MHC News
Thank you to everyone who came out last month for marker dedication ceremonies at Antioch High School and Hillsboro High School. Recently approved historical markers include Stratford High School, Goodlettsville High School, and Jackie Shane. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more information about upcoming marker ceremonies and more!
Construction at our office, Sunnyside at Sevier Park, continues on schedule. See the article below by Dr. Adam Fracchia about recent archaeological discoveries! We look forward to seeing the new entrance drive on Kirkwood Ave. in place soon, as well as continuation of work on the ell and log cabin. Staff are working on interpretive panels that will tell the story of Sunnyside, including archaeological information uncovered by staff archaeologist Dr. Adam Fracchia and students from MTSU as well as information about those enslaved at Sunnyside as researched by former staff member and current Cumberland University professor Dr. Tara Mielnik.
Congratulations to MHC Commissioner Dr. Marisa Richmond on her retirement from MTSU and her appointment by President Biden to the Presidential Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans.
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We are excited to welcome the newest member of our team, Russell LeStourgeon. A Nashville native and licensed architect, Russell holds bachelor's and master's degrees in Architecture from Yale University. Before joining the Historical Commission staff, Russell was an associate at Robert A.M. Stern Architects in New York, where he focused on historic rehabilitation projects. Welcome Russell! |
MHZC News
The MHZC’s next public hearing will be held on Wednesday, June 21 at 2:00 p.m. at the Sonny West Conference Center, Howard Office Building, 700 President Ronald Regan Way. View the MHZC meeting schedule and application deadlines on our website. Access archived videos of the MHZC meetings on the Metro YouTube channel anytime!
Metro Nashville Waste Services is holding public meetings through June 6 on a proposed construction and demolition (C&D) materials ordinance for commercial projects. The aim of this ordinance is to reduce the amount of C&D waste going to landfills. Dates, times, and locations for the scheduled in-person and virtual public meetings can be found on Nashville.gov.
In celebration of Preservation Month, the Haynes Heights Neighborhood Association was honored with the Metro Historic Zoning Commission’s first Leadership Recognition on May 17. The recognition honors a neighborhood association, merchants association or individual that has, through their leadership, made outstanding contributions to their community and worked towards preservation and education regarding the history of their neighborhood/district. The winners of this recognition inspire others to take action in their communities.
Image: MHZC Commissioners and CM Toombs present award to Haynes Heights neighbors. Left to right: MHZC Chair Menié Bell, Councilmember Kyonzté Toombs, Quinta Martin, Eric Cazort, Commissioner David Price, Commissioner Elizabeth Mayhall, Commissioner Mina Johnson, Vice-Chair Cyril Stewart, Commissioner Elizabeth Cashion.
Haynes Heights is honored as the first historic overlay that tells the story of a neighborhood developed for African Americans during the “Jim Crow” era when Black residents created their own communities within the context of redlining and other discriminatory policies and the first overlay that protects mid-century architectural styles, such as Ranches and Split Levels. Property owners were instrumental in obtaining this protection of their history with a historic zoning overlay and accomplished the task during COVID, just as they have been the key force to prevent rezonings over the year that would likely have resulted in the loss of this important neighborhood. The MHZC is proud to honor the association’s many efforts towards preserving their story and their neighborhood during Preservation Month.
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Thank you to all who attended the 47th Annual Preservation Awards on May 18. Congratulations to all of our architectural award winners and honorable mentions as well as the honor award recipients Gary M. Burke, Phil Ponder, and RCA Studio A. A special thank you to Historic Nashville, Inc., Metro Historical Commission Foundation, and Preservation Society of Nashville for sponsoring a wonderful reception the former Ben West Library (and the current home of Hastings Architecture). We look forward to seeing everyone next year!
To learn more about the awards program, please visit Preservation Awards or email scarlett.miles@nashville.gov.
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Congratulations to the 321 participants in the 23rd annual Memorial Day Dash! Hosted by the Nashville City Cemetery Association and the Metro Historical Commission, the course features some of the most historic places and scenic views in the city, like the Nashville City Cemetery as seen in the photo on the left. There is no better way to kick off summer than with the Memorial Day Dash, a Nashville tradition. Special thanks to MHC staff member Claudette Stager and all other volunteers and sponsors for making this wonderful event possible.
