Wednesday, November 23, 2011
National Road
In 1908, representatives of the Davidson County Court asked the United States Congress to provide $25,000 for construction of a boulevard leading from downtown Nashville to the National Cemetery on Gallatin Pike as a memorial to the soldiers buried there. The United States government had constructed such roads in other states, fine boulevards leading to many national cemeteries across the country. The Nashville National Cemetery consisted of about 65 acres and was the burial place, in 1908, of almost 17,000 soldiers. It was the second largest National Cemetery in the country. The Secretary of War had recently been authorized to accept that portion of Gallatin Pike, leading from downtown Nashville to the cemetery, about 4 and one half miles, for the United States Government. Davidson County had pledged to appropriate $1,000 per year to maintain a boulevard. The citizens of the district had presented a petition in favor of such a road. The property owners along the road had agreed to give up enough of their property, without compensation, so that the road could be widened from 40 feet to 75 feet. The researcher has not determined if the bill was passed by the U. S. Congress. The Gallatin Pike remained unchanged and no boulevard was constructed there.
"The Long Hunters"
History of Davidson County, Tennessee, with Illustrations and Biographical
Sketches of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, by Prof. W. W. Clayton, J. W.
Lewis & Co., Philadelphia, 1880, Reproduced by Higginson book Company, 1996,
p. 15.
"The Long Hunters"
The following account of the "Long Hunters" was taken, by Prof. Clayton,
from Ramsey's "Annals of Tennessee":
"On the 2d of June, 1769, a large company of adventurers was formed for the
purpose of hunting and exploring in what is now Middle Tennessee. As the
country was discovered and settled by the enterprise and defended by the valor
of these first explorers, we choose to give their names, the places from which
they came, and such details of their hazardous journeyings as have been
preserved.
"May the time never come when the self-sacrificing toil and the daring
hardihood of the pioneers of Tennessee will be forgotten or undervalued by
their posterity. The company consisted of more than twenty men, some of them
from North Carolina, others from the neighborhood of the Natural Bridge, and
others from the infant settlement near Inglis' Ferry in Virginia. The names
of some of them follow: John Rains, Kasper Mansker, Abraham Bledsoe, John
Baker, Joseph Drake, Obadiah Terrill, Uriah Stone, Henry Smith, Ned Cowan,
Robert Crockett. The place of rendezvous was eight miles below Fort Chissel
on New River. They came by the head of Holston, and crossing the north fork,
Clinch and Powell's Rivers, and passing through Cumberland Gap, discovered the
southern part of Kentucky, and fixed a station-camp at a place since called
Price's Meadow, in Wayne County, where they agreed to deposit their game and
skins. The hunters here dispersed in different directions, the whole company
still traveling to the southwest. They came to Roaring River and the Cany
fork at a point far above the mouth and somewhere near the foot of the
mountain. Robert Crockett was killed near the head- waters of Roaring River
when returning to the camp, provided for two or three days' traveling; the
Indians were there in ambush and fired upon and killed him. The Indians were
traveling to the north, seven or eight in company. Crockett's body was found
on the war-track leading from the Cherokee Nation towards the Shawnee tribe.
All the country through which these hunters passed was covered with high
grass; no traces of any human settlement could be seen, and the primeval
state of things reigned in unrivaled glory, though under dry caves, on the
side of creeks, they found many places where stones were set up that covered
large quantities of human bones; these were also found in the caves, with
which the country abounds. They continued to hunt eight or nine months, when
part of them returned in April 1770.
"The return of Findley and Boone to the banks of the Yadkin, and of the
explorers whose journal has just been given to their several homes, produced a
remarkable sensation. Their friends and neighbors were enraptured with the
glowing descriptions of the delightful country they had discovered, and their
imaginations were inflamed with the account of the wonderful products which
were yielded in such bountiful profusion. The sterile hills and rocky uplands
of the Atlantic country began to lose their interest when compared with the
fertile valleys beyond the mountains. A spirit of further exploration was
thus excited in the settlements on New River, Holston, and Clinch, which
originated an association of about forty stout hunters, for the purpose of
hunting and trapping west of Cumberland Mountains. Equipped with their
rifles, traps, dogs, blankets, and dressed in the hunting shirt, leggins, and
moccasins, they commenced their arduous enterprise in the real spirit of
hazardous adventure, through the rough forest and rugged hills. The names of
these adventurers are not now known. The expedition was led by Col. James
Knox. The leader and nine others of the company penetrated to the lower
Cumberland, and making there an extensive and irregular circuit, adding much
to their knowledge of the country, after a long absence returned home. They
are known as the "Long Hunters.' "
Sketches of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers, by Prof. W. W. Clayton, J. W.
Lewis & Co., Philadelphia, 1880, Reproduced by Higginson book Company, 1996,
p. 15.
"The Long Hunters"
The following account of the "Long Hunters" was taken, by Prof. Clayton,
from Ramsey's "Annals of Tennessee":
"On the 2d of June, 1769, a large company of adventurers was formed for the
purpose of hunting and exploring in what is now Middle Tennessee. As the
country was discovered and settled by the enterprise and defended by the valor
of these first explorers, we choose to give their names, the places from which
they came, and such details of their hazardous journeyings as have been
preserved.
"May the time never come when the self-sacrificing toil and the daring
hardihood of the pioneers of Tennessee will be forgotten or undervalued by
their posterity. The company consisted of more than twenty men, some of them
from North Carolina, others from the neighborhood of the Natural Bridge, and
others from the infant settlement near Inglis' Ferry in Virginia. The names
of some of them follow: John Rains, Kasper Mansker, Abraham Bledsoe, John
Baker, Joseph Drake, Obadiah Terrill, Uriah Stone, Henry Smith, Ned Cowan,
Robert Crockett. The place of rendezvous was eight miles below Fort Chissel
on New River. They came by the head of Holston, and crossing the north fork,
Clinch and Powell's Rivers, and passing through Cumberland Gap, discovered the
southern part of Kentucky, and fixed a station-camp at a place since called
Price's Meadow, in Wayne County, where they agreed to deposit their game and
skins. The hunters here dispersed in different directions, the whole company
still traveling to the southwest. They came to Roaring River and the Cany
fork at a point far above the mouth and somewhere near the foot of the
mountain. Robert Crockett was killed near the head- waters of Roaring River
when returning to the camp, provided for two or three days' traveling; the
Indians were there in ambush and fired upon and killed him. The Indians were
traveling to the north, seven or eight in company. Crockett's body was found
on the war-track leading from the Cherokee Nation towards the Shawnee tribe.
