experts on history of "The Nations" neighborhood?

[Rick Bradley]

Autumn Boaz, a reporter for the Green Hills News (amongst other
publications) is looking to do an article about the history of the
Nations neighborhood (aka "Historic West Nashville") and is looking
for someone with some level of expertise on such matters.

Anyone willing to step up, or could point us to a guru of things Nations?

Thanks!
Rick

[Todd Liebergen]

Do you know how historical is Autumn/GCA looking for? I'm aware that St. Luke's Community House has some good historical information about its role in the neighborhood dating back to its founding in 1913. I'm sure St. Luke's elderly services programs would also be able to put you in touch with some longer-term residents of the neighborhood. Contact Brian Diller, executive director, who can further refer you.

 

More recent history might be the purview of Norma Hand. There are two elderly brothers who used to regularly attend RUN meetings and I'm sure Norma would have their information, in addition to being a resource herself.

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Todd M. Liebergen, community volunteer
223 Walton Lane; Madison, Tennessee 37115-5332
615-860-3614 (home); 615-513-2464 (mobile)
tmlie...@gmail.com (preferred); tlieb...@yahoo.com
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Director of Internal Audit; Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole
404 James Robertson Parkway, Suite 1300; Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0850
615-532-8082 (voice); 615-253-3807 (fax); todd.li...@tn.gov

[Katie Taylor]

Doris who lives on Delray Ct. and is rebuilding and staying after the flood has lived in the Nations/Urbandale area for more than 30 years. She could be very helpful.

kt

[Audrey Baker]

Cynthia Black is one of the most informed members of the RUN Association. She know all about how the Nations got the name. You can get her info from St. Luke's also.

[dmz...@comcast.net]

I have been told the Richland Library may have some resources.

Sent from Sprint PCS Palm

-----Original Message-----

[MeretriciousCreations]

I was told when I bought my house by the people who had lived there
since the 50s that someone had compiled a book (very photo heavy)
about the Nations neighborhood, but the person telling me about it
couldn't remember the author's name NOR the title of the book. He
told me it included images of the neighborhood back when it was all
dirt roads and only a few scattered houses. I have searched and
searched online, but have been unable to narrow it down enough to pin
down specifics. I've been meaning to go downtown and check out the
main branch of the library in their local/state history section, but
just have not managed to make it happen. So I guess that's not really
very helpful...
You might also check with the moderators of the Historic Nashville
blog (http://historicnashville.wordpress.com/) they may be able to
help. I was able to find out a bit on their site about the man Morrow
Rd. was named for and his factories that were in the neighborhood,
maybe they can help. I am very excited to find out more about the
Nations!
-Valerie

On Jul 23, 2:38 pm, "Audrey Baker" <audrey.bake...@att.net> wrote:
> Cynthia Black is one of the most informed members of the RUN Association. She know all about how the Nations got the name. You can get her info from St. Luke's also.
>
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: Todd Liebergen
>   To: the-nations-w...@googlegroups.com ; Diller, Brian
>   Sent: Friday, July 23, 2010 2:35 PM
>   Subject: Re: experts on history of "The Nations" neighborhood?
>
>   Do you know how historical is Autumn/GCA looking for? I'm aware that St. Luke's Community House has some good historical information about its role in the neighborhood dating back to its founding in 1913. I'm sure St. Luke's elderly services programs would also be able to put you in touch with some longer-term residents of the neighborhood. Contact Brian Diller, executive director, who can further refer you.
>
>   More recent history might be the purview of Norma Hand. There are two elderly brothers who used to regularly attend RUN meetings and I'm sure Norma would have their information, in addition to being a resource herself.
>

>   On Fri, Jul 23, 2010 at 2:24 PM, Rick Bradley <r...@rickbradley.com> wrote:
>
>     Autumn Boaz, a reporter for the Green Hills News (amongst other
>     publications) is looking to do an article about the history of the
>     Nations neighborhood (aka "Historic West Nashville") and is looking
>     for someone with some level of expertise on such matters.
>
>     Anyone willing to step up, or could point us to a guru of things Nations?
>
>     Thanks!
>     Rick
>
>     --
>     You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Nations West Nashville" group.
>     To post to this group, send email to the-nations-w...@googlegroups.com.
>     To unsubscribe from this group, send email to the-nations-west-na...@googlegroups.com.

