, with bids due on Tuesday, August 23rd. MHC staff will survey approximately 75-100 sites in preparation for the grant project, which will create a National Register of Historic Places context document and nominate at least one new property to the Register or expand an existing nomination(s) to incorporate this additional historical context.
MHZC News
The MHZC’s next public hearing will be held on Wednesday, August 17th at 2:00 p.m. at Sonny West Conference Center. View the MHZC meeting schedule and application deadlines on our website. Access archived videos of the MHZC meetings on the Metro YouTube channel anytime!
![[Official Seal of Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County]](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/TNNASH/2017/12/1699826/3896410/metro-seal-black-and-white_crop.png)
At the July regular meeting, the Metro Historical Commission approved a new historical marker for pinup queen Bettie Mae Page (1923-2008). This marker will be placed on the property of Hume Fogg High School, her alma mater. The text reads:
"One of six children, Bettie Mae Page graduated from Hume-Fogg High School (1940) and George Peabody College (1944) before moving to New York to work as a model and actress. She became one of the most-photographed pinup models of the 1950s and retired from public life in 1957. Page became an evangelical Christian and maintained a reclusive lifestyle, though she developed an underground cult following and was hailed as a feminist icon prior to her death in Los Angeles in 2008."
A new historical marker has also been approved for Woodcuts Gallery, located at 1613 Jefferson Street and owned by woodworked Nate Harris, the first president of the Jefferson United Merchants Partnership. The text reads:
"Woodcuts Gallery and Custom Framing opened on September 18, 1987. Owner Nathaniel Harris leased the building from Fisk University and spent five months renovating the dilapidated building. A founding member of Jefferson United Merchants Partnership (J.U.M.P.), the business was instrumental in revitalizing the historic Jefferson Street corridor. Woodcuts was a hub for artists like Ludie Amos, Michael McBride, Gregory Ridley, Jamaal Sheats and James Threallkill."
The Commission also approved a third historical marker that recognizes the history of Enchanted Hills, an historically African American Bordeaux neighborhood replete with some of Nashville's best Mid-century Modern and Contemporary architecture. A GoFundMe campaign is underway that will raise the funds needed for this marker. The text reads:
"Called the “Belle Meade of North Nashville” by local newspapers, the Enchanted Hills subdivision was platted between 1962 and 1989 as one of Nashville’s most prestigious African American neighborhoods. The architect-designed “ultra-modern” houses retain striking Mid-Century Modern and Contemporary architecture. Neighbors fought for decades to preserve this unique neighborhood from development, including a 1986 effort led by Council Member and future State Senator Thelma Harper."
Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 3rd when we will dedicate the new Vanderbilt Dudley Field marker! More details to follow in the September newsletter.
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Check out the latest blog post from Metro Archives, "Discovering the Story of Nashville’s Farris family," penned by intern Sabrina Austin who recently processed the Genevieve Baird Farris Collection. The collection includes numerous pieces of family memorabilia and correspondence between Genevieve and her husband, Frank M. Farris, Jr., a Vanderbilt University-educated lawyer who enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942. Genevieve was involved with several Nashville clubs and organizations, including Brooke Mead Garden Club, the Children’s Theater (chairwoman), Citizens for Eisenhower, Junior League of Nashville, Traveler’s Aid, and the Volunteer Activists.
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Friends of Warner Parks will host the next Full Moon Pickin' Party on Friday, August 12th. Their final two shows will be held in mid-September. This popular community bluegrass series helps to preserve and protect the historic Percy and Edwin Warner Parks.
Join the Friends of Shelby Park and Bottoms for the last Cornelia Fort Pickin' Party of the 2022 season on Saturday, August 27th. As always, every ticket includes entry to see two great bands, free kids activities, a beer or wine ticket, access to food trucks, and free parking. Proceeds from the pickin' parties help support preservation work at Shelby Park and the Cornelia Fort Airpark.
Image: August 2022 Cornelia Fort Pickin' Party, credit MHC.
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Clare Armistead founded Friends of Warner Parks (FWP) in her living room in 1987 with a group of like-minded, strong female community leaders.
Intimately involved with the FWP from the very beginning, it is without question that the legacy of preservation upheld by Friends of Warner Parks would not be possible without her influence. In light of her recent passing, we would like to honor Clare's legacy as a charismatic Nashville leader, devoted philanthropist, and friend.