All the country through which these hunters passed was covered with high
grass; no traces of any human settlement could be seen, and the primeval
state of things reigned in unrivaled glory, though under dry caves, on the
side of creeks, they found many places where stones were set up that covered
large quantities of human bones; these were also found in the caves, with
which the country abounds. They continued to hunt eight or nine months, when
part of them returned in April 1770.
"The return of Findley and Boone to the banks of the Yadkin, and of the
explorers whose journal has just been given to their several homes, produced a
remarkable sensation. Their friends and neighbors were enraptured with the
glowing descriptions of the delightful country they had discovered, and their
imaginations were inflamed with the account of the wonderful products which
were yielded in such bountiful profusion. The sterile hills and rocky uplands
of the Atlantic country began to lose their interest when compared with the
fertile valleys beyond the mountains. A spirit of further exploration was
thus excited in the settlements on New River, Holston, and Clinch, which
originated an association of about forty stout hunters, for the purpose of
hunting and trapping west of Cumberland Mountains. Equipped with their
rifles, traps, dogs, blankets, and dressed in the hunting shirt, leggins, and
moccasins, they commenced their arduous enterprise in the real spirit of
hazardous adventure, through the rough forest and rugged hills. The names of
these adventurers are not now known. The expedition was led by Col. James
Knox. The leader and nine others of the company penetrated to the lower
Cumberland, and making there an extensive and irregular circuit, adding much
to their knowledge of the country, after a long absence returned home. They
are known as the "Long Hunters.' "
Riverside Drive
I wrote this article for a local newspaper, "The Nashville Retrospect." It was published in the September 2011 issue. The following is the final draft of the story and may differ from the published article. - Debie Cox
by Debie Oeser Cox
Riverside Drive is familiar to all who live on the east side of Nashville but unknown to many who reside in other parts of Davidson County. The wide boulevard seems almost out of place, meandering about three miles, through a mostly residential section from Shelby Park in East Nashville to the Inglewood community, where it merges with Greenfield Avenue.
A decision to research the story of Riverside Drive, came after reading the following embellished description in a book titled, All About Nashville, published in 1912, and written by Ida Clyde Clarke.
"Riverside Drive, a boulevard extending from Belle Meade, five miles west, to the National Cemetery, six miles north, is one of the most beautiful drives in the world. The Harding Road, from Belle Meade to the city, is an already notable and popular highway of great beauty. This leads direct to the great Broadway Bridge, on the east side of which the new boulevard extends up the river to Shelby Park, thence through a fine section of the country to Inglewood, one of the handsomest residence subdivisions in the environs of Nashville, through the center of which it passes to the Gallatin Pike and thence to the National Cemetery."
As an historical researcher, and an employee of Metro Nashville Government Archives, I had at hand a wealth of historical records in which to begin my search. Metro Archives is the repository for historical government records of Davidson County and the old City of Nashville and also houses, published material and a large newspaper clipping collection. I found resources such as the Davidson County Board of Parks minute books, Quarterly Court minutes, subdivision and road plats filed with the Register of Deeds, and historical newspaper accounts of city and county business.
An idea for building the road may have resulted from a combination of two different plans for a National Cemetery Road in the county. A 1904 editorial in a local newspaper complained about the lack of a Riverside Drive in Davidson County. A suggested route would begin at Shelby Avenue, run south to the river, then going east, follow the river bank to a point opposite the National Cemetery on Gallatin Pike. The route would then turn west and continue to the cemetery entrance. Also in 1904, Davidson County petitioned the United State Congress to provide funds to turn Gallatin Pike into a National Cemetery Boulevard from the beginning of Gallatin Pike (now Main Street) near the river in East Nashville out to the National Cemetery. Neither plan was successful. Several early 20th century maps give two names for the roadway, Riverside Drive and National Cemetery Boulevard. The road, when constructed, passed through farmland, with large tracts on the west, and undeveloped countryside to the east. Riverside Drive provided access to this farmland, raising the value of the property and allowing for subdividing the properties into residential developments.
The construction of Riverside Drive by Davidson County, coincided with the purchase by the Board of Parks of what had been a private amusement park called Shelby Park. A lawsuit against Edgefield Land Company resulted in an award of a 151 acre tract to the complainant. This 151 acre tract became the first acquisition by the Board of Parks for Shelby Park. There was a push to rename the park, with the popular choice being Riverside. The Board of Parks decided to retain the original name. Perhaps naming the planned boulevard Riverside, which would run along the river from the vicinity of the Shelby Avenue Bridge and through the park, was to placate those who favored that name for the park.
