MHC News
The next Historical Commission public meeting will be held on Monday, May 20 at 12:00 p.m. at the Sonny West Conference Room, Howard Office Building, 700 President Ronald Reagan Way. You can find a full list of upcoming and previous MHC meetings on our website.
Thank you to all those who attended the Diane Nash Plaza Dedication and Gala on April 20. What a wonderful day of celebrating a true Civil Rights icon, Ms. Diane Nash! You can watch the ceremony for the dedication and gala on YouTube.
Last month marked the end of Don Cusic's Music History Lecture Series, but don't worry! We'll be back this fall with more music, fun, and history. Thank you to Dr. Cusic and all those who have attended these lectures over the past few months. We look forward to seeing you again this fall!
We continue to conduct cemetery surveys in the Bordeaux/Whites Creek, West Nashville, and Bellevue community subareas with our consultant, New South Associates as part of the Davidson County Cemetery Survey. Our teams are about halfway through the survey work planned for Phase III and anticipate completion of the field survey activities by early June. Staff member Caroline Eller is working with CM Joy Kimbrough (district 1) to schedule a presentation for this project at an upcoming community meeting. Follow us on social media for updates on this project and the community meeting.
A number of historical markers have recently arrived, and will soon be installed by NDOT. Stay tuned to our social media channels for more information about upcoming ceremonies for Warehouse 28, Jackie Shane, and Russ McCown/Sir Cecil Creape later this summer! One ceremony will take place this month--the Bellevue High School marker will be unveiled on Saturday, May 18 at 9:30 am. The marker will be placed across from Bellevue Middle School on Colice Jeanne Rd. (at the location of the former high school). We hope you can join us there! Neighbors on Hampton Ave. are also happy to report that the First Airfield marker that was damaged in a storm several years ago has been replaced and the marker stands again at 2305 Hampton Ave. Similarly, the Odom's Tennessee Pride marker on Neely's Bend Rd. has also been replaced with the completion of construction in the area. Welcome back, markers!
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Construction at Sunnyside is nearing an end. Flooring has been installed and sealed, interior and exterior painting is finished, and office furniture has started arriving. We are slowly putting the office back together! Tim Finch of Finch Finishes is working to complete repairs to the salvaged early 19th century beaded beams to be placed in the new conference room, as well as paint removal on the limestone foundation walls, and graining the front door and it surround/frame, restoring its original 1853 finish. Interpretive panels have been ordered from Encore Interpretive and will be installed around the perimeter of the house once completed. They will feature a QR code that will lead to a Nashville Sites walking tour of the park, and three panels will also feature Augmented Reality models designed by Vanderbilt Institute for Spatial Research (VISR). At the log outbuilding (formerly thought to be a smokehouse), log and foundation restoration and repair work is complete. A new roof, matching the original slope/pitch and front overhang of the historic structure, has been installed alongside new siding in the gables and a wood shingle roof. structural glass floor panels will be added to allow visitors to see elements of the original foundation beneath the floor. James Dunn of Vintage Millworks is reconstructing the summer house architectural folly that was located on top of the well in front of Sunnyside. It should be completed this fall.
MHZC News
The MHZC’s next public hearing will be held on Wednesday, May 15 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!
We are excited to welcome Scott Keckley as the new MHZC Historic Zoning Inspector. Scott was formerly an inspector with the Codes Department. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of North Alabama and a Master’s in Finance/Economics from Middle Tennessee State University. He has almost 30 years of experience in carpentry and rehabilitation, including that of historic buildings. Welcome Scott! |
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In celebration of Preservation Month, the Jefferson Street Historical Society will be honored with the Metro Historic Zoning Commission’s Leadership Recognition Award at the MHZC meeting on May 15. 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. Congratulations to the Jefferson Street Historical Society for this honor, and thank you for your continued leadership and preservation efforts! |
A virtual community meeting will be held on May 20 at 2:00 pm to discuss the possibility of a Historic Preservation Zoning Overlay for the buildings at Douglas Corner. Please contact robin.zeigler@nashville.gov to be added to the meeting. No boundaries have been decided at this time but the general area at 8th Avenue South and S Douglas Avenue is being considered.
The Friends of the Hubbard House (1109 1st Ave S) with the support of CM Vo have applied for a Historic Landmark designation for the property. The house is the former residence of Dr. George W. Hubbard, founder of Meharry Medical College and the last remaining building associated with the original campus of Meharry Medical College. It was designed by noted architect Moses McKissack III, constructed 1920-1921, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places [under McKissack and McKissack Buildings in Nashville (1908-1930) Thematic Resources]. Seay-Hubbard United Methodist Church, located nearby at 1116 1st Ave S, owns the house. The Friends of Hubbard House is working to rehabilitate the house in order to provide healthcare, supportive services, and educational opportunities for the community. For more information, visit www.thehubbardhousenashville.org.
