Eastview, An Historic Inglewood Home.

It is painful to see the old Inglewood going away, house by house.  Everyone feels comfortable with the familiar landmarks of old.  Finding something new and different on the landscape is not always pleasing.  Over the years, I have researched many old homes and buildings in Nashville.  Often I do this just to satisfy my own curiosity, and then file the information away. 

A recent facebook image post by Metro Nashville Archives, reminded me of the research I had conducted a few years ago on an old Inglewood Home.  The house is located at 3613 Gallatin Pike.  It is back off the road, behind several commercial buildings, located along the front edge of the property. 

Google Image, June 2016

I first became aware of the house in the 1970's. From all appearances it had been divided into several apartments that were being rented as residential units, at that time. My research as usual, included deed records, newspapers and city directories. I thought I had seen the house on the Historic Nashville website managed by Marty Evans.  A quick google search located a photo of Eastview there.  Marty graciously sent me front and back scans of the images which turned out to be a postcard.  

Eastview Tourist Home ca 1930's,  Marty Evans image (front), used with permission. 

Eastview Tourist Home ca 1930's,  Marty Evans image (back), used with permission. 

This house is located on land that was originally a part of the William Williams property.  Williams owned land, several hundred acres, on both sides of Gallatin Pike, through the heart of Inglewood. 

Williams sold the land, 6 and 3/8 acres, in 1853, to Stephen and Elizabeth Matthias.  Stephen Matthias and his son Thomas were brick layers, according to the 1850 census for Davidson County.  Matthias built a house on the land, probably of brick.  The father, Stephen Matthias lived in his home on Gallatin Pike until his death in January of 1859.  His wife Elizabeth Scoot Matthias, continued to live on the property until her death, many years later, in 1888.  

Tennessean, Sun, Feb 5, 1888

Land records show that James Marrin bought that property in 1904 (6 and 3/8 acres) for $1600. The cost seems to indicate there was not a house of any consequence on the property at the time of purchase. I believe that the current house on the property was likely built by Mr. Marrin.  He and his family lived there until he sold the property, in 1917, to W. D. Bateman and his wife Mollie. After the Bateman's, Max and Angie Benz owned the property for several years. It changed hands a lot, as the 20th century passed by. 

In 1934 Jere Baxter Lodge # 742 purchased the house. From 1939 until about 1946 the address was listed in city directories as the East View Tourist Home. In 1947 the directories began using the number 3611 and number 3613 was no longer used. 

 

Tennessean February 11, 1934

 It was in 1947, that Jere Baxter Masonic Lodge is listed at the address along with Inglewood Cleaners which was likely in a building in front of the old house. Other business are listed there from that time on, located in the commercial strip built in front of the house. Jere Baxter Lodge was still there in 1959. During the 1930's and 40's, several Masonic events were announced in local papers as being held at Inglewood Hall, 3611 Gallatin Pike.

Today the house is standing, and in use as an antique mall.  Farmhouse Art and Antiques is open Wednesday through Sunday.  Call (615) 262-7879 to check hours of operation. Check the farmhouse page.