Subdivision plats filed in 1910 show sections of Riverside Drive. One plat, of Sharpe and Horn's 6th Addition, surveyed May 19th 1910, had the road name as "Boulevard from New Bridge to National Cemetery." A survey plan of the roadway filed, in 1911, with the Davidson County Register of Deeds, calls the road "Riverside Drive, Extended from Shelby Park to Gallatin Pike." The new 80 foot wide road was to begin on the Rufus Fort farm, near the Cumberland River, east of the Shelby Park and run out into Inglewood and over to Gallatin Pike. The original plan, calling for the road to run through Kirkland Avenue, was soon altered, with the road merging into the existing Greenfield Avenue. The plan called for two driving lanes, each 20 feet wide, with a center grass plot, also 20 feet wide. On each side of the roadway was to be a 10 foot walkway for a total width of 80 feet. The cost of grading and paving the road was estimated to be $20,000. Workhouse inmates provided the labor under the supervision of George Hobson. The November, 1912 issue of Municipal Journal, reported that about 3 miles of the roadway had been macadamized and that the project should be completed within 5 or 6 months. The road from Shelby Park to its merger with Greenfield is about 3 miles so it is probable that the county project also included that part of the drive that ran through the park. There was about five miles of roads through the park, including an entrance at 19th and Lillian Streets. The park section began at Pugsley's Branch, at the end of what is now Davidson Street. The drive ran along the river to Sycamore Lodge before turning up the hill, and winding around towards the railroad underpass, to the beginning of the county section of the road. A rock quarry located in the park was used to supply crushed stone to pave the roadways. At the time the road was built a railroad was also being built between the park and the new road. The section of the railroad where the underpass is located was on Dr. Rufus E. Fort's farm. The Board of Parks worked with Dr. Fort and the railroad company so that the underpass could be built to connect the park road with continuance of Riverside Drive.
The 1910 census for Davidson County, lists the families owning property and living in the vicinity where the county section of the road would soon be built. Dr. Fort, previously mentioned, owned a large estate, which he called Fortland, east of Shelby Park. Robert M. Dudley was a hardware merchant in Nashville and he lived on Rosebank Avenue, a little east of the new road. He was president of the Pioneer Water Company, which sold bottled water from Pioneer Springs. The location of the springs today would be along the east side of Riverside Drive, just north of Rosebank Avenue. The Gasser family and the Neiderhausers, immigrants from Switzerland, operated dairy farms in the neighborhood. Dr. G. N. Tillman lived on Porter Road and his property backed up to the new drive. Others impacted by the boulevard were the Ashworth, Handley, Waters, Shinkle, and Turney families.
Another section of Riverside Drive was to be constructed by the City of Nashville, along the river from the new bridge to the edge of the park. The area, which was along today's Davidson Street, was undeveloped and then known as Shelby Bottoms. It was not until the summer of 1914, that Mayor Hilary Howse announced that the city would begin construction. Mayor Howse suggested leaving the Sparkman Street Bridge approach and traveling along South First Street to the river and on to the park. One of the Aldermen thought a better route would be from the bridge, down Shelby Avenue, then out South Fifth to the river. Murrey's 1925 Atlas of Nashville shows Riverside Drive beginning at Crutcher Street at South Seventh Street. The street then runs along the river to Shelby Park. A deed from J.P. Meredith to the City of Nashville filed July 27, 1914, describes the road to begin at Shelby Park and continue along the river and connecting with Crutcher Street 130 feet west of South Seventh Street. Park Board Minutes, from May of 1914, also give the route from Crutcher to the park entrance. The name Riverside for this portion of the road was short lived and was soon changed to Davidson.
In the spring of 1930 and succeeding years, American Legion Post #5, successfully petitioned county highway commission asking that the median strip be cleared of weeds and stumps and for permission to plant poppies, irises and trees in the median of the drive. In the winter of 1932, Dr. Rufus E. Fort asked, and was granted, permission by the commission to beautify the plot between the two lanes, in front of his property. In May of 1938 the Nashville Iris Association bulletin announced tours of public plantings of irises at the Municipal Iris Gardens in Shelby Park and of Riverside Drive.
In May of 1959, garden clubs in the Inglewood area erected a plaque on Riverside Drive, dedicating the roadway to American servicemen who fought in World War I, World War II and the Korean War. The effort to plant flowers and trees along the double drive was started anew and for many years, Nashville residents enjoyed the beauty of the Riverside Drive. A plaque in the median of the drive read:
RIVERSIDE DRIVE
A MEMORIAL
DEDICATED TO OUR AMERICAN SERVICEMEN
WHO FOUGHT IN WORLD WARS I & II
AND THE KOREAN WAR
DEVELOPED 1933
RELANDSCAPED AND REDEDICATED
MAY 30, 1959
SPONSORED BY
CLUBS OF INGLEWOOD
Today, Anthony Viglietti, an Inglewood resident, is leading a community project to restore Riverside Drive to the beautiful boulevard it once was. Mr. Viglietti and volunteers from the community have planted Cherry trees along the median and plan to plant poppies and irises in the future. The memorial plaque was damaged by a hit and run driver recently. Through the efforts of Mr. Viglietti the plaque has been repaired and will soon be rededicated.
Note – The Shelby Avenue Bridge has also been called the Broad Street Bridge, the Sparkman Street Bridge and the McGavock Street Bridge and may be referred to by any or all of those names in this article.
by Debie Oeser Cox
Riverside Drive is familiar to all who live on the east side of Nashville but unknown to many who reside in other parts of Davidson County. The wide boulevard seems almost out of place, meandering about three miles, through a mostly residential section from Shelby Park in East Nashville to the Inglewood community, where it merges with Greenfield Avenue.
A decision to research the story of Riverside Drive, came after reading the following embellished description in a book titled, All About Nashville, published in 1912, and written by Ida Clyde Clarke.
"Riverside Drive, a boulevard extending from Belle Meade, five miles west, to the National Cemetery, six miles north, is one of the most beautiful drives in the world. The Harding Road, from Belle Meade to the city, is an already notable and popular highway of great beauty. This leads direct to the great Broadway Bridge, on the east side of which the new boulevard extends up the river to Shelby Park, thence through a fine section of the country to Inglewood, one of the handsomest residence subdivisions in the environs of Nashville, through the center of which it passes to the Gallatin Pike and thence to the National Cemetery."
As an historical researcher, and an employee of Metro Nashville Government Archives, I had at hand a wealth of historical records in which to begin my search. Metro Archives is the repository for historical government records of Davidson County and the old City of Nashville and also houses, published material and a large newspaper clipping collection. I found resources such as the Davidson County Board of Parks minute books, Quarterly Court minutes, subdivision and road plats filed with the Register of Deeds, and historical newspaper accounts of city and county business.
