Saturday, August 20, 2016

Town Lots

NASHVILLE HISTORY

NASHVILLE HISTORY
Town Lots

Please read the article
Original Lots, Nashville, 1784

Original Lots in the Town of Nashville, showing early ownership information.

Lot No. Grantor Grantee Date of Instrument Book Page Source
1 Trustees Town of Nashville Boyd, John Aug 16 1784 A 29 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
2 Trustees Town of Nashville James, Thomas Aug 6 1790 C 202 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
3 Trustees Town of Nashville Boyd, John . . . Resurvey of Nashville
4 Trustees Town of Nashville Pollack, B. W. . A 37 Resurvey of Nashville
5 Trustees Town of Nashville Pollack, B. W. . A 36 Resurvey of Nashville
6 Trustees Town of Nashville Clark, Lardner . . . Resurvey of Nashville
6 Trustees Town of Nashville Mulherin, William Jul 8 1788 A 227 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
7 Trustees Town of Nashville Clark, Lardner Jul 26 1784 A 81 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
7 Clark, Lardner Armstrong, Martin Mar 29 1785 A 9 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
8 Trustees Town of Nashville Drake, Jonathan Jul 30 1784 A 20 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
8 Trustees Town of Nashville Crutcher, Capt. . . . Resurvey of Nashville
9 Trustees Town of Nashville Robertson, James and Bushnell . . . Resurvey of Nashville
9 Trustees Town of Nashville Robertson, James Aug 15 1784 A 13 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
10 Trustees Town of Nashville Shaw, Olive Jul 9 1788 A 245 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
10 Trustees Town of Nashville Clark, Lardner . . . Resurvey of Nashville
11 Trustees Town of Nashville Clark, Lardner Jul 26 1784 A 13 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
11 Bass, Peter Woodcock, John . N 273 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
12 Trustees Town of Nashville Boyd, John Aug 16 1784 A 29 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
13 Trustees Town of Nashville Boyd, John Aug 16 1784 A 30 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
14 Trustees Town of Nashville Collinsworth, William . . . Resurvey of Nashville
15 Trustees Town of Nashville Abel, Ezekial Apr 8 1793 C 145 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
15 Gordon, John Wheaton, Jane . I 86 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
16 Trustees Town of Nashville Murfree, Hardy Jul 30 1784 G 148 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
17 Trustees Town of Nashville Mauldin, James Aug 16 1784 A 22 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
18 Trustees Town of Nashville Ewing, Andrew Jul 30 1784 A 27 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
19 Trustees Town of Nashville Crutcher, William Jul 26 1784 A 4 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
20 Trustees Town of Nashville . . . . .
21 Trustees Town of Nashville Molloy, Thomas Jul 30 1784 A 34 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
21 Trustees Town of Nashville Deadrick, etal, John Apr 10 1793 C 133 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
22 Trustees Town of Nashville Shaw, James Jul 30 1784 A 17 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
23 Trustees Town of Nashville Llewellen, Abednigo Jul 29 1784 A 21 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
24 Trustees Town of Nashville Robinson, James Aug 15 1784 A 11 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
24 Trustees Town of Nashville Robertson, James and Dr. Sappington . . 24 Resurvey of Nashville
24 Gordon, John Waggeman, Thomas E. . G 47 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
25 Trustees Town of Nashville Anderson, John Nov 13 1797 E 115 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
25 Trustees Town of Nashville Sanders, Julius . . . Resurvey of Nashville
25 Sheriff Green, Thomas . A 255 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
26 Trustees Town of Nashville Dougherty, George Aug 16 1784 A 3 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
27 Trustees Town of Nashville Lytle, William . . . Resurvey of Nashville
28 Trustees Town of Nashville Bizwell, James Jul 8 1788 A 227 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
28 Trustees Town of Nashville Bushnell, E. . . . Resurvey of Nashville
29 Trustees Town of Nashville Pettit, Benjamin Aug 16 1784 A 37 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
30 Trustees Town of Nashville Rice, John Jun 30 1785 A 17 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
30 Trustees Town of Nashville Fletcher, Thomas Apr 6 1785 A 26 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
30 Trustees Town of Nashville Gower, Russell Jul 26 1784 A 33 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
31 Trustees Town of Nashville Crutcher, Anthony Jul 26 1784 A 23 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
32 Trustees Town of Nashville Menees, James Aug 16 1784 A 40 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
33 Trustees Town of Nashville Looney, David Aug 16 1784 A 23 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
34 Trustees Town of Nashville Lucas, Andrew Jul 30 1784 A 25 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
34 Trustees Town of Nashville Gower, Russell . . . Resurvey of Nashville
