Historic Ink

The Newsletter of Historic Nashville, Inc. Spring/Summer 2010, Vol. 33, No. 1

GREAT NASHVILLE FLOOD! work double time in order to keep Nashville with drinking water through the crisis. The overall devastation and extraordinary impacts of the Great Nashville Flood of 2010 are public More comprehensive coverage will be included in the knowledge so we will not repeat them here. However, next newsletter. For now, updates will be we do want to provide a summary of the impact of the continuously posted on our Facebook page and via flood to Nashville’s historic places. Our hearts go out our website and email. If you know of historic places to all the flood survivors and victims, particularly in Nashville that were impacted by flood damage that those who lost loved ones. We would like to thank the we have overlooked, please let us know. heroes who saved landmarks and lives as well as the army of volunteers who have made us proud.

Remarkably, flood damage to historic places was minimal and less destructive than expected. A historic truss bridge spanning the South Harpeth River in west Nashville’s Linton community was washed out; the 1889 bridge had been decommissioned years ago. While damage assessments are ongoing, the following historic places were impacted by the flood.

• 2nd Avenue Historic District • Lower Broadway Historic District • Tanglewood Historic District, Madison • Belle Meade Mansion Downtown Nashville when the Cumberland River crested some 12-feet above flood stage. Courtesy the Tennessean. • Shelby Bottoms Park

• Percy Warner Park

• Riverfront Park Inside this Issue • Carnegie Library North Branch • Old Hickory Library From the Vice-President 2 • Eversong at Stone Hall, Hermitage From the Editor 3 2009 Nashville Nine Update 4 The historic riverside Omohundro Water Treatment Behind-the-Scenes Tours 5-6 Plant was unharmed due to the heroic efforts of Habitat’s Home of Healing 7 Sheriff Daron Hall and 400 county inmates, who New Board Members 8 bagged 500 tons of sand and stacked for 36 hours Membership 9 straight. Flood waters came within eight inches of “What to do about those old windows” 11 breaching, but the temporary levees held. Because the About HNI 12 modern water treatment plant in Donelson was flooded and shut down, Omohundro was forced to

FROM THE VICE-PRESIDENT exciting opportunities coming up later this year with tours scheduled of the Ryman Auditorium and the L&C Tower. It certainly is a great time for historic preservation in Nashville. I wanted to begin by giving you a few Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and highlights from the recent MHC Preservation Awards held survivors of the recent flooding in Nashville. Some of at the Nashville Public Library on May 11. HNI hosted a those victims include historic places in some of the oldest reception honoring the nominees and winners at the areas of our city. HNI will be assisting in any way that we Hermitage Hotel following the awards. It was a wonderful can with damage assessments. Our organization holds evening to see some of the shining examples from Preservation Easements on many properties in Nashville, Nashville’s preservation community. primarily in downtown, and we will be assisting those owners as needed. We are very sensitive to efforts to Mayor Karl Dean made a brief appearance and was met by highlight the condition of historic properties with our a standing ovation for his heroic efforts during the recent annual Nashville Nine list of endangered properties, and flood in Nashville. He was especially humbled and we want to be proactive especially in the face of this great honored to be able to present an award to the Omohundro natural disaster. Water Treatment Plant, which recently saw some renovations, but more importantly has been the city’s saving grace as our only water treatment option once the K.R. Harrington facility was knocked out of commission by the flooding of the Cumberland River.

The Old Bordeaux Bridge located south of Nashville off SR-100 was washed away by the flood. Courtesy TDOT.

And, speaking of the Nashville Nine list, it’s almost that time of year again. The 2010 Nashville Nine list will be released in September, just a few months from now. With the recent flood damage and newspaper articles focusing on the fate of historic buildings such as the former Tennessee Department of Highways Headquarters along Charlotte Avenue, we are reminded just how important it is to be vigilant year-round in the effort to save our historic places.

