MHC News
The next Historical Commission public meeting will be held on Monday, November 18 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.
As final construction projects are wrapping up at Sunnyside, we are moving forward with plans to complete the summer house/ architectural folly this fall/winter. James Dunn of Vintage Millworks has final architectural plans in hand and will construct the structure with volunteer labor. Costs for this project are being shared by the Friends of Sevier Park, 12 South Neighborhood Association, Preservation Society of Nashville, and the MHC Foundation.
A historical marker for legendary track coach Ed Temple was dedicated at the entrance to Tennessee State University on October 10. Then on October 17, a marker for Professor John E. Bailey--a music teacher from 1873-1917--was dedicated in front of the former Bailey Junior High School (now Nashville Classical School) in East Nashville. We are excited to celebrate both of these markers and the achievements they commemorate! Upcoming marker ceremonies include Judge Robert E. Lillard at 1062 2nd Ave S on Saturday, November 9 at 12:00 pm and Coach Cornelius Ridley at MLK Magnet School on November 22. Follow us on social media for more updates!
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MHC has a new Grants and Special Projects page on our website! This section serves as a space where we can showcase preservation funding sources, educate the public about grant-funded initiatives, advertise community engagement opportunities, and share project updates and deliverables. Be sure to check out the various grant project reports and share with others in the community who can benefit from these resources and funding opportunities.
We recently wrapped up Phase 3 of the ongoing countywide cemetery survey, funded by a grant from the Tennessee Historical Commission. Phase 4 will get underway in early 2025 and will focus on survey in subareas 13 (Antioch-Priest Lake) and 14 (Donelson-Hermitage-Old Hickory). A community meeting will be held in that area this winter, so check our newsletter and social media for updates. We also continue to work with Metro IT staff to refine our internal map of historical cemeteries and optimize cemetery data available on Metro’s Nashville Open Data portal.
Staff continue efforts to document Nashville’s 20th century African American residential districts for a project funded by an Underrepresented Communities grant from the National Park Service. We’ve created a study list of neighborhoods that have been identified through research and survey with significant collections of mid-century architecture and those developed by and for African Americans. Many of these districts are located in North Nashville and Bordeaux, but the project will document as many districts as possible throughout the county for inclusion in a countywide National Register of Historic Places context. We hope to hold at least one community meeting before year’s end, so watch for further updates later this fall.
If you know of a historical cemetery or a district that should be included in either of these grant-funded documentation efforts, please contact MHC staff member Caroline Eller at (615) 862-7970 ext. 79780 or Caroline.Eller@nashville.gov.
MHZC News
The MHZC’s next public hearing will be held on Wednesday, November 20 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!
A portion of the Green Hills neighborhood (original T.F. Bonner farm) is exploring the potential of a neighborhood conservation zoning overlay with several residents hosting a series of community meetings in their homes. At this time, the neighborhood is just seeking information and there is no intent to file legislation.
The Broadway district has created a committee to explore revisions to the design guidelines. (Revisions were first proposed in 2017, but consensus was not reached.) Updating the guidelines will result in clearer guidance for applicants and commissioners, especially for those requests not contemplated at the time the guidelines were first written.
The Metropolitan Historical Commission is now accepting nominations for the 49th Annual Preservation Awards program, honoring Nashville's best preservation projects. Anyone may nominate buildings or structures that have been restored, rehabilitated, or carefully maintained over time. The awards also recognize well-designed new construction that harmonizes with a historic environment. To be considered, nominated properties must be in Davidson County and have an original construction date of 1975 or earlier (50 years of age). Infill projects should be no older than 2022. All projects must have been completed within the past three years. Previous winners may be eligible if the work is significantly different.
Nominations are due Monday, March 3, 2025.
The awards ceremony will take place in May 2025 in recognition of National Preservation Month. For more program details and submission instructions, please visit our Preservation Awards page!
Congratulations to the Nashville City Cemetery Association for another successful year of Lantern Tours!
