East Ivy

East Ivy, photo by Yvonne Eaves, 2016

Jimmy and I had the pleasure of touring an historic East Nashville home on a beautiful spring Saturday morning in March.  The members only event was arranged by Historic Nashville, Inc.    
Become a member to have an opportunity to attend behind the scenes tours of Nashville's historic sites.

This old home, now called East Ivy, has been a landmark in East Nashville for about 150 years. It is now used as event space and is very popular as a wedding venue.  The house is located at 209 South Fifth Street, between Russel and Fatherland Streets. South Fifth was originally called Tulip Street. The first address given in city directories was 48 South 5th.

This couple from an earlier time waited at the door to greet us.

The Tulip Street Methodist Church was originally built about 1860, on the lots across the alley from the house, at Tulip or 5th and Russell Streets. The church moved in 1892 to the corner of 6th and Russell.

1882 listing for Tulip Street Methodist Chuch.

In 1850 Felix Zollicoffer purchased about seven acres of land from Will Foster, agent of John Shelby and Ann Minnick.  The land was bound by Tulip (South 5th Street) and Minnick (South 6th Street) Streets on the west and east, by Fatherland Street on the south, and on the north by an alley that was 170 feet north of and parallel to Russell Street. In 1854, Zollicoffer filed a plat showing his plan of lots, numbered 1 to 37.

Felix Zollicoffer Plan of Lots, Addition to Edgefield. Registered November 24, 1854.

In August of 1866, Alanson G. Sanford purchased an undivided half interest in lots 1 through 4 for $2900, from James Davis. Sanford bought, in February of 1867, the other undivided half interest in lots 1 through 4 for $5000 from George B. Guild. 

Research shows that lots in the Zollicoffer plan sold for 500 to 600 dollars each, at that time. Sanford gave a total of 7900 dollars for lots 1 through 4. Sanford also purchased adjoining lots, 5 and 6, in 1867 from James Bostick for 1220 dollars. Sanford's investment of over 9000 dollars for six lots, strongly suggest that when Sanford bought the property, a house had already been constructed.  Sanford owned the property until August of 1870, when he sold to Henry G. Cooper for 16,000 dollars. Inflation might account for some of the increase in the price of the property.  Sanford may have made improvements to an existing house.  He may also have caused to be constructed other buildings on the property, stables, servant quarters and even an additional residence somewhere on the property.

Many of the early owners of the land and the house were notable, in the military, business and in politics.

Owner/Probable builder 1857-1867 Guild and Davis

George B. Guild purchased the property an undivided one half interest in lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 in 1857 for 1,657 dollars. It is likely that Guild and James Davis had the house at 209 South 5th, built in the mid 1860's. Guild was a lawyer, son of Josephus Conn Guild of Sumner County. He served as a Major during the Civil War in the 4th Tennessee Cavalry. Guild served in the Tennessee General Assembly in the House 1871 - 73.  He served in the Tennessee General Assembly in the Senate 1897-1899.  He was elected Mayor of Nashville in 1892.

George B. Guild

Owner/Resident 1867-1870 Sanford

While deed records can show who owned a property, city directories may tell us who lived there.  Alanson G. Sanford was likely the first resident of 209 South 5th Street. Sanford was born in New York and came to Nashville by 1855.  He worked as a bookkeeper. He had previously served as cashier for the Savings Bank of Cincinnati.  In 1863, he was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Nashville and was chosen to serve as president.  In 1870 Sanders resigned his position with the bank.  He sold his home to Henry Cooper in August, 1870.  In September the Sanford's held a sale of the furnishing of their house, and announced their plans to move to Chicago.

Nashville Union and American, September 6, 1870

Owner/Resident 1870-1877 Cooper
Henry G. Cooper was the next resident, purchasing the A. G. Sanford residence in 1870.

Republican Banner, August 13, 1870

Cooper served in the Tennessee House of Representatives 1853-55 and 1857-59.  He served in the Tennessee Senate 1869-70.  Cooper was an attorney, served as judge of the seventh judicial circuit of Tennessee and was a professor of law at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee. He was a brother of William F. Cooper, who owned Riverwood Mansion in East Nashville.  Henry Cooper lived at Riverwood with his family, before moving to the house on South Fifth Street. When Cooper sold the house in 1877, he divided the property.  The house lot began at the alley and ran south, along South 5th for 100 feet, then east 200 feet, then north 70 feet and then west 200 feet to the beginning.  The other tract began at the corner of South 5th and Fatherland, ran east for 200 feet along Fatherland Street, then north 70 feet, then west 200 feet and then 70 feet along South 5th to the beginning.