The veranda at the Hermitage Hotel was the setting for the The 2009 Nashville Nine have seen some great successes HNI reception following the MHC award ceremony. with the Arcade Post Office being spared from closure and the recent listing of the Hall-Harding-McCampbell House We were also pleased to see a couple of our historic tour in Donelson to the National Register of Historic Places. properties receive recognition for their efforts including With your help, we can identity newly endangered the Fall School (Church of Scientology) and the American properties and create success stories that will strengthen Trust Building (Hotel Indigo). HNI board member Patrick Nashville for years to come. Gilbert was the project architect for both renovations. Hopefully you were able to tour these properties with us Alan F. Hayes, AIA earlier this year. Our monthly tours are free to all HNI East Nashville members which we think is a great benefit. We have some Historic Ink: Spring 2010 2

HNI OFFICERS

PRESIDENT David Price

PAST PRESIDENT Robert “Bob” Tuke

VICE PRESIDENT Alan Hayes

SECRETARY Gary Gaston

TREASURER Jared King

In 1926, floodwaters from the Cumberland River crested 4-feet higher than in 2010, BOARD MEMBERS causing floodwaters to reach much further into the downtown area. Courtesy the Tennessean. Holly Barnett Tony Giarratana FROM THE EDITOR Robbie D. Jones

The recent flood reminded us all of the impact of modern technological Brandon Mauldin advances in communications. Most of us had no idea of the magnitude of Scarlett C. Miles the natural disaster until we viewed surreal images on the TV and Internet, Mike Murphy images captured by TDOT traffic cameras on I-24, store security cameras, Laura Rost and cell phone cameras. As the outside world learned of the flood, our Joshua Smith phones lit up with calls, text messages, and Facebook updates from around Vivian Wilhoite, ex-officio the country. Were we OK? Were our homes underwater? We turned to the NEWSLETTER EDITOR Internet, TV, and radio to gather the latest information as traditional hard Robbie D. Jones copy newspapers could barely keep up. It was almost too much. [email protected] Here at HNI, we did our best to keep you informed of storm and flood related damage to Nashville’s historic places. Our best way of MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR communicating was through Facebook, which we updated daily, sometimes Scarlett C. Miles several times a day. Our Facebook page is only a few months old, but has [email protected] some 250 fans from around the country (even a few in the U.K.). We also communicate to our members via email. If you would like to be added to the PRESERVATION EASEMENTS email list, contact Scarlett Miles. If you have experience in website design Bob Tuke, Committee Chair and hosting and would like to volunteer please contact David Price. As we [email protected] are an all-volunteer board with day jobs, we do the best we can with limited resources and manpower. WEBSITE MANAGER David Price Robbie D. Jones Editor, Historic Ink Historic Nashville, Inc. [email protected] PO Box 190516 Nashville, TN 37219 Send correspondence and submissions for publication to the Historic Ink editor. Deadline for submission of material for the Fall 2010 issue is August 15, 2010. http://www.historicnashvilleinc.org Contact the editor about format preference.

Historic Ink was published from 1977 to 2003 and re-launched in 2009. Email: [email protected]

Historic Ink: Spring 2010 3

THE NASHVILLE NINE 2009 Nashville’s 9 most threatened properties

DEMO SOON SAVED!

“Silverdene” McCambell House Jackson House Lawrence Finn House 305 Kent Road (Donelson) 3500 Brick Church Pike 931 Main Street (East) (Bordeaux)

SAVED! PROGRESS DEMO SOON

US Post Office – Arcade Mt. Olivet Cemetery Chapel Charlotte Ave Church of Christ (downtown) 1101 Lebanon Pike (Southeast) 4508 Charlotte Ave

(Richland Park)

Historic Neighborhood Schools Historic Neon Signs – Home for Aged Masons & – Countywide Countywide – Masonic School Ransom School shown Weiss Liquors on Main St R.S. Gass Boulevard (West End) shown (East) (Inglewood)

Historic Ink: Summer 2009 4

“Behind-the-Scenes” Tours

The recently launched “Behind-the-Scenes” Tour of local landmarks is an exciting new program offered by HNI. Over 125 people participated in recent tours, which are free for HNI members. Since the last issue, we toured the following historic places: Hodge House at Percy Warner Park, downtown Masonic Lodge, The Hermitage, WSM Tower in Brentwood, and Two Rivers Mansion in Donelson. We look forward to seeing you at future tours!

HNI members Heather and Kris Gallagher.

Masonic Lodge at 7th Avenue & Broadway.

Hodge House at Warner Park Historic Ink: Spring 2010 5

L&C Tower 401 Church Street

July 10 at 10:00am

HNI members tour Two Rivers Mansion.