>     For more options, visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/group/the-nations-west-nashville?hl=en.

>
>   --
>   Todd M. Liebergen, community volunteer
>   223 Walton Lane; Madison, Tennessee 37115-5332
>   615-860-3614 (home); 615-513-2464 (mobile)

>   tmlieber...@gmail.com (preferred); tlieber...@yahoo.com
>  http://tliebergen.blogspot.com
>  http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=1053439245&hiq=todd...

>  http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/todd/liebergen
>   Director of Internal Audit; Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole
>   404 James Robertson Parkway, Suite 1300; Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0850

>   615-532-8082 (voice); 615-253-3807 (fax); todd.lieber...@tn.gov

[MeretriciousCreations]

I found this while I was trying to backtrack to the info on Mr.
Morrow. (unsuccessfully I might add)

http://historicnashville.wordpress.com/2009/01/21/treaty-oak/

On Jul 23, 3:10 pm, MeretriciousCreations

[dmz...@comcast.net]

I wonder if it is the book by Sarah Kelly? I was told about the book by the gentleman that owns Ewing Bass Auto repair on 33rd and Charlotte. He said they have a copy of it at Richland library but that you couldn't check it out.
Our friend the lawyer, David Ewing, has a Facebook page called The Nashville I Wish I Knew. I've been meaning to check it out for West Nashville history.

Sent from Sprint PCS Palm

-----Original Message-----

[MeretriciousCreations]

He was sure that it was a man (the only solid thing he
remembered! ; ) ), he'd come by and asked about the history of the
house when they still lived there and they said he was from the
neighborhood.
I'm really excited about what could come of this. I am 2nd generation
West Nashvillian, my folks still live in the house my dad grew up in,
so I hear his stories, but there aren't a lot of pictures to go with
it.
There's a photo of Charlotte that may have come from the Grannis
Archives that Rhino has up in their shop that I want a copy of for
myself. It's amazing to see how bustling all of those shops were back
in the day. I hope they will be again soon!

On Jul 23, 4:33 pm, <dmz...@comcast.net> wrote:
> I wonder if it is the book by Sarah Kelly? I was told about the book by the gentleman that owns Ewing Bass Auto repair on 33rd and Charlotte. He said they have a copy of it at Richland library but that you couldn't check it out.
> Our friend the lawyer, David Ewing, has a Facebook page called The Nashville I Wish I Knew. I've been meaning to check it out for West Nashville history.
>
> Sent from Sprint PCS Palm
>
> -----Original Message-----
>

[John Mora]

I mentioned this during a recent conversation and was told the Kelly
book has a number of historical inaccuracies.

Also, I've seen mentions (online) of the neighborhood being called
"The Nations" due to the variety of cultures present in the
neighborhood from families of those in the Tennessee State Prison. I
was told this was incorrect as well - the name originated from the
indigenous population ("Nations" referring to "Native American
Nations").

http://www.tufc.com/trees_chickasaw.htm

It's a shame there's no sign of the old Treaty Oak or the plaque at
the original location.

- John

[dmz...@comcast.net]

The house I live in was built in 1899. I would love to know its history. I did not grow up here. I have lived in middle tn for 30 years and west of the river for 20. I love this neighborhood.

Sent from Sprint PCS Palm

-----Original Message-----

From: MeretriciousCreations <meretricio...@gmail.com>
Subj: Re: experts on history of "The Nations" neighborhood?
Date: Mon Jul 26, 2010 9:17 am
Size: 3K
To: The Nations West Nashville <the-nations-w...@googlegroups.com>

He was sure that it was a man (the only solid thing he
remembered! ; ) ), he'd come by and asked about the history of the
house when they still lived there and they said he was from the
neighborhood.
I'm really excited about what could come of this. I am 2nd generation
West Nashvillian, my folks still live in the house my dad grew up in,
so I hear his stories, but there aren't a lot of pictures to go with
it.
There's a photo of Charlotte that may have come from the Grannis
Archives that Rhino has up in their shop that I want a copy of for
myself. It's amazing to see how bustling all of those shops were back
in the day. I hope they will be again soon!