An idea for building the road may have resulted from a combination of two different plans for a National Cemetery Road in the county. A 1904 editorial in a local newspaper complained about the lack of a Riverside Drive in Davidson County. A suggested route would begin at Shelby Avenue, run south to the river, then going east, follow the river bank to a point opposite the National Cemetery on Gallatin Pike. The route would then turn west and continue to the cemetery entrance. Also in 1904, Davidson County petitioned the United State Congress to provide funds to turn Gallatin Pike into a National Cemetery Boulevard from the beginning of Gallatin Pike (now Main Street) near the river in East Nashville out to the National Cemetery. Neither plan was successful. Several early 20th century maps give two names for the roadway, Riverside Drive and National Cemetery Boulevard. The road, when constructed, passed through farmland, with large tracts on the west, and undeveloped countryside to the east. Riverside Drive provided access to this farmland, raising the value of the property and allowing for subdividing the properties into residential developments.
The construction of Riverside Drive by Davidson County, coincided with the purchase by the Board of Parks of what had been a private amusement park called Shelby Park. A lawsuit against Edgefield Land Company resulted in an award of a 151 acre tract to the complainant. This 151 acre tract became the first acquisition by the Board of Parks for Shelby Park. There was a push to rename the park, with the popular choice being Riverside. The Board of Parks decided to retain the original name. Perhaps naming the planned boulevard Riverside, which would run along the river from the vicinity of the Shelby Avenue Bridge and through the park, was to placate those who favored that name for the park.
Subdivision plats filed in 1910 show sections of Riverside Drive. One plat, of Sharpe and Horn's 6th Addition, surveyed May 19th 1910, had the road name as "Boulevard from New Bridge to National Cemetery." A survey plan of the roadway filed, in 1911, with the Davidson County Register of Deeds, calls the road "Riverside Drive, Extended from Shelby Park to Gallatin Pike." The new 80 foot wide road was to begin on the Rufus Fort farm, near the Cumberland River, east of the Shelby Park and run out into Inglewood and over to Gallatin Pike. The original plan, calling for the road to run through Kirkland Avenue, was soon altered, with the road merging into the existing Greenfield Avenue. The plan called for two driving lanes, each 20 feet wide, with a center grass plot, also 20 feet wide. On each side of the roadway was to be a 10 foot walkway for a total width of 80 feet. The cost of grading and paving the road was estimated to be $20,000. Workhouse inmates provided the labor under the supervision of George Hobson. The November, 1912 issue of Municipal Journal, reported that about 3 miles of the roadway had been macadamized and that the project should be completed within 5 or 6 months. The road from Shelby Park to its merger with Greenfield is about 3 miles so it is probable that the county project also included that part of the drive that ran through the park. There was about five miles of roads through the park, including an entrance at 19th and Lillian Streets. The park section began at Pugsley's Branch, at the end of what is now Davidson Street. The drive ran along the river to Sycamore Lodge before turning up the hill, and winding around towards the railroad underpass, to the beginning of the county section of the road. A rock quarry located in the park was used to supply crushed stone to pave the roadways. At the time the road was built a railroad was also being built between the park and the new road. The section of the railroad where the underpass is located was on Dr. Rufus E. Fort's farm. The Board of Parks worked with Dr. Fort and the railroad company so that the underpass could be built to connect the park road with continuance of Riverside Drive.
The 1910 census for Davidson County, lists the families owning property and living in the vicinity where the county section of the road would soon be built. Dr. Fort, previously mentioned, owned a large estate, which he called Fortland, east of Shelby Park. Robert M. Dudley was a hardware merchant in Nashville and he lived on Rosebank Avenue, a little east of the new road. He was president of the Pioneer Water Company, which sold bottled water from Pioneer Springs. The location of the springs today would be along the east side of Riverside Drive, just north of Rosebank Avenue. The Gasser family and the Neiderhausers, immigrants from Switzerland, operated dairy farms in the neighborhood. Dr. G. N. Tillman lived on Porter Road and his property backed up to the new drive. Others impacted by the boulevard were the Ashworth, Handley, Waters, Shinkle, and Turney families.
Another section of Riverside Drive was to be constructed by the City of Nashville, along the river from the new bridge to the edge of the park. The area, which was along today's Davidson Street, was undeveloped and then known as Shelby Bottoms. It was not until the summer of 1914, that Mayor Hilary Howse announced that the city would begin construction. Mayor Howse suggested leaving the Sparkman Street Bridge approach and traveling along South First Street to the river and on to the park. One of the Aldermen thought a better route would be from the bridge, down Shelby Avenue, then out South Fifth to the river. Murrey's 1925 Atlas of Nashville shows Riverside Drive beginning at Crutcher Street at South Seventh Street. The street then runs along the river to Shelby Park. A deed from J.P. Meredith to the City of Nashville filed July 27, 1914, describes the road to begin at Shelby Park and continue along the river and connecting with Crutcher Street 130 feet west of South Seventh Street. Park Board Minutes, from May of 1914, also give the route from Crutcher to the park entrance. The name Riverside for this portion of the road was short lived and was soon changed to Davidson.
In the spring of 1930 and succeeding years, American Legion Post #5, successfully petitioned county highway commission asking that the median strip be cleared of weeds and stumps and for permission to plant poppies, irises and trees in the median of the drive. In the winter of 1932, Dr. Rufus E. Fort asked, and was granted, permission by the commission to beautify the plot between the two lanes, in front of his property. In May of 1938 the Nashville Iris Association bulletin announced tours of public plantings of irises at the Municipal Iris Gardens in Shelby Park and of Riverside Drive.