35 Trustees Town of Nashville Caffrey, Peter Aug 16 1784 A 35 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
35 Trustees Town of Nashville Cockrill, John . . . Resurvey of Nashville
36 Trustees Town of Nashville Foreman, John Jul 30 1784 A 49 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
37 Trustees Town of Nashville Armstrong, Martinand David Hay Mar 29 1785 A 8 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
37 Trustees Town of Nashville Lytle, William Aug 16 1784 A 10 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
38 Trustees Town of Nashville Gibson, John Jul 8 1788 A 226 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
38 Trustees Town of Nashville McPherson, John . . . Resurvey of Nashville
39 Trustees Town of Nashville Dunbar, Samuel Jul 30 1784 D 15 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
40 Trustees Town of Nashville Cage, William Aug 16 1784 A 25 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
40 Overton, John Watt, Elihu S. . . 230 .
41 Trustees Town of Nashville Mulherrew, James . . . Resurvey of Nashville
42 Trustees Town of Nashville Flyn, George Jul 26 1784 A 33 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
43 Trustees Town of Nashville Martin, Samuel Aug 16 1784 A 11 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
44 Trustees Town of Nashville Sanders, Julius Jul 26 1784 A 12 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
45 Trustees Town of Nashville Armstrong, Martin Aug 16 1784 A 4 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
46 Trustees Town of Nashville Clark, Lardner Jul 8 1788 A 232 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
46 Trustees Town of Nashville Shaw, Olive . . . Resurvey of Nashville
47 Trustees Town of Nashville Sanders, James Aug 16 1784 A 49 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
48 Trustees Town of Nashville Thompson, James Jul 30 1784 A 26 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
49 Trustees Town of Nashville Fletcher, Thomas . . . Resurvey of Nashville
49 Maxwell, James Wiggans, John P. . E 408 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
50 Trustees Town of Nashville Robertson, James . . . Resurvey of Nashville
51 Trustees Town of Nashville Shaw, James Jul 30 1784 A 20 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
52 Trustees Town of Nashville Purnell, William Jul 8 1788 A 227 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
53 Trustees Town of Nashville Greer, Joseph Feb 11 1805 G 12 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
54 Trustees Town of Nashville Moore, William Jul 30 1784 A 48 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
55 Trustees Town of Nashville Mecklin, William Aug 15 1784 A 16 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
56 Trustees Town of Nashville Blount, William Aug 16 1784 A 10 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
57 Trustees Town of Nashville Robertson, James Aug 6 1790 G 152 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
58 not found Robertson, Elijah . . . Resurvey of Nashville
59 Trustees Town of Nashville Robertson, James Jul 30 1784 G 152 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
59 not found Dobbins, William . . . Resurvey of Nashville
60 Trustees Town of Nashville Todd, James Jul 26 1784 A 27 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
60 Todd, James Boyd, John Oct 3 1785 . . Resurvey of Nashville
61 Trustees Town of Nashville Armstrong, John Aug 16 1784 A 3 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
61 Maxwell, James Wiggans, John P. . E 408 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
62 Trustees Town of Nashville Clark, Lardner Jul 26 1784 A 9 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
63 Trustees Town of Nashville Hamilton, Williams Jul 30 1784 A 17 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
64 Trustees Town of Nashville Purnell, William Jul 30 1788 A 246 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
64 not found Wicuff and Clark . . . Resurvey of Nashville
65 Trustees Town of Nashville McEntire, Alexander Jul 26 1784 A 32 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
65 not found Bushnell, E. . . . Resurvey of Nashville
66 Trustees Town of Nashville Hand, Levi Jul 8 1788 A 226 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
66 not found Clark, Lardner . . . Resurvey of Nashville
66 Thompson, Hugh Armstrong, William Oct 8 1789 B 9 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
67 not found Hughes, J. and Lardner Clark . . . Resurvey of Nashville
67 Thompson, Hugh Armstrong, William Oct 8 1789 B 9 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
68 Trustees Town of Nashville James, Daniel Apr 9 1788 A 180 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
69 not found Wood, James . . . Resurvey of Nashville
70 Trustees Town of Nashville Sides, Peter Apr 15 1795 C 405 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
71 Trustees Town of Nashville Hughes, Jesse Jul 30 1784 D 37 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
72 not found Sanders, Julius . . . Resurvey of Nashville
73 Trustees Town of Nashville Barton, Samuel Jul 30 1784 A 22 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
74 Trustees Town of Nashville Prince, Francis Jul 10 1788 A 234 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