> > Do you know how historical is Autumn/GCA looking for? I'm aware that St.. Luke's Community House has some good historical information about its role in the neighborhood dating back to its founding in 1913. I'm sure St. Luke's elderly services programs would also be able to put you in touch with some longer-term residents of the neighborhood. Contact Brian Diller, executive director, who can further refer you.

>
> > More recent history might be the purview of Norma Hand. There are two elderly brothers who used to regularly attend RUN meetings and I'm sure Norma would have their information, in addition to being a resource herself.
>
> > On Fri, Jul 23, 2010 at 2:24 PM, Rick Bradley <r...@rickbradley.com> wrote:
>
> > Autumn Boaz, a reporter for the Green Hills News (amongst other
> > publications) is looking to do an article about the history of the
> > Nations neighborhood (aka "Historic West Nashville") and is looking
> > for someone with some level of expertise on such matters.
>
> > Anyone willing to step up, or could point us to a guru of things Nations?

--- message truncated ---

[MeretriciousCreations]

I don't know the exact year on my house, the tax records say 1920-
something, but I have been told repeatedly that was the year they ran
the gas lines out here and the city started recording these places in
the records. I know that my house is late Victorian, but I am curious
to know more about it and the neighborhood as a whole.
I had heard the prison thing, but I went to/worked at St. Lukes all
through my childhood and teen years and met tons of 2nd & 3rd
generation Nations families. And like I said my dad grew up on this
side of town and well, it's not exactly known for its ethnic
diversity. :) (at least not back in the day) In fact a coworker of
mine which had done huge amounts of volunteer work with impoverished
communities likened the people/vibe of the Nations as strikingly
similar to Appalachia. The Native American explanation of the name
always seemed the most likely, especially in light of the Treaty Rock
story.
Aaaanyway, at this point I am just itchin' for more info about my
'hood.

On Jul 26, 9:42 am, <dmz...@comcast.net> wrote:
> The house I live in was built in 1899. I would love to know its history. I did not grow up here. I have lived in middle tn for 30 years and west of the river for 20. I love this neighborhood.
>
> Sent from Sprint PCS Palm
>
> -----Original Message-----
>

[dmz...@comcast.net]

I read an interesting blurb in a book I have about Nashville history. It said that West Nashville was laid out on the old Cockrill,Pilcher,Clare and Irwin farms in 1887 as an industrial satellite community.It offered cheap sites for new large scale factories outside of the central city with access to the river.
The West Nashville Land Improvement Company laid out this area as "New Town" in 1887 with small home size lots and two public parks (Clifton and Richland) on a modern grid plan with the east-west streets named after the states of the union and the north-south streets numbered. They built a spur railroad as a commuter line for workers and for industrial use for factories along the river.
The plan was to make West Nashville the "Manufacturing Metropolis of the South" however most workers could not afford the suburban lots and train fare (5 � each way). The average wage was $5 to $10 per week.Manufacturers did not want to risk building factories that were far from the pool of labor and as late as 1893 not a single facory was contructed in West Nashville.
There was a economic panic in 1893 that was fueled by railroad overbuilding that led to bank failures and the West Nashville Land Company languished. In 1896 West Nashville benifited from a phosphate strike in Maury and Hickman counties. West Nashville became a national center for phosphate fertilizer manufacturing. By 1908 there were 15 fertilizer plants in the area, many owned by local capitalists. The plants produced noxius fumes and West Nashvilles remote location a distinct advantage. At this point the lumber industry that was centered on the east bank needed room to expand and expanded to West Nashville. The new state prison provided convict labor thus partially solving the labor problem. Convict labor was also used to produce shoes, hosiery,stoves and a variety of other goods within the confines of the prison grounds. Electric trolleys were built out Charlotte Ave bringing workers from the central city to West Nashville. It was a 20 to 30 minute ride.
As the job base expanded new real estate promoters emerged and West Nashville was more ripe for development. The Nashville Realty Company created a merger encompassing 1,200 acres and in May 1903 staged a huge 3 day land sale in Charlotte park and Sylvan Park. The lots sold for $5.50 to $6.00 a front foot. Most were sold to speculators who built inexpensive cottages to rent to workers and their families.
West Nashville was promoted as a semirural area with "homelike and comfortable" cottages surrounded by lowing cattle and clucking hens "the view from any of them extends to blue hills, grassy slopes, and meadowlands not far away, and not a suggestion of the hot stone pavements and smoke begrimed city is visible." In 1901 West Nashville claimed 4,000 residents and by 1908 the population soared to 10,000. Churches and schools were built to serve the growing population. Dvelopers planted shade trees along the streets, put in concrete sidewalks, streetlamps, sewers, and improved Richland Park.The area was decribed as containing "the most desirable resident sections, an ideal home town that could brag it had no saloons or gambling places." In every way this area offered to working class families the same kind of semirural refuge that their more wealthy counterparts were seeking in West End, Belle Meade and Belmont.
Condensed from - Nashville in the New South by Don H. Doyle