UPCOMING TOURS Opened in 1957, this 31-story skyscraper is Nashville’s best known example of Mid-Century Modern architecture. United Record Pressing 453 Chestnut Street Ryman Auditorium June 12 at 10:00am 116 Fifth Avenue North

August 14 at 10:00am

URP began in Nashville in 1949, located at its present site since 1962. URP’s “Motown Suite” was an apartment Since 1892, the Ryman Auditorium has been Nashville’s above the factory used by African-Americans during premiere performance hall, dubbed the Mother Church of segregation; today it’s preserved as a museum. Country Music and the Carnegie Hall of the South. Historic Ink: Spring 2010 6

HABITAT’s Home of Healing!

In March, Habitat for Humanity Nashville initiated its first historic preservation project through its Reconstruct program. Through efforts of the Metro Historical Commission, MDHA donated a condemned, fire damaged home in East Nashville’s McFerrin Park neighborhood to Habitat. HNI is working with Habitat, the Tennessee Preservation Trust, MHC, and MTSU on the project and have hosted three volunteer work days.

The c.1890 single-story, gable-and-wing dwelling features Folk Victorian architectural details, such as eave brackets, molded window and door trim, and transoms. The interior 704 Meridian Street - two physicians resided and practiced here. retains 12-foot ceilings and the original floor plan with The c.1890 home was originally on a streetcar route in North central hallway flanked by parlors with ceramic tiled Edgefield, making it a desirable location. Courtesy fireplace hearths. Developed from 1884-1908, McFerrin Tim Campbell, National Trust for Historic Preservation. Park was originally part of the North Edgefield neighborhood. Remarkably, this modest home was occupied by two physicians – Dr. Benjamin Porter Gilbert (b.1868) from 1907-1919 and Dr. Marvin B. Campbell (b.1880) from 1930-1958. They both operated home offices here, making it a true “home of healing.”

Led by project manager Eric Helms, the rehab will repair the fire damaged room and add a modern kitchen, two bathrooms, laundry, and HVAC. HNI is going to donate a period front door. All rehab work follows the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. The story made national news in April when the National Trust for Historic Preservation made it their “Story of the Day.” Volunteers scrape layers of paint (above) on the outside and install blueboard and insulation (below) on the inside.

HNI members donated countless hours to the project.

Historic Ink: Spring 2010 7

WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS! Gary Gaston is the Design Director of the Nashville Civic Design Center and a Lecturer at the University of Brandon Mauldin has been a resident of the greater Tennessee’s College of Architecture and Design in Nashville area for 20 years. A graduate of Brentwood High Knoxville. He has led planning efforts for the East Bank, School, Brandon immediately went to work in the music Edgehill, Lafayette and Wedgewood Houston business as a road manager and eventually became an neighborhoods. He was a principal contributor to the artist manager, guiding the careers of such acts as Shooter Center’s book, The Plan of Nashville: Avenues to a Great Jennings and Marty Stuart. Brandon is an art and antique City (Vanderbilt University Press, 2005). Gary co-chaired collector and a member of the Frist Center for the Visual the Live It Up Downtown Home Tour for four years, Arts. He currently lives in the Sylvan Heights served as co-chair for Education & Outreach on Mayor neighborhood with his dog, Gustav. Brandon is chairing Dean’s Green Ribbon Committee, and currently serves on the HNI Behind-the-Scenes Tours Committee. the Nashville Open Space Plan Committee. Gary holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Tennessee Holly Barnett is a Historic Preservation Specialist at in Knoxville, and serves on the Board of Directors of TDOT. She seeks ways to avoid historic properties from Nashville CARES and Artrageous. Gary grew up near being impacted by potential road projects pursuant to Jackson and has lived in several interesting buildings in Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of Nashville over the last decade, including the “Imperial 1966. Most do not know that Section 106 also includes the House,” a c.1961 modern-style apartment building near identification of previously unidentified historic properties, Belle Meade designed by Nashville architect Earl which requires frequent survey and research. She spends Swenson. Gary currently lives in East Nashville. much of her time chasing after her two-year-old daughter Lily. Holly and her husband, John, have recently purchased a 1920 bungalow in Inglewood and have enjoyed a variety of DIY adventures. A graduate of Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Holly received her M.A. from the Public History program at MTSU. She contributed to the recent Nashville's Inglewood history book from Arcadia Press and looks forward to getting more involved in neighborhood preservation.