In response to requests for guidance from property owners, developers, and other stakeholders as well as ongoing challenges with burial grounds impacted by planned developments, several staff recently developed guidelines for working with Davidson County’s historical cemeteries. This document is intentionally brief, both to encourage its use and so that it can act as a quick-reference guide with links to relevant external information. The guidelines and other cemetery preservation resources are located on the Davidson County Cemetery Survey page, but we have also placed the guidelines on the Preservation Resources page where developers may initially seek guidance. Property owners and community advocates can also use these guidelines when determining how to approach cemetery preservation matters, especially when working with developers to minimize impacts to historic burial grounds.
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On Saturday, October 26, descendants, neighbors, and members of the Forest Grove United Methodist Church in Joelton gathered to dedicate a new memorial at Forest Grove Cemetery in honor of Lucy Hobbs, who gave land for the church and cemetery. The monument, donated by Shultz Monument Company, pays tribute to this generous gift that has enabled the church and cemetery to always have a place in this rural community. MHC staff member Caroline Eller attended the ceremony and provided remarks that highlighted our office’s documentation of Forest Grove Cemetery from surveys completed in 2002 and 2023. The memorial reads: “Forever remembered, Lucy A. Hobbs, born April 25, 1803, died October 15, 1876. Donated 1 acre of land for Forest Grove Cemetery on the date of her death hopefully aware of the number of families who have benefitted from her generous contributions to the Forest Grove Community and Cemetery where she was laid to rest.”
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Located about 7 miles south of Nashville along Nolensville Pike, the historically African American Calhoun Cemetery has served its community since 1898, when J.N. Calhoun deeded one acre of land to Oliver Ensley, Fountain Maxwell, and James Kinnard, trustees of the “colored graveyard.” Documented for the Davidson County Cemetery Survey (DCCS) in 2003 and 2022, Calhoun Cemetery remains under the care of descendants, though resources for its maintenance and preservation are very limited. In early 2024, concerned descendants contacted the Metro Historical Commission after the southern portion of the site incurred damage by a grading contractor conducting work for the adjacent commercial parcel. One damaged marker was repaired by the contractor, but this damage led to conversations between the MHC and descendants about additional documentation needs.
With financial support from the Preservation Society of Nashville (PSN), the Vanderbilt Institute for Spatial Research (VISR) will survey Calhoun Cemetery with ground penetrating radar (GPR), a form of geophysical documentation that will use specialized equipment and fieldwork methods to determine additional burial locations. PSN Executive Director David Greider remarked, “The Preservation Society of Nashville is proud to partner and support the productive use of ground penetrating radar in the critical first steps of preserving this historical African American site.”
The VISR team will produce a report of findings with detailed maps and diagrams of potential unmarked burials, high accuracy GPS points for potential graves, and recommendations for preservation and future actions. A comprehensive map of the cemetery will also be shared with all stakeholders of the project to assist with preservation and management decisions. VISR will also return to the site post-survey with wooden stakes to physically mark the locations of unmarked burials within the cemetery. This information will be invaluable to the descendants and community stakeholders as they plan for the long-term preservation of this historically African American site. Work is expected to begin in mid-November. We look forward to sharing more information on this project with you in the future!
MHC continues to be involved in several exciting archaeological projects. Through a grant from the Tennessee Wars Commission, the Metro Historical Commission was able to conduct a public archaeology day a Sunnyside. Students from Vanderbilt University, Middle Tennessee State University, Lipscomb University, and Cumberland University as well as volunteers and middle school and high school students helped to survey a portion of the northwest corner of Sevier Park. The goal of the project was to learn about archaeology and to locate evidence of the Battle of Nashville which raged in front of Sunnyside on December 15, 1864.
Photo: Students excavate an object during the archaeological survey in Sevier Park.
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In addition to several public events and posts, we have also been able to help explore the rich archaeological resources in Metro in conjunction with several development projects. In Ravenwood Park, we have been surveying an area ahead of infrastructure improvements. Volunteers from local universities helped to excavate shovel test pits in a systematic grid to identify any cultural features and document the soil stratigraphy.
We welcome volunteers to join us in the lab and in the field. If you are interested in participating in future archaeological excavations or laboratory analysis, please contact Dr. Adam Fracchia.
Photo: University student volunteers excavate a shovel test pit in Ravenwood Park.
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November Mystery Object
In the archaeology lab, not every artifact is easily identifiable. We often spend a great deal of time cleaning them off and piecing them together before we try to look for examples of what they could be.