Image: Clare Armistead at Percy Warner Park, courtesy Friends of Warner Parks.
Tickets are now available for the "Picnic for the Parks" Fundraiser, to be held at Fort Negley on Saturday, September 24th. Admission includes a sunset picnic with cocktails, live entertainment and free parking. Attendees will also experience a private, behind-the-scenes tour of restoration work underway at Fort Negley and a live painting performance. The Friends of Fort Negley and Nashville Parks Foundation have partnered to present this event as the inaugural Picnic for the Parks fundraiser. Get your tickets today to help support Metro parks and programming!
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The Fort Negley Park Master Plan is in its final stages of design development. The team of HDLA presented a “nearly final” walk-through of the plan at the Fort Negley Visitor Center on June 30th. The plan was well received by those in attendance, which included Mayor John Cooper, several Commissioners, and many members of the community. MHC staffI have been heavily involved throughout the Master Plan project, which is expected to be completed and published by the end of the summer. The rehabilitation of several sections of dilapidated stone walls by The Tradesmen Group continues, with the sally port having been largely reconstructed along with portions of the fort’s north wall. The efforts are moving on now to the redan walls in the northeastern section of the structure. MHC Staff is coordinating with Metro Parks and archaeologists from Tennessee Valley Archaeological Research to monitor the work and ensure that it meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
Check out the following events happening at Fort Negley this month!
Fossil Finders (RSVP required)--August 13th at 9:30, 10:00, 10:30 and 11:00 a.m.
Nashville Civil War Roundtable--Rhea Cole, historian “The Battle Of Stones River: A Reappraisal”--August 16th
Fort Negley Park Guided Walking Tour (RSVP required)--August 27th at 9:30 a.m.
Grassmere Historic Farm and the Nashville Zoo have recently been awarded a Leadership in History Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) for the Morton Family Exhibit and Opening Ceremony! The Metro Historical Commission Foundation (MHCF) provided $1,000 in matching funds which, in combination with a $6,700 grant from Humanities Tennessee, allowed for creation of this important exhibit. A recent press release from the Nashville Zoo states in part:
"The Grassmere property dates back to a land grant in 1786 and has been home to many people, including enslaved individuals and Black tenant farmers. Grassmere Historic Home was built in 1810 and five generations lived in the home all the way up until 1985. From the time it was built until the time of Emancipation, about 33 enslaved individuals lived, worked and died at Grassmere. In the early 1900s, Frank Morton and his family came to the Grassmere property to live and work as tenant farmers. The Mortons were crucial to the success of Grassmere and the Zoo wanted to recognize and honor their contributions.
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Over the past couple of years, staff at Nashville Zoo researched and designed an exhibit to tell the story of the Morton family and the importance of their work. The cabin where Frank Morton and his family lived, located near the Historic Home, now showcases this exhibit." Visit the Nashville Zoo's website for more information about the cabin (pictured above in 2020, credit MHC) and check out these photos from the exhibit opening.
The staff at Grassmere have also been working with MHZC staff on repairs to their c. 1876 smokehouse which incurred tree damage from a storm that hit in mid-December 2021. This work includes restoration for the smokehouse's wood shingle roof and associated roof framing, as well as repairs to the partially displaced masonry walls using salvaged original brick and materials as much as possible.
Image: Smokehouse with storm damage from fallen tree, December 2021, credit MHC.
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Aaron Deter-Wolf, Prehistoric Archaeologist for the Tennessee Division of Archaeology in Nashville, will speak at the August Meeting of the Bellevue Harpeth Historic Association. His top is "Ice Age Nashville."
The meeting will be held at the Bellevue Public Library, 720 Baugh Road, Nashville, TN 37221, at 6:15 p.m. on Monday, August 8th. The public is invited to attend!
We are excited to announce a new Civil Rights Movement Nashville Sites driving tour! This 9-stop tour explores the places associated with members of the Nashville Student Movement like John Lewis, Diane Nash, Bernard Lafayette, Kwame “Leo” Lillard, the Rev. James Lawson, the Rev. C.T. Vivian, and many others who fought against racial segregation. Hear about their stories and experiences at Nashville's schools, restaurants, swimming pools, and other public places across the city. All Nashville Sites tours are available on both mobile and desktop devices, and can be taken virtually or in-person. Get started exploring today with Nashville Sites!