Owner/Resident 1877-1892 Woodard
John Woodard served in the Tennessee General Assembly 1859-61, 1867-69 and 1881. He owned an operated a large distillery of sour mash whiskey in Robertson County, Tennessee.

Nashville Daily American, Feb. 20, 1882

He served as president of the Springfield National Bank in 1872.  He moved to Nashville and was in the grocery business.  He was a judge in Robertson County.  He was father in law to Joseph W. Byrns, Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives in 1935. Woodard lived in the house from 1877 until 1881, though his wife remained much of the time at their home on Robertson County.  In 1881 Woodard bought a house on Belmont Boulevard.  Though he owned the house on South Fifth for another ten years he lived in the Belmont house after 1881.

Renter/Resident/Owner 1883-1920 Huggins
William S. Huggins and wife Sophia, rented the house from John Woodard from 1883 until 1892. William S. Huggins died and Sophia bought the house from John Woodard in 1892. The property description was "beginning at the alley, then running along Tulip Street (South 5th) for 100 feet, then east 200 feet, then north 70 feet and then west 200 feet along the alley,to the beginning.  The other tract began at the corner of South 5th and Fatherland, ran east for 200 feet along Fatherland Street, then north 70 feet, then west 200 feet and then 70 feet along South 5th to the beginning. Deed records show that a house was built on the adjacent tract, probably in the 1880's. Both houses are shown on the map in 1908. Sophia died about 1920.

1908 Atlas of Nashville. Map shows the north section of lots belonging to Mrs. Sophia Higgins.(Should be Huggins).  The Tulip Street Methodist Church was originally built on lots 14 and 15 of the Zollicoffer Plan of Lots.

Owner 1920-1930 Warden
In 1920, James G. Warden and wife Mary bought the house. Warden was in real estate and worked for a loan company. The Warden's built a new house on their lot, between East Ivy and the corner house.  The Warden's lived in the new house. They divided the old mansion into apartments and rented to several tenants.

Nashville City Directory, 1924 showing three houses, 209, 211, and 215.

In 1925, James G. Warden sold the old house at 209 South 5th to Rose and Margaret Doyle.  In 1930 Mary J. Warden, now a widow, sold the newer house with 40 feet of frontage on South 5th to her daughter, Jewell Warden.  At the same time Mrs. Warden sold the lot at the corner of Fatherland and South 5th to Southern Securities.  That lot designated as 215 South Fifth was sold by Southern Securities,in 1930 to Mattie Halliburton.

Owner 1925/1973 Doyle
Rose Staub Doyle and Margaret Stuab Doyle were sisters who married brothers.  The sisters never lived in the house at 209 South Fifth.  In 1935, the house was deeded to Anna Mathis Doyle, daughter of Rose and niece of Margaret, by Margaret Doyle. During the time the Doyle family owned the house it was rented to many tenants, just as it had been since the Warden's had owned it from 1920.

Resident/Owner Schumaker and West
By 1973, it was thought the old house had seen it's best days. And then came Larry Schumaker and Larry West.  The two purchased the house and the north 60 feet of lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 from Anna Doyle, for 15,000 dollars.  Certainly many thought the price was outrageous and saw the house as a lost cause.  Not the Larry's.  They must have fallen in love with the house and jumped in feet first.  They started acquiring adjoining lots, those that had been a part of the original property in 1867. The new owners updated and replaced wiring, plumbing, heat and cooling systems. A brick wall was built completely enclosing the property, except for a small front lawn and front of the house.

A guest house, a three car garage, a swimming pool and a pool house were added.  The grounds were landscaped and walkways constructed using brick pavers. The gardens at the rear of the house contain many species of trees and plants, two Koi ponds and a water fall.  A fountain in the rear courtyard, for many years, featured a statue of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine. That statue has been replaced with the lovely "jug lady" below.

East Ivy, photo by Debie Oeser Cox, 2016

After nearly 40 years of owning and living in the house, Schumaker and West decided to sell.  In 2011, the house was purchased by Joseph M. Swanson as trustee for Charitable Remainder Unitrust, Joseph M. Swanson, located in Murfreesboro, TN.

Water Fall and Pond at East Ivy, photo by Debie Oeser Cox, 2016

The house and grounds are now used as event space, for weddings, corporate retreats and other occasions. Today the house property is once again made up of lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and six of the Felix Zollicoffer Plan, Addition to Edgefield.