Unfortunately, no one was able to identify October’s object. This month we have a picture of a test unit showing the floor of the excavated unit. Something is evident on the floor of the unit. Can you guess what this unique feature is? If you are the first one to guess correctly, you will win a prize!
If you know or have a guess, please email adam.fracchia@nashville.gov.
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Beaman Park:
Join Friends of Beaman Park to clean up old dump sites at Beaman’s Proctor Farm property on Saturday, November 9. Intern Zoe Williams (Belmont University) will present her research from a semester at the park on November.
Centennial Park and the Parthenon:
Parthenon Architecture tours and Museum tours, and Centennial Park History tours are available weekly at Centennial Park.
Fort Negley Park:
The Nashville History Club meets each Tuesday of the month for a different presentation. On November 5 join Tim O'Brien as he presents "A Walk Through Nashville's Neon Canyon." On November 19 Dr. Bill McKee presents, "The Founding of the State of Tennessee."
Join Fort Negley Park staff for a Guided Walking Tour on November 5, November 6, November 8, November 13, and November 16. Staff will also host a Flag Planting on November 2, as well as a Honor and Remembrance Ceremony on November 9.
The Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society- Nashville Chapter will meet November 9 to discuss "Researching Enslaved Ancestors" featuring TN State Library and Archives Librarian/Archives Assistant Lauren Hamric. The Nashville Civil War Roundtable will meet on November 19 and the Sons of Union Veterans will meet on November 26. The Nashville City Cemetery Association will host a Brunch and Learn with Rachel Swann Potter on November 16. Ms. Potter will discuss her research into her family history and connection to the City Cemetery.
Warner Park:
Enjoy the sights and sounds of nature with local astronomers at the November 9 Fall Star Party at the Special Events and Sports Field (61 Vaughn Road). Then, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, explore the peace and grandeur of the undisturbed ecosystem of the Hill Forest and share in gratitude for this amazing land on November 27.
The Main Branch is open again! However, the Civil Rights Room is still closed for ongoing renovations. Reach out to Special Collections staff if you need access to materials from that collection.
Attend the 2024 Literary Public Lecture featuring this year's honoree James McBride on Saturday, November 9. The lecture will be held at Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School from 10:00-11:30 am. Watch parties will also be held at Bellevue, Donelson, East, Goodlettsville, Green Hills, and Hermitage branch locations.
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens--El Dia de los Muertos--November 2-3
Andrew Jackson's Hermitage--Removal and Resilience--November 7
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum--Panel Discussion: Gee's Bend Quilters--November 7
National Museum of African American Music--Sounds in Cinema "The Color Purple"--November 7
Andrew Jackson's Hermitage--The Mighty Mississip’: History to Whiskey with O.H. Ingram--November 9
Heritage Foundation of Williamson County--7th Annual Preservation Symposium--November 9
Travellers Rest--Toddlers at TR: Families and Thanksgiving--November 9
Buchanan Log House--Harvest--Time Heritage: Old Barn Photography with Joe West--November 10
Andrew Jackson's Hermitage--A Christmas Carol with Gerald Dickens--November 12
Belle Meade Historic Site--Holiday Open House--November 14
Nashville Zoo at Grassmere--Zoolumination--opens November 14
Middle Tennessee Genealogical Society--36th Annual Genealogical Seminar--November 16
Belmont Mansion--Friends and Neighbors Shopping Night--November 19
Tennessee State Museum--Homeschool Day: Native American History Month--November 19
National Museum of African American Music--Origins Impact Awards--November 21
Tennessee State Museum--Lunch and Learn: 3D Mapping in Tennessee's Unnamed Caves--November 21
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens--10th Annual Holiday LIGHTS--opens November 22
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens--Holidays at the White House with the First Ladies: Jacqueline Kennedy to Michelle Obama--opens November 22
National Museum of African American Music--Nissan Free Wednesday--free admission on the first Wednesday of each month courtesy of Nissan
Tennessee State Museum--Museum Highlight Tours--each Friday and Saturday at 2:00 pm
Frist Art Museum--Architecture Tours--each Saturday from 3:30-4:30 pm
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum--From Where I Stand: The Black Experience in Country Music-online exhibit
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum--Music Row: Nashville's Creative Crossroads--online exhibit
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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