Laura Rost served on the HNI board from 1995-1998. A Nashville native, Laura holds a Bachelor of Architectural History from the University of Virginia and a JD from Vanderbilt. She has been employed by the Metro Historical Commission; the White House Office of

Preservation in Washington, DC; Traceries, a consulting HNI board members Holly Barnett and Metro Councilwoman firm in Washington, DC; and by the Historic American Vivian Wilhoite at the MHC awards reception. Buildings Survey in Hawaii. Laura lives in the home in Seven Hills that her parents built in 1959 and is married with three children.

Jared King is a manager in the assurance services department with KraftCPAs in Nashville. He has over five years of experience in public accounting and he joined KraftCPAs in 2004. Jared has experience with not-for- profit and yellow book audits, as well as, employee benefit plan, manufacturing and broker-dealer audits. Jared received his bachelor's degree in accounting and his master’s degree in accounting from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Jared grew up in Franklin and, after living in Knoxville for college, moved to Ashland Scarlett Miles, Robin Zeigler, Yvonne Ogren, Tara Mielnik, and City where he currently lives with his wife and three Sean Alexander enjoying the reception. children.

Historic Ink: Spring 2010 8

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

Welcome New & Renewing Members!

Keri Adams and Matthew Stitzlein Van Gilmore Linda Orsagh Bob Allen Christian and Warren Gregory Michael Pearigen Fred Allison, Jr. Gruhn Guitars, Inc. Victor and Paceda Petrone J.B. and Carylon Baker Jim and Patsy Guenther Lyda Phillips Holly Barnett and John Bankston Ray and Peggy Harris David and Carolyn Price Megan Barry Mrs. Phyllis G. Heard Ann Roberts Susan and Ray Basham S. Mitchell Hodge, AIA Sandra R. Shelton Bill Baucom and Susan Spurgeon Kim Hoover Anita M. Sheridan Ronald Bicknese Frances C. Jackson Norma Shirk Barbara K. Breen Lissa and Jim Kelley Jason Edward Sloan Mark Brown Jared King Andy Sneed Carole Bucy Dr. and Mrs. Howard Kirshner Claudette Stager Joan and Will T. Cheek Emily Kitos Lynn Taylor Chase Cole Judy Lojek Eugene and Penelope TeSelle Linda Cooper Dr. Bobby L. Lovett Phil Thomason Mack W. Craig John Lyle Byron and Aleta Trauger Matthew C. Cushing Brooks and Bert Mathews April Vance Mr. and Mrs. J. William Denny Brandon Mauldin Becky Verner Herbert and Dorothy Drane Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. McAllister Kathryn and Philip Walker Glen Durdin and Roger Sanders Betsy Vinson McInnes Vivian Wilhoite Tom Ekman Ellen and Patrick McIntyre Harry Williams Heydn Ericson Michael McKee and Paul Cook The Wilson Group T. William Estes, Jr. Stephen McRedmond Cathleen Windham Charles O. French Elizabeth Moore Forrest and Judy Wise Kris and Heather Gallagher Joe Morris Jean A. Wright Dan Gant Marcia and Larry Mullins Gary Gaston Jeanie Nelson and Will Martin Susan Gianikas John Noel Tony Giarratana Jean W. Oldfield

In April, HNI members enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of the historic WSM Tower in Brentwood.

Historic Ink: Spring 2010 9

f you are not already a HNI member, please consider joining or renewing your membership! Know someone interested in Nashville history? Surprise them with a gift membership! Your support is essential to the I success of our nonprofit organization’s mission to promote historic preservation, history, and cultural heritage in Nashville and Davidson County. Contact Scarlett C. Miles for more information.

In addition, membership privileges include invitations to special members-only “behind-the-scenes” tours of some of Nashville’s latest preservation projects and unique historic sites, a subscription to the Historic Ink newsletter, and the inside scoop on all of our programs. Join today!

YES, I want to join Historic Nashville, Inc. and help preserve Nashville’s historic places!

Memberships

Student/Senior $15 ______Couple/Plus One $45 ______Individual $30 ______Family $50 ______

Donor $100 ______Sponsor $250 ______Patron $500 ______

Corporate sponsorships and major funding opportunities are available—please contact the membership coordinator for details.

Annual membership benefits include a subscription to the “Historic Ink” newsletter, invitation to special programs such as the popular “behind-the-scenes” tours of historic landmarks, an invitation to the Annual Meeting, opportunities to volunteer, and more!