Click the links below to view photos and learn more about the house.
The Nashville Garden House as featured in the Wall Street Journal, 2010.
East Ivy Mansion

Sources:
Davidson County Register of Deeds (see deed abstracts posted below)
Davidson County Register of Deeds, Plat Book 19, Page 162
Nashville City and Business Directories
1908 Atlas of the City of Nashville
Biographical Directory, Tennessee General Assembly Vol. 1 and 2.
Wall Street Journal, 2010
East Ivy Mansion website.

Odds and Ends -

A. G. Sanford home north east corner Tulip and Fatherland, 1870 city directory,

First National Bank of Nashville, A. G. Sanford listed as one of organizers.

First National Bank of Nashville A. G. Sanford, President

Sale of Sanford furniture 1870, at the residence, corner of Tulip and Fatherland.

A. G. Sanford sells to Henry Cooper, lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.  Deed Book 43, page 485, August 1879

Henry Cooper, home Tulip between Fatherland and Russell, City directory 1873.

John Woodard, Resides S. 5th, near Fatherland, Edgefield, City directory 1878.

Partial Deed History of house at 209 South Fifth Street and adjoining property.

Davidson County Register of Deeds

Book 37, Page 39 – Registered August 21, 1866, James Davis sold to Alanson G. Sanford for $2900, one half undivided interest in lots one, two, three and four, of the Felix Zollicoffer plan of lots in Edgefield. Fronting 50 feet each on Fatherland Street and running back 170 feet to an alley. (House lot)

Book 37, Page 655 – Registered February 25, 1867, George B. Guild sold to A. G. Sanford for $5000 one half undivided interest in four lots fronting 200 feet on Fatherland Street, running back 170 feet to an alley, lots one, two, three and four, in the Zollicoffer plan of Edgefield. (House lot)

Book 38, Page 485 – Registered October 11, 1867, James Bostick to A. G. Sanford for $1320, lots four and five in the Zollicoffer plan, each fronting 33 feet on Fatherland Street and running 170 feet to and alley. (was added to house lot)

Book 43, Page 485 – Registered 1870, A. G. Sanford of Edgefield sold to Henry G. Cooper for $16,000, fronting 266 feet on Fatherland Street, corner of Tulip Street, embracing lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, in Zollicoffer's Addition to Edgefield, Tennessee. Said lots run 170 feet to an alley, including all improvements thereon. (House lot, 209 South Fifth.)

Book 58, Page 443, Registered November 3, 1877, Henry G. Cooper sold to Cora Buck, wife of Walter Vernon Buck, for $10,000, beginning at an alley south of and next to the Tulip Street Methodist Church.  Running along Tulip Street in a southerly line for 100 feet, then easterly along Fatherland Street, parallel with the alley 2-- feet, then northwardly 100 feet and then westerly along the alley to the beginning.  Deed was written on November 5, 1872 but not recorded until 1877. Deed was written on November 1, 1877. (Tulip Street Methodist Church was originally located on Tulip Street (South 5^th Street) at Russell Street.) (House lot, 209 South Fifth.) At this time Cooper divided the house lot into two tracts.

Book 58, Page 444, Registered November 3, 1877, Walter Vernon Buck and wife Cora Buck sold to John Woodard,  beginning at an alley south of and next to the Tulip Street Methodist Church.  Running along Tulip Street in a southerly line for 100 feet, then easterly along Fatherland Street, parallel with the alley 200 feet, then northwardly 100 feet and then westerly along the alley to the beginning.   (House lot, 209 South Fifth.)

Book 61, Page 12, Registered September 17, 1878, Henry Cooper sold to Michael Burns in return for release of liability for two notes totaling  $1840.00, beginning at the intersection of Fatherland and South Fifth, formerly Tulip Street, then running east with Fatherland St. 200 feet, then north 70 feet, then west 200 feet, and then south with South Fifth, 70 feet to the beginning.  (This is adjoining lot, divided from house lot by Cooper, later became 215 South Fifth.)

Book 66, Page 141 , Registered June 15, 1880, Michael Burns sold to J. A. Payne, for $2500, beginning at the intersection of Fatherland and South Fifth, formerly Tulip Street, then running east with Fatherland St. 200 feet, then north 70 feet, then west 200 feet, and then south with South Fifth, 70 feet to the beginning. (This is adjoining lot, divided from house lot by Cooper, later became 215 South Fifth.)