75 Trustees Town of Nashville Sanders, Julius Jul 26 1784 A 12 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
76 Trustees Town of Nashville Carter, Landon Aug 16 1784 A 24 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
77 Trustees Town of Nashville Thompson, Robert Jul 30 1784 A 24 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
77 Sheriff Anderson, William P. Apr 27 1802 E 369 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
78 Trustees Town of Nashville McFarland, John Aug 16 1784 A 34 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
79 Crutcher, Thomas Adams, Thomas F. Dec 26 1821 Q 659 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
79 not found Murfree, Hardy . . . Resurvey of Nashville
80 not found Chauncey, Jemima . . . Resurvey of Nashville
81 not found Titus . . . Resurvey of Nashville
82 Trustees Town of Nashville Neville, George Aug 16 1784 A 21 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
82 Cassellman, Benjamin Green, Thomas . E 267 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
82 Lucas, Andrew Cassellman, Benjamin . B 239 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
83 Trustees Town of Nashville Snyder, Charles Aug 6 1790 G 391 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
84 not found . . . . Resurvey of Nashville
85 Trustees Town of Nashville Walker, George Aug 6 1790 C 31 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
86 Trustees Town of Nashville Hague, Hohn Aug 6 1790 C 33 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
87 Trustees Town of Nashville Love, Josiah Aug 6 1790 C 35 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
88 Trustees Town of Nashville Taitt, Robert Sep 20 1790 F 196 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
88 not found . . . . Resurvey of Nashville
89 Trustees Town of Nashville Boyd, John May 17 1790 B 208 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
90 not found . . . . Resurvey of Nashville
91 not found . . . . Resurvey of Nashville
92 Trustees Town of Nashville Love, Josiah Aug 6 1790 C 36 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
92 Trustees Town of Nashville Tatum, Howell Aug 6 1790 C 36 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
93 not found Resurvey of Nashville
94 Trustees Town of Nashville Irvins, Joseph Aug 6 1790 N 219 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
95 not found . . . . Resurvey of Nashville
96 Trustees Town of Nashville Walker, George Aug 6 1790 C 37 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
97 Trustees Town of Nashville Maxel, David Sep 20 1790 B 144 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
99 Trustees Town of Nashville Allison, David Aug 6 1790 C 37 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
100 Trustees Town of Nashville Mulherin, James Aug 6 1790 C 34 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
101 Trustees Town of Nashville McGuire, Richard Aug 6 1790 B 156 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
102 Trustees Town of Nashville Sevier, Valentine Aug 6 1790 C 33 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
103 Trustees Town of Nashville Titus, James Aug 26 1790 F 197 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
103 not found . . . . Resurvey of Nashville
104 Trustees Town of Nashville Overton, Thomas Aug 6 1790 C 31 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
105 Trustees Town of Nashville Rains, John Aug 6 1790 C 30 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
106 Trustees Town of Nashville Allison, David Aug 6 1790 C 30 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
107 Trustees Town of Nashville Walker, George Aug 6 1790 C 31 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
107 Trustees Town of Nashville Searcy, Bennett Aug 6 1790 C 38 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
108 Trustees Town of Nashville Love, Josiah Aug 6 1790 C 36 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
109 Trustees Town of Nashville Hart, Anthony Aug 6 1790 C 32 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
110 Trustees Town of Nashville Barton, Stephen Aug 6 1790 C 28 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
111 Trustees Town of Nashville Shaw, Jr. James Aug 6 1790 F 314 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
111 not found . . . . .
112 Trustees Town of Nashville Allison, David Aug 6 1790 C 30 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
113 not found . . . . .
114 Trustees Town of Nashville Hay, Edward Ware Aug 6 1790 C 33 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
115 not found . . . . .
116 not found . . . . .
117 not found . . . . .
118 Trustees Town of Nashville Montflorence, James Cole Aug 6 1790 B 156 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
119 not found . . . . .
120 not found . . . . .
121 Trustees Town of Nashville Rice, Joel Aug 6 1790 E 419 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
122 Trustees Town of Nashville Montflorence, James Cole Aug 6 1790 B 156 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
123 Trustees Town of Nashville Love, Josiah Aug 6 1790 C 36 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
124 Trustees Town of Nashville Montflorence, James Cole Aug 6 1790 B 157 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