In May of 1959, garden clubs in the Inglewood area erected a plaque on Riverside Drive, dedicating the roadway to American servicemen who fought in World War I, World War II and the Korean War. The effort to plant flowers and trees along the double drive was started anew and for many years, Nashville residents enjoyed the beauty of the Riverside Drive. A plaque in the median of the drive read:
RIVERSIDE DRIVE
A MEMORIAL
DEDICATED TO OUR AMERICAN SERVICEMEN
WHO FOUGHT IN WORLD WARS I & II
AND THE KOREAN WAR
DEVELOPED 1933
RELANDSCAPED AND REDEDICATED
MAY 30, 1959
SPONSORED BY
CLUBS OF INGLEWOOD
Today, Anthony Viglietti, an Inglewood resident, is leading a community project to restore Riverside Drive to the beautiful boulevard it once was. Mr. Viglietti and volunteers from the community have planted Cherry trees along the median and plan to plant poppies and irises in the future. The memorial plaque was damaged by a hit and run driver recently. Through the efforts of Mr. Viglietti the plaque has been repaired and will soon be rededicated.
Note – The Shelby Avenue Bridge has also been called the Broad Street Bridge, the Sparkman Street Bridge and the McGavock Street Bridge and may be referred to by any or all of those names in this article.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Selections from the Board of Aldermen, City of Nashville beginning Oct. 1860
City Hall, Nashville, October 9, 1860
Resolved by the City Council of Nashville, That the Mayor be and he is hereby authorized and instructed to appoint a Spring Keeper for the Public Spring in the 7th Ward of the City of Nashville and that the Committee repair the pump.
Resolved by the Board of Aldermen of Nashville, That the repairs or improvements necessary to be done upon the Alley running from Union to Deaderick Street, known as “Hog Alley” be and the same is hereby referred to the City Engineer, with instructions to report to best mode of improvement or repairs, with Specifications, Profiles, etc. to the next Meeting of this Board.
City Hall, Nashville, October 23, 1860
Petitions
Mr. Meigs presented and read a Petition signed by Samuel J. Carter, Samuel E. Hare, and others in relation to the Tax on Hotels, and praying for a reduction of the same. Received and referred to the Finance Committee.
City Hall, Nashville, November 6, 1860
Petitions
Mr. Meigs presented and read a petition from Mary M. Wetterall asking permission to build a frame house on her lot situated at the corner of Summer and Jefferson Streets, on the South Side of Jefferson, with a view of residing there, that she may send her children to the Free Schools of the City. Petition received and prayer of the same granted.
He also presented and read a petition signed by Turner S. Foster and others praying the City Council to open an Alley 15 feet wide from Spring Street to Union Street, in place of McLemore Street, which was closed by the Chancery Court of Davidson County. Petition received and referred to the Street Committee.
City Hall, Nashville, December 25, 1860
The Bill “To establish and regulate a Detective Police,” was read the first time and passed.
Mr. Meigs introduced a Bill “To establish and regulate a Pest House,” which was passed on three Several Readings under a Suspension of the Rule.
City Hall, Nashville, February 12, 1861
Resolved by the City Council of Nashville, that W. B. Heron be allowed the sum of Twenty Dollars for service as Policeman ten nights.
City Hall, Nashville, February 23, 1861
The Committee through Mr. Craighead reported the following preamble and resolution.
Whereas the City Council of Nashville have heard with profound regret, the death of the late Ex Mayor of this City, the Honorable S. N. Hollingsworth, who departed this life on Friday night last, on board the Steamer James Johnson, on his return home from a trip South; and whereas, as a member of the Board of Aldermen and subsequent Mayor, he faithfully and conscientiously discharged the duties and trusts confided to him and gave general satisfaction to the Citizens of Nashville.
City Hall, Nashville, March 12, 1861
New Business
Mr. Cox introduced a Bill “To establish and organize Hook & Ladder Company No. 1,” which was passed on three several readings under a Suspension of the Rule.
City Hall, Nashville, March 26, 1861
Mr. Hurley introduced a Bill “To authorize the Slave Committee to purchase the necessary clothing for the Corporation Slaves,” which was passed on three several Readings under a Suspension of the Rule.
City Hall, Nashville, April 9, 1861
Mr. Cox also presented as chairman of the Committee on Fire Department, the Report of the Chief of the Fire Department in answer to a resolution adopted by the City Council, as to the difference in the cost between the Volunteer System and the paid Fire Department, etc. which was read and received.
The Resolution to authorize the Mayor to employ competent Physicians to vaccinate the indigent children in the Public Schools was read and referred to the Finance Committee.
City Hall, Nashville, April 19, 1861
The Bill “To authorize the laying down of 8 inch water pipe on College Street from Broad Street to the Public Square,” was read the second time, when Mr. Cox withdrew his amendment to the Bill, and it then passed.
City Hall, Nashville, May 7, 1861
Mr. Jackson, Chairman [of the] Wharf Committee presented the report of the Wharf Master, showing collections made by him since his last of $523.77, less commissions with the receipts of the Treasurer for that amount filed.
Mr. Cox, Chairman [of the] Committee on Fire Department, presented the report of the Chief of the Fire Department for the month of April, which was read and received.
Mr. Hurley from the Cemetery Committee presented the report of the Sexton for the month of April, which was read and received. The report shows 37 Internments during the month, 28 Whites and 9 Blacks, 30 from the City and 7 from other places.
Mr. Meigs from the Pest House Committee presented the report of the Physician of that Institution, giving a statement of the number of patients received since the commencement, the number discharged as cured, the number of deaths and the number remaining now under medical treatment, which was read and received.
City Hall, Nashville, June 11, 1861
Resolved by the City Council that Samuel Levick be allowed to erect steps in front of his House, corner of Cherry Street and Chitton Alley as prayed for in his petition, the same however to be no material obstruction to those passing on the pavement.
City Hall, Nashville, August 8th, 1861
Resolved by the City Council that the Market House Committee be and is hereby authorized to have made a lot of benches for the use of the Vegetable Marketers to be placed on the outside of the present Stalls, which is not to exceed the sum of fifty dollars.
Mr. Love offered the following Resolution, which was adopted.