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This spring in Sevier Park, the installation of new sewer lines for the renovation of Sunnyside uncovered several material reminders of the long history of the property. The trench dug behind the main house encountered the remains of the Park’s pool as well as a trash pit and a unique soil stain. The stain in the wall of the trench contained discolored soil and charcoal.
The soil stain was mapped, photographed, and carefully excavated. The artifacts recovered date to the first half of the nineteenth century and included several burned nails as well as melted lead and percussion caps. Percussion caps were used in rifles during the Civil War to ignite the main powder charge of the rifle. Based on the artifacts, position on the landscape, and the excavated soils, the feature appears to be a rifle pit dating from the Battle of Nashville in December of 1864. The burned soil and nails suggest that soldiers were using the pit for fires and pulling boards off the walls of buildings at Sunnyside for fuel. The remainder of the rifle pit outside of the trench will be preserved.
The fact that these different archaeological features are still present at such a busy and popular park as Sevier Park is amazing and shows that the rich archaeological heritage of the city is likely intact elsewhere in Nashville.
To preserve such heritage, metal detecting and relic hunting is prohibited in Metro Parks as well as in all Metro property.
Next month, we'll feature information about the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) being used at both the Nashville City Cemetery and Sunnyside to uncover more archaeological information.
Remains of the base of the swimming pool that once sat behind Sunnyside, uncovered during archaeological excavation.
As part of our ongoing Cemetery Grant project, staff from MHC and New South Associates surveyed over 70 historical cemeteries in the Madison, Joelton, Goodlettsville, and Whites Creek area over the past 6 weeks and are currently working to survey sites in Green Hills. One cemetery recently surveyed was the Grizzard family cemetery in Goodlettsville. This cemetery, established circa 1840, features a dry-stack stone wall exhibiting various construction methods, an estimated 100-250 burials, and evidence of potential enslaved burials. In February 2023, the General Francis Nash DAR chapter, located in Madison, led a cleanup effort at the Grizzard cemetery. Led by Chapter Historian Pat Wildrick, the restoration effort was a true community effort, with assistance and support from numerous Goodlettsville city officials like Mayor Rusty Tinnin, City Manager Tim Ellis, and City Recorder Allison Baker, and community and DAR members like Toby Swager, Elizabeth and Scott Pergande, Pam Brown, Alice Bryant, and Shelia Hotchkiss. The chapter plans to hold another cleanup day in the fall.
The Davidson County Cemetery Preservation project is being supported in part by the Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, and the Tennessee Historical Commission.
(Photo courtesy of Patricia Wildrick)
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Don't forget about the weekly Centennial Park History Tours.
Tour the Nashville City Cemetery on their Second Saturday Free Walking Tour: Juneteenth on June 10 from 10:00-11:00 am.
Tuesday, June 13 is STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) Night at The Parthenon. All Metro Nashville Public Schools students, staff, and faculty--and their entire families--may attend all events for free!
You can always catch a Summer Tours at Two Rivers Mansion.
Join the Nashville Civil War Roundtable at Fort Negley on June 20 from 7:00-8:00 pm.
Join Tasneem Grace, Edward Kindall, Dr. Mary Ellen Pethl, and Dr. Learotha Williams at the Main Library for Conversations@NPL: Jefferson Street on Saturday, June 10 about Jefferson Street’s historic role in our city and how it has thrived, and survived, over the decades.
Learn 100 things to do in Nashville before you die with author Tom Adkinson on Thursday, June 29 at the Green Hills branch.
Explore the stories of "ordinary" women who inspire us at the digital exhibit "Nashville Voices: Honoring Women of All Experiences."
See Moments from the Movement about Deputy Mayor Brenda Haywood's experience desegregating Stratford High School in 1963, on display in the second floor gallery of the Main Library until August 31.
Check out The Gift That Keeps on Giving: A Display of Mayoral Gifts at Metro Archives, on the third floor of the Main Library, through July 30.
Celebrate Juneteenth at the Tennessee State Museum with a day-long celebration entitled “Looking to the Past to Empower the Future," on Saturday, June 10 from 10:00 am-3:00 pm.