With the aid of a Certified Local Government grant from the Tennessee Historical Commission, Historic Zoning Commissioners Elizabeth Mayhall and Chris Cotton will be attending the National Alliance of Preservation Commission’s (NAPC) biennial conference this summer. NAPC was formed to provide a forum for commissions to discuss mutual problems and to serve as a national voice representing the particular needs of commissions. NAPC provides technical support and manages an information network to help local commissions accomplish their preservation objectives. NAPC also serves as an advocate at federal, state and local levels of government to promote policies and programs that support preservation commission efforts, thanks in part to collaboration with our partner organizations in Washington, D.C.
We hope you can make plans to join us at the 48th annual Preservation Awards on Monday, May 6. The awards ceremony starts at 4:30 p.m. at the Nashville Public Library, 615 Church Street. A reception, sponsored by Historic Nashville, MHC Foundation, and Preservation Society of Nashville, will follow at The Athenaeum at HASTINGS Architecture, 225 Polk Avenue. Along with celebrating exceptional preservation projects, the Historical Commission will recognize the contributions of Tom Vickstrom with the Fletch Coke Award and will present the Achievement Award to Skip Nipper. The Commission will present its Commissioners’ Award to Nashville Old Timers Baseball Association and will honor Former Mayor John Cooper with the Preservation Leadership Award. We look forward to celebrating with you then!
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Run or walk the most historic 5k in Nashville with the 24th annual Memorial Day Dash on Monday, May 27! 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. Beginning at the Adventure Science Center, the course runs through Fort Negley Historic Park with beautiful views of the Nashville cityscape, then loops back around St. Cloud Hill to the Nashville City Cemetery where runners will wind their way past some of the most historic names in Nashville. Be sure to wear your most patriotic-themed costumes to win prizes at the end. There is no better way to kick off summer than with the Memorial Day Dash, a Nashville tradition! Proceeds benefit the Nashville City Cemetery Association’s preservation efforts and educational outreach. Register today!
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The National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form (MPDF) for The Civil Rights Movement in Nashville, Tennessee, 1942–1969 and two associated nominations for Clark Memorial Methodist Church and First Community Church will be presented at the May 22, 2024 State Review Board meeting, to be held at the offices of the Tennessee Historical Commission. This documentation is the result of a two-year project that received a $50,000 African American Civil Rights grant from the National Park Service and which focuses on the Nashville Student Movement and sit-ins. The project ultimately identified over 130 extant historical resources (buildings and sites) associated with the local movement, including churches, residences, commercial and educational properties, and protest march routes. The over 200-page MPDF will function as a centralized public record of this portion of Nashville’s civil rights history and it provides foundational history that can support future related NRHP nominations across Nashville. MHC welcomes public comments about the MPDF and nominations, which may be accessed using the following links: MPDF; Clark Memorial Methodist Church; First Community Church. Comments on these documents may be sent to our project consultants at nashville@rgaincorporated.com. Questions about the grant project may be directed to Caroline.Eller@nashville.gov.
On Friday, April 26, MHC staff and Commissioners joined community volunteers across the city to celebrate National Historic Marker Day by cleaning 11 Metro historical markers. Many thanks to our partners at Metro Parks, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Vanderbilt University, Historic Edgefield Neighbors, Madison Academy, Battle of Nashville Trust, and Cane Ridge Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
National Historic Marker Day is an annual program sponsored by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. We look forward to cleaning more markers next year! In the meantime, if you see a dirty or damaged marker, email Jessica.Reeves@nashville.gov so we can put it on our list of markers in need of maintenance.
 Photos from the April 26 National Historic Marker Day cleaning event in Nashville. Staff and volunteers at each marker (clockwise from top left) : Cornelia Fort Airport, Battle of Nashville Shy's Hill, Cane Ridge Cumberland Presbyterian Church, City of Edgefield, Madison College, Duncan Preparatory School for Boys, Nashville's First Public School, and Luke Lea Heights.
Many thanks to staff member Bryan Gilley and Davidson County Historian Dr. Carole Bucy for conducting several group tours at the cemetery over the past month. MHC and Parks staff continue to do repairs and regular maintenance at the cemetery, as well as making sure it is ready for all the runners at the Memorial Day Dash (see announcement above)! This annual fundraiser supports the work of the cemetery through the Nashville City Cemetery Association and is always a highlight of the summer. We hope to see you there!