More to come …
Resolved by the City Council of Nashville, That the Mayor be and he is hereby authorized and instructed to appoint a Spring Keeper for the Public Spring in the 7th Ward of the City of Nashville and that the Committee repair the pump.
Resolved by the Board of Aldermen of Nashville, That the repairs or improvements necessary to be done upon the Alley running from Union to Deaderick Street, known as “Hog Alley” be and the same is hereby referred to the City Engineer, with instructions to report to best mode of improvement or repairs, with Specifications, Profiles, etc. to the next Meeting of this Board.
City Hall, Nashville, October 23, 1860
Petitions
Mr. Meigs presented and read a Petition signed by Samuel J. Carter, Samuel E. Hare, and others in relation to the Tax on Hotels, and praying for a reduction of the same. Received and referred to the Finance Committee.
City Hall, Nashville, November 6, 1860
Petitions
Mr. Meigs presented and read a petition from Mary M. Wetterall asking permission to build a frame house on her lot situated at the corner of Summer and Jefferson Streets, on the South Side of Jefferson, with a view of residing there, that she may send her children to the Free Schools of the City. Petition received and prayer of the same granted.
He also presented and read a petition signed by Turner S. Foster and others praying the City Council to open an Alley 15 feet wide from Spring Street to Union Street, in place of McLemore Street, which was closed by the Chancery Court of Davidson County. Petition received and referred to the Street Committee.
City Hall, Nashville, December 25, 1860
The Bill “To establish and regulate a Detective Police,” was read the first time and passed.
Mr. Meigs introduced a Bill “To establish and regulate a Pest House,” which was passed on three Several Readings under a Suspension of the Rule.
City Hall, Nashville, February 12, 1861
Resolved by the City Council of Nashville, that W. B. Heron be allowed the sum of Twenty Dollars for service as Policeman ten nights.
City Hall, Nashville, February 23, 1861
The Committee through Mr. Craighead reported the following preamble and resolution.
Whereas the City Council of Nashville have heard with profound regret, the death of the late Ex Mayor of this City, the Honorable S. N. Hollingsworth, who departed this life on Friday night last, on board the Steamer James Johnson, on his return home from a trip South; and whereas, as a member of the Board of Aldermen and subsequent Mayor, he faithfully and conscientiously discharged the duties and trusts confided to him and gave general satisfaction to the Citizens of Nashville.
City Hall, Nashville, March 12, 1861
New Business
Mr. Cox introduced a Bill “To establish and organize Hook & Ladder Company No. 1,” which was passed on three several readings under a Suspension of the Rule.
City Hall, Nashville, March 26, 1861
Mr. Hurley introduced a Bill “To authorize the Slave Committee to purchase the necessary clothing for the Corporation Slaves,” which was passed on three several Readings under a Suspension of the Rule.
City Hall, Nashville, April 9, 1861
Mr. Cox also presented as chairman of the Committee on Fire Department, the Report of the Chief of the Fire Department in answer to a resolution adopted by the City Council, as to the difference in the cost between the Volunteer System and the paid Fire Department, etc. which was read and received.
The Resolution to authorize the Mayor to employ competent Physicians to vaccinate the indigent children in the Public Schools was read and referred to the Finance Committee.
City Hall, Nashville, April 19, 1861
The Bill “To authorize the laying down of 8 inch water pipe on College Street from Broad Street to the Public Square,” was read the second time, when Mr. Cox withdrew his amendment to the Bill, and it then passed.
City Hall, Nashville, May 7, 1861
Mr. Jackson, Chairman [of the] Wharf Committee presented the report of the Wharf Master, showing collections made by him since his last of $523.77, less commissions with the receipts of the Treasurer for that amount filed.
Mr. Cox, Chairman [of the] Committee on Fire Department, presented the report of the Chief of the Fire Department for the month of April, which was read and received.
Mr. Hurley from the Cemetery Committee presented the report of the Sexton for the month of April, which was read and received. The report shows 37 Internments during the month, 28 Whites and 9 Blacks, 30 from the City and 7 from other places.
Mr. Meigs from the Pest House Committee presented the report of the Physician of that Institution, giving a statement of the number of patients received since the commencement, the number discharged as cured, the number of deaths and the number remaining now under medical treatment, which was read and received.
City Hall, Nashville, June 11, 1861
Resolved by the City Council that Samuel Levick be allowed to erect steps in front of his House, corner of Cherry Street and Chitton Alley as prayed for in his petition, the same however to be no material obstruction to those passing on the pavement.
City Hall, Nashville, August 8th, 1861
Resolved by the City Council that the Market House Committee be and is hereby authorized to have made a lot of benches for the use of the Vegetable Marketers to be placed on the outside of the present Stalls, which is not to exceed the sum of fifty dollars.
Mr. Love offered the following Resolution, which was adopted.
City Hall, Nashville, September 10th, 1861
Petitions
Mr. Hurley presented and read a petition from R. H. & B. J. Grooms stating they are erecting an Iron Foundry on the Lebanon Pike adjacent to their former place of business and near to the terminus of the 3 inch pipe on Fillmore Street. They are desirous of obtaining the use of the water for the above named Foundry and are willing to furnish the 3 inch pipe to convey the water to the front of the building at their own expense, if the Corporation will mark the connection and lay the same. We agree also to pay the water tax. Petition received and prayer of the same granted.
City Hall, Nashville, September 12th, 1861
Mr. Love from the committee on Public Property to whom was referred the Bill “To grant the use of certain property to the Confederate States,” reported the location a suitable one and recommended the passage of the Bill. The report was received and the Bill read the third and last time and passed.
More to come …
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Davidson County Merchants Licenses and Fees 1839
Davidson County Minute Book B, Page 465 - Records of Davidson County Court Oct 1835 - Sept. 1841
Tax on Merchants and other licenses.