This parcel containing the southern part of lots 1, 2, 3, and 4, beginning at the intersection of Fatherland and South Fifth, formerly Tulip Street, then running east with Fatherland St. 200 feet, then north 70 feet, then west 200 feet, and then south with South Fifth, 70 feet to the beginning was transferred from J. A. Payne heirs to John W. Love and wife Mary Lena, on August 16, 1898, for $5000 and recorded in book 230, page 27.  John W. Love sold this tract on November 2, 1905 to John W. and Nellie Boyd for $8000, recorded in book 324, page 31.  John W. Boyd sold to Louise Monohan on September 12, 1918, for $6,000, recorded in book 416, page 313.  Monohan sold the tract to Anna Mary and Johnson Bransford on May 2, 1919 for assuming  the lien held by John W. Boyd. Recorded in book 518, page 657. Bransford sold the tract to J. G. Warden, combining the two parts of lots, 1, 2, 3 and 4, once again. (This is adjoining lot, divided from house lot by Cooper, later became 215 South Fifth.)

Book 164, Page 184, Registered January 20, 1892, John Woodard and Julia E. Woodard his wife, sold to Sophia C. Huggins, beginning at an alley south of and next to the Tulip Street Methodist Church.  Running along Tulip Street in a southerly line for 100 feet, then easterly along Fatherland Street, parallel with the alley 200 feet, then northwardly 100 feet and then westerly along the alley to the beginning.  (House lot, 209 South 5th)

Book 560, Page 91, Registered July 14, 1920, E. C. Huggins and others, heirs of Sophia Huggins, sold to J. L. Sinor, for $5000, beginning at an alley south of and next to the Tulip Street Methodist Church.  Running along Tulip Street in a southerly line for 100 feet, then easterly along Fatherland Street, parallel with the alley 200 feet, then northwardly 100 feet and then westerly along the alley to the beginning.  (House lot, 209 South 5th)

Book 553, Page 331, Registered July 16, 1920, J. L. Sinor sold to J. G. Warden and wife Mary J. Warden, for $5800, beginning at an alley south of and next to the Tulip Street Methodist Church.  Running along Tulip Street in a southerly line for 100 feet, then easterly along Fatherland Street, parallel with the alley 200 feet, then northwardly 100 feet and then westerly along the alley to the beginning.  (House lot, 209 South 5th)

Book 633, Page 604, Registered June 28, 1924, Johnson Bransford sold to J. G. Warden, for $6600, beginning at the intersection of Fatherland and South Fifth, formerly Tulip Street, then running east with Fatherland St. 200 feet, then north 70 feet, then west 200 feet, and then south with South Fifth, 70 feet to the beginning. (House lot, 209 South 5th)

Book 682,Page  271, Registered August 13, 1925, J. G. Warden to Rose and Margaret Doyle, for $4,000, beginning at an alley south of and next to the Tulip Street Methodist Church.  Running along Tulip Street in a southerly line for 60 feet, then easterly parallel to Fatherland Street, and parallel with the alley 190 feet to a private alley, then northwardly 60 feet to the alley and then westerly 190 feet along the alley to the beginning.  Being parts of lots 1, 2, 3, and 4.  (House lot, 209 South 5th)

Book 785, Page 745, Registered September 13, 1930, Mary J. Warden, widow of J. G. Warden, transferred the poperty to her daughter, Jewell E. Warden, for love and affection, two tracts.  Tract one, Parts of lots 1, 2, 3, and 4, of the Zollicoffer plan, at a point in the east margin of Tulip Street now 5^th, 60 feet south of the alley, south of and next to the Tulip Street Methodist Church, then south along Tulip Street 40 feet, east and parallel with alley 200 feet, then north 100 feet, then west with alley 10 feet, then suth 60 feet, then west and parallel with alley 190 feet, to the beginning.   Tract two, Being the easterly 45 feet of the southerly 70 feet of lot no 4. Said part of lot no. 4 fronts 45 feet on the northerly side of Fatherland and runs back between parallel lines 70 feet to a dead line. ( A new house was built on this lot and became 211 South Fifth.)

Book 802, Page 153, Registered September 4, 1930.  Mary J. Warden to Southern Securities Company, Second tract, Being the northerly 70 feet of lots 1, 2, 3, and 4, fronts 70 feet on the easterly side of south fifth Street and runs back along parallel lines with the northerly margin of Fatherland Street, 155 feet to a dead line. (This is adjoining lot, divided from house lot by Cooper, later became 215 South Fifth.)