Image: Demonstrators sitting at the McLellan’s lunch counter, 1960, courtesy of Nashville Public Library.
We would like to extend thanks and recognition to Pam Lewis, FRSA, President and CEO of PLA Media who was recently appointed to the President's Circle of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Pam has lent financial support to Nashville Sites, helped immensely in educating Music Row property owners on the importance of protecting the properties noted in the MPDF, and is always working behind the scenes to assist our office with historic preservation issues. Additionally, her Music Row properties are featured in Music Row Neighborhood Nashville Sites tour.
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Before 1865, most African Americans were enslaved and counted as property. Their existence is recorded in old county records, where you can also find slaves, whose owners emancipated them.
Learn how to search old county records, dating from 1865 back to the 1700s, which contain the best clues to finding your enslaved African American ancestors. Most of these records are not online (and require a trip to the County Courthouse to access); however, Metro Nashville Government Archives, which houses old Davidson County records, is starting to digitize some of these records.
Join the African American Historical and Genealogical Association (AAGHS) Nashville on Saturday, August 6th at 9:30 a.m Central for an online workshop called "Secrets to Finding Your African American Ancestors Before 1865." Metro Archivist Kelley Sirko will present a new online tool called the Nashville Slave and Free People of Color Database. She’ll also detail research practices for original Wills, Deeds, Probate and other County Court records. Secrets that can be found in Freedman’s Bureau Bank records will also be discussed.
Workshops are free for AAHGS Nashville members; all other guests are $20. Register today!
The Tennessee Historical Commission (THC) viewer (shown at right) currently contains information from the Historic Resource Survey program, with resources mapped using points and polygons. A new layer for National Register of Historic Places properties identifies these resources using points, lines and/or polygons which represent the historic boundaries. (Note: surveyor opinions on eligibility do not necessarily reflect the opinion of THC National Register staff and are not formal determinations by the National Park Service.)
The process of mapping National Register boundaries is ongoing, and additional polygons will be periodically added to the viewer. National Register nominations can be obtained from the National Archives, the National Park Service, or THC National Register staff. The viewer does not include points for restricted nominations, such as the location of archaeology sites. Visit the THC's Survey and National Register program pages to report corrections or to contact staff for more information.
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First settled in 1779, Nashville has grown into what the New York Times calls America’s “It City.” From frontier outpost to cosmopolitan city of today, Nashville has a rich history to celebrate. Have you ever wandered through Nashville and wondered about the stories of the different buildings? This Used to Be Nashville is your photographic journey into the past to learn the histories behind the places.
Learn about the Ryman Auditorium, which started as a religious revival hall, and the seamy Climax Saloon, which is now a boutique hotel. Greenbrier Distillery, once the very dominant Tennessee whiskey brand, closed in 1908 due to state prohibition, but it was reborn when descendants of the original family found their roots and relaunched the brand with the original formula. Visit Belmont Mansion, the home of one of the country’s wealthiest women and now the crown jewel of a university campus. Local historian, retired curator, and MHC Commissioner Jim Hoobler brings together an impressive collection of stories of the highs and lows of the past in what is now one of the country’s most visited tourist destinations. You’ll never look at a building in Nashville the same way again.
Visit Belmont Mansion on Sunday, August 21, 2022, and learn more about the city’s hidden architectural stories when Mr. Hoobler presents his discoveries during a free book signing event from 4:00-5:30 p.m. Check out this recent interview with Jim which details more about this fascinating new publication!
Vernon Winfrey, a long-time Nashville barber shop owner, Army veteran, former Metro Council representative, and father of internationally-renowned media mogul Oprah Winfrey, passed away in Nashville on Friday, July 8th. Mr. Winfey was known for spearheading preservation efforts in the Cleveland Park area of East Nashville. He served on Metro Council from 1975-1991 and both owned and operated the Winfrey Barber & Beauty Shop (1001 Lischey Ave.) for more than 50 years. Mr. Winfrey was known for his life-long dedication to being an entrepreneur and mentor to young men in the community. He served as a charter member and 45-year deacon at Faith United Missionary Baptist Church (600 Revels Drive). Winfrey's funeral on July 14th drew hundreds of mourners who paid their respects, including his long-time friend, former Council member and president of the local NAACP chapter, Ludye Wallace.
Image: Vernon Winfrey at his barber shop, credit Legacy.com.