From October 1, 1838 to October 1, 1839
Name of Business License Fee Name of Business License Fee Ensley & Rains 10.00 Wm Gilliam 10.00 Wm D. Park 10.00 Joseph Anderson 20.00 Adams & Crockett 10.00 Saunders & Martin 20.00 Kay & Thomas 20.00 Hamilton & McNairy 10.00 E. C. Stodder 10.00 Conner & McAlister 20.00 Trigg & Greene 10.00 Wm W Brown 3.00 R. H. Gardner & Co. 10.00 John Johnson 4.00 Landon Harrison 10.00 James Ridley 4.00 Robert I. Moore 10.00 A Vanwyck 20.00 Brown & Derious 50.00 A McIntosh 10.00 Hall & Washington 10.00 James Ridley 8.00 Wm. W. Meredith 10.00 James J Gill & Co 25.00 C. & R. McFadden 10.00 Moses Patterson 4.00 W. H. Lucas 10.00 H & J Kirkman 10.00 John Peabody 10.00 Clay & Rice 10.00 David S. Smith 10.00 Wayne & Mayson 10.00 Wm. Swingston 10.00 Thomas Alderson 75.00 Henry A. Cargill 10.00 Ensley & Rains 10.00 J & R Aldrich 10.00 Jesse T. Smith 10.00 A D & C F Berry 10.00 John Tucker & Co. 10.00 Pleasant Smith & Co. 10.00 Wm Pulley 3.00 John Campbell 10.00 Heifs & Colter 10.00 Robert Smith 10.00 Willo. Dozier 5.00 Thomas Farrell 10.00 Thomas Neely 5.00 Wm. McClure 10.00 John Hooper 4.00 Moses Norvell 20.00 Greenfield Kay & Co. 10.00 Wm Crockett & Co. 10.00 Wm Shelton 4.00 Saml Hill 10.00 Wm Trimble 10.00 John W. Walker 20.00 Yellowby & Woodward 10.00 John M Hill 10.00 R Payne & Son 10.00 Alexd Nichol 10.00 John Shelby 8.00 John Nichol 10.00 John Shelby 10.00 I & R Yeatman & Co. 20.00 A B Sluder 10.00 James Erwin 10.00 Enoch Brown 4.00 Samuel Seay 25.00 David T. McGavock 10.00 Johnson Rayburn & Co. 20.00 John Whitsitt 3.00 Paul N 10.00 John H Clopton 8.00 Stevenson, Martin & Co. 10.00 Thomas Demoss 6.00 S W Foster 10.00 Peyton T. Rascoe 3.00 J B Robinson 10.00 George W. Charlton 5.00 Clopton & Earthman 10.00 George J. Cagle 6.00 Jackson Greer 10.00 James McGavock 5.00 John N Todd 10.00 Sylvanus & Benson 10.00 Wm Dunning 10.00 McCurdy & Fussell 10.00 A B Robertson & Co. 10.00 George Gibson 20.00 Morgan Allison & Co. 20.00 Thomas Gowdy 22.00 Otis Arnold & Co. 20.00 J B Snowden 10.00 Hall & Payne 10.00 Wm H Phillips 6.00 James H. Smith 10.00 John B West 10.00 Temple & Bostick 10.00 Martin Stevenson & Co. 10.00 Robert H. Jones 10.00 S Hunt & Co. 10.00 Robert Lusk 20.00 Petet & Co. 10.00 George Wilson 10.00 Carter Allen 3.00 Philip Callagham 10.00 S. P. Cheatham 90.00 Box & Jennett 10.00 S. P. Cheatham 90.00 Thomas Callendar 10.00 Wm. Harris 3.00 Henry M Hutton 10.00 Nichol & Brothers 10.00 Thomas D. Toy 10.00 Trabue & Lapsley 20.00 W. H. Kelso 10.00 Margaret & Madiss 10.00 V. K. Stevenson 10.00 Charles Sayres 10.00 Eakin & Brothers 20.00 S B Fite & Co 10.00 Dyer Pearl 20.00 Jacob Hartshorn 10.00 Bell & Thompson 0.00 Thomas Graham 10.00 Woodward Sullivan & Co. 10.00 Howard Sims 10.00 James W. Wright 5.00 James Williamson 4.00 James W. Wright 8.00 James _____ 10.00 Joseph Cook 3.00 John Larkins 10.00 John W Pennington 6.00 Moses & Aaron Wright 10.00 Joseph L. Ewing 5.00 Wm Love 1.50 John B Lyon 5.00 John Greer 3.00 Wm W Berry 10.00
******************** Davidson County Schedule of Privilege Fees 1840
Davidson County Minute Book B, page 468 - Records of Davidson County Court Oct 1835 - Sept. 1841
January term 1840 - The court proceeded to assess the county taxes, to be paid by the inhabitants of this county upon all taxable property and privileges for the year 1840, as follows, to wit,
Privileges License Fee Auctioneers 25.00 Confectioners 10.00 Brokers 20.00 Feats of Activity, shows, sleights of hand or any exhibition for which money is taken 50.00 Playing cards, per deck 0.50 Hawkers & peddlars of clocks or merchandise on each wagon or vehicle so employed 25.00 Retailers of goods wares & merchandise or clocks from boats or water craft 25.00 Keepers of race tract kept by Jockey club 50.00 On every grant ordered for land registered on every 100 acres 0.10 On every town lot, or part of lot, registered 0.20 On every person or firm of copartners or agent of any insurance company from any other state who opens an office 200.00 Wholesale merchants or firm of copartners 20.00 Commission merchants 20.00 Retail merchants, grocers, jewellers & druggists 10.00 Puchasing bills, bonds, notes, or obligations for the payment of money at a greater discount than six percent per annum, on all sums over $500.00 ten cents on each $100.00 0.10 On each toll bridge 20.00 Yeatman Woods & Co. Banking privilege 500.00 And it is ordered that Smith Criddle clerk of this court collect the money arising from privileges.
********************
Davidson County Merchants Licenses and Fees 1839
Davidson County Minute Book B, Page 465 - Records of Davidson County Court Oct 1835 - Sept. 1841
Tax on Merchants and other licenses.