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-----Original Message-----

> > To: The Nations West Nashville <the-nations-west-nashville@googlegroups..com>

--

[John Mora]

That was really interesting. Here's another good read (scroll up a bit
to get to the beginning of the chapter). I was curious about the West
Nashville Land Improvement Company, so I looked them up.

http://bit.ly/NewTownWestNashville

I wonder if the new chapters will include where the Nations is
swallowed up by industrial zoning and then a waste processing plant is
built smack in the middle of it. ;-)

- John

On Tue, Jul 27, 2010 at 10:26 AM, <dmz...@comcast.net> wrote:
> The West Nashville Land Improvement Company laid out this area as "New Town" in 1887 with small home size lots and two public parks (Clifton and Richland) on a modern grid plan with the east-west streets named after the states of the union and the north-south streets numbered.

--
John Mora

[westnash5313]

I am a cousin of Sarah Foster Kelly.Her book was titled "West
Nashville And It's Environs" Sarah was decended from James Robinson.
As far as I know her book is accurate. Any time any one disputed it
she was able to defend what she had wrote. It has many interesting
facts about West Nashville. There is suppose to be a copy at Richland
Library. I am far away from West Nashville right now, but I still own
property there and will be back just as soon as possible.

> > I wonder if it is the book by Sarah Kelly?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[dmz...@comcast.net]

I have never read your cousins book but I have read every excerpt available on the internet from her book and have enjoyed it thoroughly. I am very thankful for historians.

Sent from Sprint PCS Palm

-----Original Message-----

From: westnash5313 <westna...@aol.com>
Subj: Re: experts on history of "The Nations" neighborhood?
Date: Fri Aug 13, 2010 10:44 am
Size: 1K
To: The Nations West Nashville <the-nations-w...@googlegroups.com>

--

[Tony McKay]

Anyone interested in reading Sarah Foster Kelly's book, West
Nashville, It's People and Environs, can go take a look at it at the
downtown library. They have 3 copies but you cant check them out.
You can also purchase a copy on Amazon for between $200-400. In her
book she states that the name "The Nations" came from the idea that if
the streets were named for states all over the nation that it would
attract any of the out of state transplants that were flowing into
Nashville into that particular area. There are also a few more
smaller books at the downtown library worth reading.

By the way I am a 5th generation Nations resident. My family is
mentioned in Sarah Foster Kelly's book.

[vonne...@gmail.com]

My name is Yvonne Eaves and I live in Sylvan Park.  A couple years ago I co-wrote a book about the History of Sylvan Park.  My roots run very deep in West Nashville, both my parents grew up in West Nashville.  I have done a lot of research on West Nashville History and I plan to write another book more of the history of all of West Nashville.

[liz Parrott]

Yvonne - we have been discussing such a book/history of the Nations and would love to sit down with you and learn the history and assist in your next endeavor. 

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