125 not found . . . . .
126 not found . . . . .
127 Trustees Town of Nashville Hannah, Thomas Aug 6 1790 B 157 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
128 Trustees Town of Nashville Searcy, Bennett Aug 6 1790 C 32 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
129 not found . . . . .
130 not found . . . . .
131 Trustees Town of Nashville Chapman, Elizabeth Aug 6 1790 B 155 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
132 Trustees Town of Nashville James, Daniel Aug 6 1790 C 32 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
133 not found . . . . .
134 Trustees Town of Nashville Hickman, Edwin Aug 6 1790 C 34 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
135 not found . . . . .
136 Trustees Town of Nashville Robertson, Elijah Aug 6 1790 C 29 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
137 Trustees Town of Nashville Snyder, Charles Aug 6 1790 G 391 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
138 Trustees Town of Nashville Robertson, Elijah Aug 6 1790 C 29 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
139 not found . . . . .
140 Trustees Town of Nashville Love, Josiah Aug 6 1790 C 35 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
141 Trustees Town of Nashville Hart, Anthony Aug 6 1790 C 34 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
142 Trustees Town of Nashville Allison, David Aug 6 1790 C 37 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
143 not found . . . . .
144 Trustees Town of Nashville Hickman, Edwin Aug 6 1790 C 29 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
145 Trustees Town of Nashville Love, Josiah Aug 6 1790 C 35 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
146 Trustees Town of Nashville Snyder, Charles Aug 6 1790 G 389 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
147 not found . . . . .
148 Trustees Town of Nashville Boyd, Jr. John Aug 6 1790 B 144 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
148 Trustees Town of Nashville Doughtry, Polly Jul 8 1790 I 225 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
149 not found . Resurvey of Nashville
150 Trustees Town of Nashville Boyd, Sr. John Aug 6 1790 B 144 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
151 not found . . . . .
152 not found . . . . .
153 not found . . . . .
154 Trustees Town of Nashville Barton, Joseph Aug 6 1790 C 25 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
155 Trustees Town of Nashville David, Hyder Ally Aug 6 1790 B 157 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
156 not found . .
157 Trustees Town of Nashville Foreman, John Aug 6 1790 C 203 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
158 Trustees Town of Nashville Chapman, Elizabeth Aug 6 1790 B 155 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
159 not found . . . . .
160 not found . . . . .
161 not found . . . . .
162 not found . . . . .
163 not found . . . . .
164 not found . . . . .
165 Trustees Town of Nashville McGuire, Richard Aug 6 1790 B 155 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
166 not found . . . . .
167 Trustees Town of Nashville Hay, Ann Aug 20 1802 E 406 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
168 not found . . . . .
169 Trustees Town of Nashville Patton, John Apr 17 1804 F 152 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
169 Trustees Town of Nashville Patton, John Apr 16 1804 F 198 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
170 Trustees Town of Nashville Tolbott, Thomas and John Patton Apr 16 1804 F 154 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
170 Trustees Town of Nashville Tolbott, Thomas and John Patton Apr 16 1804 F 199 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
170 Trustees Town of Nashville Patton, etal, John Apr 16 1804 F 199 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
171 Trustees Town of Nashville Tolbott, Thomas Apr 16 1804 F 153 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
171 Trustees Town of Nashville Tolbott, Thomas Apr 16 1804 F 198 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
172 Trustees Town of Nashville Boyd, John and Robert Searcy Apr 12 1803 F 28 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
173 not found . . . . .
174 not found . . . . .
175 not found . . . . .
176 not found . . . . .
177 not found . . . . .
178 not found . . . . .
179 Trustees Town of Nashville Overton, John Jul 13 1797 D 221 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
180 Trustees Town of Nashville Overton, John Jul 30 1796 D 62 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
180 Trustees Town of Nashville Gearmin, William Apr 30 1803 F 102 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
nf Doherty, James Anderson, William P. Oct 30 1799 E 142 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
nf Elliston, Joseph T. Akins, Moses Dec 31 1802 F 77 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
180 Gearmin, William Jessee Wharton Mar 27, 1806 G 4 Davidson County Register of Deed Index
This record was researched and compiled by Debie Oeser Cox from deeds book of the Register of Deeds Office, Davidson County, Tennessee. The page was created, after Many hours of research and editing of the material gathered. The layout design was created by Debie Oeser Cox.