We are also excited to welcome Jon Appell of Atlas Preservation and the 48 State Tour back to the cemetery this month. Jon will be repairing and cleaning gravestones, and training Bryan on appropriate techniques and materials for future repairs. For example, the photo on the left shows where Bryan and Jon were able locate the long lost bottom of a marker buried deep in the ground, requiring a hoist to pull it out. This has been a wonderful partnership for the cemetery and we are excited to see it continue.
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Don't forget about the Centennial Park weekly History Tours and monthly Architecture Tours.
Summer tours at Two Rivers Mansion begin on May 10!
Join the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society - Nashville Chapter (AAHGS) at Fort Negley on May 4 as Dr. Angela Sutton discusses the Builders and Defenders Database, Fort Negley Descendants Project, and her book, Pirates of the Slave Trade. The following meeting will be held on June 1.
Create your own floating lantern at the Water Lantern Festival at Centennial Park on Saturday, May 11.
Every Tuesday, join local authors and historians at Fort Negley Visitors Center for the Nashville History Club. On May 14, Elliott Robinson will present The Nashville Freedom Riders and on May 21, Ralcon Wagner will present South Nashville Landmarks.
Free admission to the Parthenon for Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) students, staff, and faculty--and their entire families--on May 14 for MNPS STEAM Night.
The popular Musicians Corner spring concert series begins on May 17-18 and runs through June 14-15 with music in Centennial Park every Friday and Saturday.
Enjoy the beauty of Centennial Park and the historic Sylvan Park neighborhood with the Nashville Women's Triathlon on Sunday, May 19.
Hear Professor Elizabeth Macauley speak about the use of Greek architecture in Nashville at the Virtual Symposium: The Parthenon, a Pyramid, and Ancient Architecture at the Tennessee Centennial of 1897 on May 21.
Other events at Fort Negley include Fossil Finders on May 11; a guided walking tour on May 15; and Civil War Roundtable on May 21.
Metro Archives (3rd floor Main Library) opened a new exhibit on April 1, "Nashville’s Magellan of the Air: 100th Anniversary of the First Flight to Circumnavigate the World." This exhibit tells the story of the groundbreaking first flight to circumnavigate the Earth, and the Nashville connection to this journey.
Monumental: Photographs of Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball from the Nashville Banner Archives is available to view in the Courtyard Gallery on the Main Library through the end of the year.
Get a behind-the-scenes tour of the Main Library with the Nashville Public Library Foundation on May 8.
Design your own musical instrument with the Country Music Hall of Fame at the Community Pop-Up on May 21 at the Madison branch.
Nashville Public Television--Last Rites: Saving Tennessee's Black Cemeteries
Cheekwood Estate and Gardens--Thursday Night Out music series--beginning May 2
Andrew Jackson's Hermitage--Spring Plant Sale--beginning May 3
Centennial Park Conservancy--Tennessee Craft Fair--May 3-5
Historic Nashville Inc.--Window Restoration Workshop--May 5
Glen Leven--Community Day at Glen Leven Farm bird tours--May 11
Tennessee State Museum--TN Writers | TN Stories: Aime Alley Card, "The Tigerbelles: Olympic Legends from Tennessee State" in conversation with LaTonya Turner--May 11
Andrew Jackson's Hermitage--123rd Spring Outing--May 14
Tennessee State Museum--Lunch and Learn: Furniture: Piecing Together a Story About Tennesseans--May 16
Travellers Rest--Toddlers at TR Imagining History through Artistic Fun: Shapes and Colors--May 18
Andrew Jackson's Hermitage--Painting with the President--May 19
Belle Meade Historic Site--An Evening with Katie Oates--May 21
Tennessee State Library and Archives--May Author Talk with Dr. Mark Cheathem--May 24
Cheekwood Estate and Gardens--Music City Rose Show--May 25-26
Buchanan Log House--Annual Fish Fry and Silent Auction--June 1
Tennessee State Museum--Statehood Day Celebration--June 1
Tennessee State Library and Archives--Junior Archivist Summer Camp--June 10-14
National Museum of African American Music--Nissan Free Wednesday--free admission on the first Wednesday of each month courtesy of Nissan
Frist Art Museum--Architecture Tours--each Saturday from 3:30-4:30 pm
Tennessee State Museum--Museum Highlight Tours--each Friday and Saturday at 2:00 pm
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum--Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues--online exhibit
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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