From October 1, 1838 to October 1, 1839
Name of Business License Fee Name of Business License Fee Ensley & Rains 10.00 Wm Gilliam 10.00 Wm D. Park 10.00 Joseph Anderson 20.00 Adams & Crockett 10.00 Saunders & Martin 20.00 Kay & Thomas 20.00 Hamilton & McNairy 10.00 E. C. Stodder 10.00 Conner & McAlister 20.00 Trigg & Greene 10.00 Wm W Brown 3.00 R. H. Gardner & Co. 10.00 John Johnson 4.00 Landon Harrison 10.00 James Ridley 4.00 Robert I. Moore 10.00 A Vanwyck 20.00 Brown & Derious 50.00 A McIntosh 10.00 Hall & Washington 10.00 James Ridley 8.00 Wm. W. Meredith 10.00 James J Gill & Co 25.00 C. & R. McFadden 10.00 Moses Patterson 4.00 W. H. Lucas 10.00 H & J Kirkman 10.00 John Peabody 10.00 Clay & Rice 10.00 David S. Smith 10.00 Wayne & Mayson 10.00 Wm. Swingston 10.00 Thomas Alderson 75.00 Henry A. Cargill 10.00 Ensley & Rains 10.00 J & R Aldrich 10.00 Jesse T. Smith 10.00 A D & C F Berry 10.00 John Tucker & Co. 10.00 Pleasant Smith & Co. 10.00 Wm Pulley 3.00 John Campbell 10.00 Heifs & Colter 10.00 Robert Smith 10.00 Willo. Dozier 5.00 Thomas Farrell 10.00 Thomas Neely 5.00 Wm. McClure 10.00 John Hooper 4.00 Moses Norvell 20.00 Greenfield Kay & Co. 10.00 Wm Crockett & Co. 10.00 Wm Shelton 4.00 Saml Hill 10.00 Wm Trimble 10.00 John W. Walker 20.00 Yellowby & Woodward 10.00 John M Hill 10.00 R Payne & Son 10.00 Alexd Nichol 10.00 John Shelby 8.00 John Nichol 10.00 John Shelby 10.00 I & R Yeatman & Co. 20.00 A B Sluder 10.00 James Erwin 10.00 Enoch Brown 4.00 Samuel Seay 25.00 David T. McGavock 10.00 Johnson Rayburn & Co. 20.00 John Whitsitt 3.00 Paul N 10.00 John H Clopton 8.00 Stevenson, Martin & Co. 10.00 Thomas Demoss 6.00 S W Foster 10.00 Peyton T. Rascoe 3.00 J B Robinson 10.00 George W. Charlton 5.00 Clopton & Earthman 10.00 George J. Cagle 6.00 Jackson Greer 10.00 James McGavock 5.00 John N Todd 10.00 Sylvanus & Benson 10.00 Wm Dunning 10.00 McCurdy & Fussell 10.00 A B Robertson & Co. 10.00 George Gibson 20.00 Morgan Allison & Co. 20.00 Thomas Gowdy 22.00 Otis Arnold & Co. 20.00 J B Snowden 10.00 Hall & Payne 10.00 Wm H Phillips 6.00 James H. Smith 10.00 John B West 10.00 Temple & Bostick 10.00 Martin Stevenson & Co. 10.00 Robert H. Jones 10.00 S Hunt & Co. 10.00 Robert Lusk 20.00 Petet & Co. 10.00 George Wilson 10.00 Carter Allen 3.00 Philip Callagham 10.00 S. P. Cheatham 90.00 Box & Jennett 10.00 S. P. Cheatham 90.00 Thomas Callendar 10.00 Wm. Harris 3.00 Henry M Hutton 10.00 Nichol & Brothers 10.00 Thomas D. Toy 10.00 Trabue & Lapsley 20.00 W. H. Kelso 10.00 Margaret & Madiss 10.00 V. K. Stevenson 10.00 Charles Sayres 10.00 Eakin & Brothers 20.00 S B Fite & Co 10.00 Dyer Pearl 20.00 Jacob Hartshorn 10.00 Bell & Thompson 0.00 Thomas Graham 10.00 Woodward Sullivan & Co. 10.00 Howard Sims 10.00 James W. Wright 5.00 James Williamson 4.00 James W. Wright 8.00 James _____ 10.00 Joseph Cook 3.00 John Larkins 10.00 John W Pennington 6.00 Moses & Aaron Wright 10.00 Joseph L. Ewing 5.00 Wm Love 1.50 John B Lyon 5.00 John Greer 3.00 Wm W Berry 10.00
******************** Davidson County Schedule of Privilege Fees 1840
Davidson County Minute Book B, page 468 - Records of Davidson County Court Oct 1835 - Sept. 1841
January term 1840 - The court proceeded to assess the county taxes, to be paid by the inhabitants of this county upon all taxable property and privileges for the year 1840, as follows, to wit,
Privileges License Fee Auctioneers 25.00 Confectioners 10.00 Brokers 20.00 Feats of Activity, shows, sleights of hand or any exhibition for which money is taken 50.00 Playing cards, per deck 0.50 Hawkers & peddlars of clocks or merchandise on each wagon or vehicle so employed 25.00 Retailers of goods wares & merchandise or clocks from boats or water craft 25.00 Keepers of race tract kept by Jockey club 50.00 On every grant ordered for land registered on every 100 acres 0.10 On every town lot, or part of lot, registered 0.20 On every person or firm of copartners or agent of any insurance company from any other state who opens an office 200.00 Wholesale merchants or firm of copartners 20.00 Commission merchants 20.00 Retail merchants, grocers, jewellers & druggists 10.00 Puchasing bills, bonds, notes, or obligations for the payment of money at a greater discount than six percent per annum, on all sums over $500.00 ten cents on each $100.00 0.10 On each toll bridge 20.00 Yeatman Woods & Co. Banking privilege 500.00 And it is ordered that Smith Criddle clerk of this court collect the money arising from privileges.
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