EAST NASHVILLE LANDMARK HISTORIC LOG HOUSE
THE TENNESSEAN, EVENING EDITION, AUGUST 8, 1928
A century-old log house, one of the landmarks of early East Nashville, was destroyed last night by fire starting at 9:30 o’clock from an unknown source. The house at the end of Rosebank avenue was originally owned by the Vaughn family, and later by the Cornelius, Scheffer and Wilkes families and at the time of its destruction was owned by George L. Hicks, vice-president of the Dixie Life & Accident Insurance Company.
The house had passed into Mr. Hicks’ hands but a few weeks ago. Its value was estimated at $14,000, with only about one-third of this amount covered by insurance. Only a few rugs had been moved into it by Mr. Hicks and these, with a range were the only articles destroyed.
Built of Logs.
Built of huge logs and covered by hand-hewn weather boarding, the house was a combination of old handwork and modern construction. It had recently been modernized by Mr. Wilks and had previously been improved by W. R. Cornelius.
Member of the Vaughn and Brown families lived in the house during its first 40 years. It was among the first built in that section of East Nashville, then an open country, and remained throughout its 100 years of existence a center of the community.
The late W. R. Cornelius bought the house in 1862. In it he lived until near the end of the century. Throughout the days of the Civil War the family watched the coming and going of Federal and Confederate troops from the estate surrounding the house. The elder Mr, Cornelius sold the house to the Rosebank Nursery Company and his son, W. R. Cornelius rebought it in 1903. Five years later he sold it to Frank Wilk, who retained the lovely house until recently.
Two stories in height, the house had nine large rooms, typical of early Southern architecture. Many expressions of regret have been made over its passing as it was regarded as one of the finest old mansions in East Nashville.
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| The house was located in the highlighted area of the plat. By 1908 William R. Cornelius had divided his father's East Nashville farm into lots and sold the lots on which the old log house stood to Henry Shafer. Shafer soon died and the house passed to his daughter Mrs. Frank [Katherine] Wilk. Frank Wilk sold the house to Mr. Hicks in 1928 a few weeks before it burned. The house was located near the present intersection of Rosebank and Eastland Avenues. |