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Louisville & Nashville Railroad Bridge

 Across the Cumberland River at Nashville

Railroad Bridge from 1st Avenue North, google view, 2016

The subject came up, in a facebook group, of bridges across the Cumberland River, at Nashville.  A good bit of information can be easily found on all of the auto and pedestrian bridges across the river.  I have devoted a couple of blog posts to those bridges in the past.  This post is a work in progress and will be updated if more documentation is found.

Curiosity about the railroad bridge at Nashville, set off on a search for information.  A quick google search brought up some very conflicting information, some from websites devoted to railroading and/or bridge history.  No easy answers on this one, so I decide to start at the beginning.

Stories of the first railroad bridge, built 1857-1859, can be found in multiple sources. Most every history book devoted to Nashville, makes mention of it.  Newspaper articles show that the bridge, built by the Louisville and Nashville railroad company,  was started in 1857, and was nearly completed in 1858. 



Daily Nashville Patriot, Aug. 10, 1859

For unexplained reasons work was halted, but picked up again in late 1859.  The bridge was opened for use at the end of October, 1859.  Major Wilbur Foster superintended the building of the bridge.

Nashville Union and American, Oct. 29, 1859
In the April 7, 1860 issue of Harper's Weekly, an engraving of the railroad bridge at Nashville was published.  The span was very impressive, with an extra pier out from the center, to accommodate the draw span, when it opened.  Two years later, Nashville was taken by Union Troops and occupied by the Federal Army for the remainder of the Civil War.  As the Confederates soldiers made a hasty retreat from Nashville, in February of 1862, they set fire to the pedestrian bridge and the railroad bridge. 

The first railroad bridge at Nashville, Harper's Weekly, 1860, The Lincoln Foundation Collection.


It was reported that the railroad bridge was not badly damaged. The Union Army quickly rebuilt the wooden railroad bridge.  There are several images of the bridge after it was repaired.  An engraving appeared in Harper's Weekly of the bridge.  It was pleasing to the eye, a covered bridge in part a center draw.

Harper's Weekly, 1864, Library of Congress


It looks as if the piers and the end sections are original.  The middle section of the bridge is different.  Both bridges were constructed so that the middle section could swing around sideways, to allow boats to pass.  In this photograph from 1864, the bridge has been fortified by the Union Army, to protect from an advancement by Confederate troops.

The second Railroad Bridge at Nashville, 1864, Library of Congress

The war time bridge served Nashville until 1867.  The Louisville & Nashville railroad began construction on a new bridge in early 1867. The bridge was erected on the same piers as the old bridge.  The wood was removed and replaced with the Fink iron truss.  Albert Fink, the inventor of the truss, was the General Superintendent of the Louisville & Nashville railroad and he oversaw the construction of the bridge.

Nashville Union and American, June, 21, 1867


 The bridge was completed in November, 1867. News accounts report that the bridge provided transport for more than train cars.  It apparently had been the habit of the residents of North Edgefield to use the bridge, to cross on foot, from one side of the river to the other.  A petition was presented to the railroad, asking that this practice be allowed to continue, with the opening of the new bridge.


The third railroad bridge at Nashville, Nashville Union and American, Nov. 8, 1867


After thirty years of service it was decided that a new bridge was needed to carry the increasing weight load.  Early in 1897, a notice appeared in a trade magazine. "It is understood that the Louisville & Nashville will soon begin the work of rebuilding the bridge over the Cumberland river at Nashville, Tenn., replacing the present structure with a steel truss bridge of two fixed spans and one draw span."  This would be the fourth railway bridge to cross the Cumberland at Nashville.


The Railway Age, volume 24, 1897



 A lengthy article appeared in the Nashville American, in late 1897 about the new bridge, outlining the reasons a new bridge was necessary.  The first was to increase the weight load that the structure could carry.  The weight of engines had greatly increased since the bridge was built and some cars were in excess of three times the weight of an average car in 1867. The second reason was to place a double track on the bridge.  Though only one train could be on the bridge at one time, there would be four rails, overlapping, to make bridge traffic move through more quickly and easily.