Join Bike For Equality, Black Girls Do Bike, Oasis Bike Works, Walk Bike Nashville, Music City Dope Peddlers and Nashville Black Wellness Collective for a Juneteenth Freedom Day Ride on Saturday, June 17 at 6:45 am at Frankie Pierce Park.
After that, head over to Black on Buchanan for a block party sponsored by The Equity Alliance on Saturday, June 17 from 12:00-6:00 pm.
On Monday, June 19, start your celebration with the Nashville African American Wind Symphony at 4:00 pm at Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
Then, end your evening with Juneteenth615 and the African American Cultural Alliance at Fort Negley from 5:00-10:30 pm. Expect food trucks, music, African drummers, a proclamation ceremony, fireworks, and a great day of family fun.
And don't forget...Metro offices (including the Historical Commission) will be closed on Monday, June 19 for the Juneteenth holiday. Learn more about the historical legacy of Juneteenth from the National Museum of African American History & Culture.
Kick off Pride Month on Saturday, June 3 with Franklin Pride at Harlinsdale Farm and Nashville in Harmony presents: Telling Our Stories at Nashville School for the Arts (also on Sunday, June 4.)
On the eve of CMA Fest, join Ty Herndon for the Concert for Love and Acceptance at the Wildhorse Saloon on Wednesday, June 7 at 7:00 pm. Performers include Maddie & Tae, Terri Clark, Pam Tillis, Desmond Child, Wendy Moten, Billy Gilman, Shelly Fairchild, and Justin Fabus. The event will benefit GLAAD and Ty Herndon’s Foundation For Love & Acceptance.
Gather at the Edmondson Branch library on Thursday, June 22 from 5:00-7:00 pm for "Conversations with Queer Elders."
This year, Nashville will celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride on Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25 at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. Visit Nashville Pride to learn more about the parade and festivities!
End the month with Get Happy: A Judy Garland Centennial Celebration with the Nashville Symphony on Friday, June 30 at 5:30 pm at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
Want to learn more about LGBTQ history in Nashville? Take the Nashville Sites driving tour co-written by Nashville Queer History founder Sarah Calise!
Parnassus Books--Jonathan Eig (King: A Life) in conversation with Dr. Learotha Williams--June 1
Tennessee State Museum--Tennessee Statehood Day--June 1
Nashville Zoo--Brew at the Zoo--June 2
FirstBank First Saturday Art Crawl--June 3
Buchanan Log House--Community Festival and Fish Fry--June 3
Frist Art Museum--Frist Arts Fest Weekend Celebration-- June 3-4
Frist Art Museum--Frist After Five: Film Series--June 8
Frist Art Museum--Making Memories: A Dementia Social Engagement Program--June 9
Two Rivers Mansion--Watercolor at the Mansion--June 10
Tennessee State Museum--TN Writers|TN Stories: Sheree Renée Thomas--June 10
Two Rivers Mansion--Yoga at the Mansion--June 10
Bellevue Church of Christ-- Bellevue Harpeth Historic Association speaker Demetria Kalodimos--June 12
Frist Art Museum--Frist After Five: Music in the Galleries--June 15
Two Rivers Mansion--Cruise-In at the Mansion--June 17
Cheekwood--Exposition of Elegance: Classic Cars at Cheekwood--June 17-18
Andrew Jackson's Hermitage--Future Presidents of America Youth Leadership Camp--June 19-23
Frist Art Museum--Frist After Five: Music in the Galleries--June 22
Frist Art Museum--Frist After Five: Film Series--June 29
Passport to Tennessee History--pick up a free passport and gather stamps from The Tennessee State Capitol, Tennessee State Museum, Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park and Tennessee State Library & Archives
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum--Historic Music Row: Nashville's Creative Crossroads--online exhibit
Frist Art Museum--Architecture Tours--each Saturday from 3:30-4:30 pm
Cheekwood Estate and Gardens--Thursday Night Out series--ongoing
Frist Art Museum--Storied Strings: The Guitar in American Art--ongoing
National Museum of African American Music--Nissan Free Wednesday--free admission on the first Wednesday of each month courtesy of Nissan
Check out our online newsletter archives!
Have a preservation-related event that you want us to include? Send a message to Jessica.Reeves@nashville.gov
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