Name(s): ______The way the membership should read

Address: ______

City: ______State: ______Zip: ______Phone: ______

Neighborhood: ______Email: ______

Address: Historic Nashville, Inc. Website: www.historicnashvilleinc.org P.O. Box 190516 Nashville, TN 37219 Email: [email protected]

Contributions to Historic Nashville, Inc. are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Historic Ink: Spring 2010 10

It is more economic to install interior (or exterior) storm What to do About Those windows, caulk and weather-strip them, than installing new replacement windows and it usually results in about Old Windows? the same energy savings at a fraction of the cost. Studies have found that the environmental “cost” of installing “Old Homes can’t be sustainable; they are drafty and hard replacement windows has about a 400 year payback for to heat or cool,” or “These old windows let out the heat energy savings. Not only are they are bad for the and let in the cold, they need replacing, right? “ are environment, replacement windows are typically made of statements I hear way too often yet they are far from the aluminum and vinyl (two materials that have some of the truth, here are a few facts. highest embodied energy values of any building material as well as being toxic for the environment) the manufacturing processes for these products makes them difficult to maintain. Vinyl, fiberglass, sealants, desiccants, and coating systems all degrade often requiring their complete replacement and manufacturer’s warranties for replacement windows are typically two to ten years, having far shorter service lives than historic windows.

Repair is easier than you think since old windows were made to be repaired. They can be taken apart to insert new rails or muntins (cross pieces separating the panes). Broken parts can be remade or whole sashes duplicated fairly cheaply. Rotted wood can be repaired to look like new with easy-to-use epoxy fillers. In many cases, these windows have been in service for over a hundred years U.S. Department of Energy indicates that windows with much of their are responsible for only 17% of air escape in the deterioration resulting average American home. Floors, ceilings, doors, and directly from a lack of maintenance. With walls are responsible for 51% of heat loss and gain, repairs and regular while ducts and fireplaces are each responsible for maintenance, the life about 32% of heat loss and gain. of these windows can potentially be As you can see from the chart most of the heat loss comes extended for an from floors, walls, and ceilings (un-insulated attics) and additional 50 or 100 usually loss through windows can be blamed on window years. sills that are cracked. There are many studies that confirm the performance of updated historic windows is in fact Whether you decide to do it yourself or hire a contractor comparable to new windows. When comparing thermal specializing in historic restoration, The National Park performance, the LOWER the U-value the BETTER the Service U.S Department of the Interior has published performance. Preservation Briefs: The Repair of Historic Wooden Windows is a wonderful guide for approaching the According to ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, evaluation and repair of existing windows, and Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers, 1977 & considerations for replacement, I’ve included the link 1997 Chapter 26), the U-value for single glazed wooden below. windows range from 0.80 to 0.89. The addition of a storm http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/briefs/brief09.htm window reduces these figures to a range of 0.44 to 0.49. A double-glazed metal window has a U-value of about 0.60 Article written by Michelle Fox. Thanks, Michelle! and a double-glazed wood with vinyl was 0.51 to 0.55. Historic Ink: Spring 2010 11

Historic Nashville, Inc. P.O. Box 190516 Nashville, TN 37219

Please notify the Membership Coordinator of address changes: [email protected]

______

ABOUT HNI

Historic Nashville, Inc. was originally chartered in 1968 as “The Historic Sites Federation of Tennessee.” In 1975, the name and mission changed in response to the urgency of threats to historic landmarks in Nashville. The nonprofit 501(c)3 organization became “Historic Nashville, Inc.” with the mission to preserve and maintain “architecturally significant or historic buildings in urban Nashville.”

Over the years, HNI has successfully advocated for the preservation of many downtown landmarks, including the Ryman Auditorium, Union Station, Hermitage Hotel, Shelby Street Bridge, and the Second Avenue, Printer’s MISSION STATEMENT Alley, Lower Broadway, and East Nashville historic districts. In 1982, HNI established the state’s first We preserve and promote the Preservation Easement program and currently owns easements on 16 historic landmarks with a market value of historic places that make over $30 million. HNI hosts an annual membership meeting, publishes a newsletter, maintains a website, gives Nashville unique. special tours of local historic landmarks, and recently launched the annual “Nashville Nine” endangered www.historicnashvilleinc.org properties list.

Historic Ink: Spring 2010 12