Nashville American, Nov. 14, 1897



The piers were reinforced to bear the weight of the new of the new steel structure. Granite used in the piers was taken from the Salem-Bedford quarries.  The Pennsylvania Steel Company was awarded the contract for building and placing the new steel superstructure.  The bridge was in use during the rebuilding.  J. L. Armstrong was the superintendent of the bridge project. The cost was about $60,000 and after the upgrades the bridge was appraised at around $300,000 dollars.


I found many mentions in print, of the bridge after 1897, but no evidence of another bridge ever being constructed.  In 1899, there was a warehouse fire near the East Nashville of the bridge.  The warehouse and train cars nearby were loaded with nitrate and there were many explosions, felt as far away as Gallatin.  The bridge caught fire and had to be repaired.


Nashville American, Nov. 26. 1899


I found sad stories.  The river was accessible near the bridge, as there had once been a wharf there.  It was a popular area for swimming and there drownings in the area of the bridge.

I found stories that could have been tragic but ended up being funny.  Once, in 1905, the draw was opened to allow a steam boat to pass.   The wind was up, and a sudden gust caught the draw span and spun it completely around, damaging the smokestack on the boat. The three men in the control tower jumped from the draw span onto the bridge as they went around. The headlines likened the draw span to a merry-go-round.


Nashville American, March 30, 1905


The Tennessean, Nov. 23, 1907




In a 1909 image of the Woodland Street bridge the railroad bridge can be seen in the background.

Tennessean, July 4, 1909

I found a story of remarkable loyalty, not uncommon among that generation of men.  Mr. Madison White, started working for the Louisville & Nashville Railroad on June 8, 1857, at the beginning of the construction of the railway bridge at Nashville.  In 1907, Mr. White was awarded a gold pin, in honor of 50 years of service to the railroad. When the news article was published in 1910, Mr. White, still working, had been with the railroad for 53 years.  Only one man had longer service and that was Major Geddes, assistant general manager of the L & N railroad.


Nashville Globe, Sept 9, 1910



 In 1921 the draw span was closed for a period of time, so that repairs could be made on the bridge.


The Tennessean, June 28, 1921


There were stories, and photos, of flood waters reaching high up on the piers, which were marked as a gauge, to measure the river's height.


Tennessean, Jan. 2, 1945

Is the current bridge, the same bridge that was built in 1897?  If you follow the timeline of the bridge, through 1897, the piers are the same as the ones built in 1859 for the first bridge, with some reinforcement and additional stone.  Each time a new bridge was built, it was stated that the old piers were used.  A new bridge was in erected in 1867 on those piers.  In 1897, the bridge was not entirely new, because trains passed over the structure during the rebuilding.  The bridge was widened to accommodate 4 rails and the wood was replaced. The1867 steel truss was removed and a new steel superstructure was built and placed on the bridge.  The cost of rebuilding was about 60,000 dollars and increased the value of the bridge to an estimated 300,000 dollars.

There are a couple of websites that contain information that the latest bridge was built in 1916.  I could find nothing in the newspapers, that indicated a bridge was built at Nashville over the Cumberland in 1916.  There is a photo of a stamped plate on the bridge, that says Fort Pitt Bridge Works, 1916.  Yet news stories from 1916 and 1919 refer to the bridge as old. Is the Fort Pitt steel plate, on this bridge? Is there any sort of documentation of a bridge in 1916 or anytime after the 1897 bridge? I hope someone will share some documentation with me.

 UPDATE, Aug. 18, 2016 - After additional research, I can find no source that the bridge was built in 1916. The date seems to be based on the photo of a plaque posted by Calvin Sneed. But that plaque is on a different bridge, adjacent to this one. The plaque is on the CSX, 1st Ave. North Overpass. The last documented bridge was built in 1897 and 1898. This image, from the Tennessean, Feb. 11, 1898, states that work on the bridge began on Oct. 6, 1897. The official completion date was  February 10, 1898.


Tennessean, Feb. 11, 1898


The references in the article make it clear that this is the bridge across the Cumberland from East Nashville to downtown Nashville. The blog contains further documentation on the bridge.

 If what has been discovered is correct, the CSX bridge that crosses the Cumberland river at Nashville is almost 120 years old.  And the piers, with new masonry added, may be much older, nearly 160 years old.  They don't build them like that anymore!