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After undergoing a year-and-a-half restoration, Last Chance Liquors on Dickerson Pike re-opened in mid-July. A distinctive neon sign with moving arrow (later addition) directs customers to the shop pin this brick one-story building. Prior to Metro consolidation in 1962, Last Chance Liquors (founded in 1946) got its name by being the last liquor to store to stop at on Dickerson Pike (N. 1st Street) before leaving city limits and heading into the “dry” Davidson County. One local who lived in this area said this store was also a favorite go-to for Johnny Cash, where he could stop without being mobbed by adoring fans. The building dates to 1936 and the shop was operating here by at least 1947, when its proprietor was H. Jack Stewart. He obtained his liquor license from Mayor Thomas L. Cummings the year prior. This historic image from 1947 shows the storefront with the same double picture window that it has today.
Image: Last Chance Liquors storefront, credit Nashville Banner, April 1, 1947.
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Local historic preservation non-profit organization Historic Nashville, Inc. is now hiring an Administrative Assistant. This will be a year-round, part-time job for 10-15 hours per week at a rate of $20 per hour. Duties include managing the membership and donor database, organizing tours and events, website maintenance, social media postings, email correspondence, and serving as secretary at board meetings. Administrative experience and a degree or strong knowledge of historic preservation and easements is encouraged. This position is mostly remote with possible in-person duties for board meetings and other events.
Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to info@historicnashvilleinc.org. Feel free to contact HNI with any questions.
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A new program under the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preserving Black Churches Grants, aims to assist the country's historic African American houses of worship. The program is an extension of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. Grants may be used to address needs under such categories as Capital Projects, Project Planning, Programming and Interpretation, and Organizational Capacity Building and Operations. Historic cemeteries owned by Black churches are also eligible for assistance under Project Planning activities. While matching funds are not required, projects that leverage additional investments are strongly preferred. However, matching funds are required for the Endowment and Financial Sustainability funding category. Visit the program's FAQs page for more information regarding eligibility.
Eligible applicants for a Preserving Black Churches grant include historic Black churches with active and non-active congregations; 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations stewarding a historic Black church with or without an active congregation; and public agencies. Grants will range from $50,000 to $200,000. A free informational webinar will be held on Wednesday, August 10th. Letters of Intent are due on Friday, September 2nd.
The National Park Service is proud to announce a new competitive civil rights grant program. The
History of Equal Rights Grant Program (HER) will preserve sites related to the struggle to achieve the ideal of equal rights in America. HER Grants are funded by the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), administered by the NPS, and will fund abroad range of pre-preservation planning activities and physical preservation work for historic sites that are listed in or determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or as a National Historic Landmark. Congress has appropriated $4.625 million for the HER Grant Program. Applications will be due
September 14, 2022. For details, please visit the HER grant application page.
Historic Travellers Rest--Apprentice Camp--August 1-5
National Trust for Historic Preservation--Webinar:"Preserving the Places Where Women Made Art"--August 4; Information Session: Preserving Black Churches Grant Program--August 10
African American Historical and Genealogical Association--Secrets to Finding Your African American Ancestors Before 1865--August 6
Bellevue Harpeth Historic Association--"Ice Age Nashville" with Aaron Deter-Wolf--August 8
Vanderbilt University Dyer Observatory--Public Tour of Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory--August 9
Nashville Parthenon--Centennial Park History Tour--August 11
Friends of Warner Parks--Full Moon Pickin' Party--August 12
Two Rivers Mansion--Summer Mansion Tours--thru August 12; Fridays in August--Hip Donelson Farmers Market
Two Rivers Mansion--Tea at Two Rivers--August 13
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens--Black Arts Bash--August 20
Belmont Mansion--This Used to Be Nashville book signing with author Jim Hoobler--August 21
Frist Art Museum--Film Screening (free): The Green Knight (2021)--August 25
Friends of Shelby Park & Bottoms--Cornelia Fort Pickin' Party--August 27
Centennial Art Center--Tennessee Craft -The Art of Craft Exhibit--August 8-September 20
Centennial Art Center--Starry Night Fundraiser--September 10
Frist Art Museum--Performance: Early Music City--September 15
Nashville Parks Foundation--Picnic for the Parks at Fort Negley--September 24
Association for the Study of African American Life and History--107th Annual Meeting and Conference: "Black Health and Wellness"--September 29-October 1
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