These two news articles from 1916 and 1919, inform readers that the bridge is an old one.
Tennessean, June 16, 1916

Tennessean, Feb. 9. 1919

UPDATE Aug. 18, 2016 - I found three articles that show that the current bridge was under construction, in 1931.  I believe the bridge was finished sometime in 1932, but have not yet discovered a date. Watch for updates.

The Tennessean, May 5, 1931


The Tennessean, July 31, 1931



The Tennessean, Oct. 9, 1931



CSX Railroad Bridge over the Cumberland at Nashville, 2010, MNA


Click for VIDEO, showing closing of draw span, railroad bridge over the Cumberland. Jeremy Fountain.


Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Methodist Publishing House South


This is a pictorial history of buildings occupied by the Methodist Publishing House.  Some were gone long before we can remember, others are very familiar.  Only the building at 810 Broadway and the current location in Metro Center are still in existence.


Nashville City and Business Directory, 1860-1861, front.

In May of 1854, Nashville was chosen to be the site of a publishing house, by the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.  In April of 1855, the building was opened to the public, "to survey the House and its operations." (Republican Banner, April 14, 1855.)  In February of 1872 a fire caused considerable damage to the publishing house building.

Nashville City and Business Directory, 1860-1861, rear.

It was soon decided to erect a new building to replace the fire damaged structure.  The architect was John L. Smith.  The building of cut stone, was to have four stories at the front.  The business offices and storefront were to be located on the first floor and the remaining floors were rented, before construction began.  At the rear of the building, on the river bank, would be three basement floors. The new building was completed and occupied by the end of January, 1973.
.
Republican Banner, May 21, 1872


Methodist Publishing House ca 1874, TSLA

Note the difference in color of the new building in the photo above and of same building about 20 years later.  Coal soot and smoke caused all of the downtown building to turn gray with a few years after the were built.

Methodist Publishing House, Public Square, east side, ca 1890. TSLA


Hopkins Atlas of Nashville, 1908

The 1908 atlas, above, shows the location of the publishing house, in regard to the court house.  By the time the map was published,  the publishing house had moved from the square, and the building had been sold to P. A. Shelton.  The building with the number 170 and P. A. Shelton printed across, was built for the publishing house in 1872-73.  

In early 1905, plans for a new publishing house were submitted to the building inspector of Nashville and a building permit was issued.  In October of 1906, the business had moved from the old location, on the public square, to the new building on Broadway at Ninth Ave. North.


Advertisement 1930, Nashville Then and Now, 1780-1930


United Methodist Publishing House, 810 Broadway, ca 1937. UMPH history.
In 1957, Methodist Publishing House left the building on Broadway for the move to 8th Ave. So.  The building on Broadway was sold in July of 1957, to the University of Tennessee, for $450,000. 

Methodist Publishing House building as it looks today, 810 Broadway,


Methodist Publishing House, 210 8th Ave, So., The Tennessean, Sept. 30, 1057

In January of 1955 Methodist Publishing House announced plans for a new administration building at 8th and Demonbreun.  The new building would be adjacent to the printing plant, located on Demonbreun Street.  In late September of 1957, the move from 810 Broadway to the building at 8th and Demonbreun (210 8th Ave, So.) had been completed and the new building was opened to the public for inspection.

Methodist Publishing House, 8th and Demonbreun, 2015, By Michael Rivera (Own work)

In July 2014, the Methodist Publishing House, purchased property in Metro Center, on Rosa Parks Blvd. The 125,000 square foot building, was completely renovated and the publishing house moved into the new headquarters in July of 2015.

The current home of the Methodist Publishing House, Metro Center, 2016, google images  



Timeline:
May, 1854, Nashville was chosen to be the site of a publishing house, by the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.  

April, 1855, the building was completed, occupied and opened to the public, for inspection.

February, 1872, a fire caused considerable damage to the publishing house building.

May, 1872, plans submitted for new publishing house building to be erected.

January, 1873, new publishing house building competed and occupied.

In early 1905, plans for a new publishing house were submitted to the building inspector of Nashville.

October, 1906, the publishing house moved to the new building on Broadway.

January, 1955. Plans announced for new building, at 8th and Demonbreun. 

July, 1957, Broadway building sold to the University of Tennessee.

July 2014, property was purchased on Rosa Parks Blvd, for new administrative offices.

July, 2015, the publishing house moved into the newly renovated building in Metro Center.