The COURIER

Vol. xlvii, no. 2 Historical Commission, Nashville, Tennessee June 2009 THC Welcomes New Chairman n February, Sam Elliott of Signal elect in June, 2009 and President in June, 2010. He and his wife Karen IMountain became the new chairman of have two daughters, Mary Claire and Sarah Anne. the Tennessee Historical Commission. Mr. Mr. Elliott is the author or editor of two books on Tennesseeans in the Elliott succeeds Norm Hill of Civil War, Soldier of Tennessee: General Alexander P. Stewart and the Murfreesboro, who completed three terms Civil War in the West (1999) and Doctor Quintard: Chaplain C. S. A. and as chair. Appointed to the Commission in Second Bishop of Tennessee (2003). Mr. Elliott’s third book, Isham G. 2005, Mr. Elliott is a member of the Harris of Tennessee: Confederate Governor and United States Senator, Chattanooga law firm of Gearhiser, Peters, will be published later this year. Chairman Elliott looks forward to Lockaby, Cavett & Elliott. Elliott is a continuing to develop the programs of the Commission in the next two former President of the Friends of the years. Regarding his election, Mr. Elliott stated: “I am grateful to my Chickamauga and Chattanooga National fellow members of the Tennessee Historical Commission for the great Military Park, and is a member of the board of the Tennessee Civil War honor of succeeding our colleague Norm Hill as chairman. Together, we Preservation Association. Mr. Elliott is also Vice President of the will continue to work with our dedicated staff to preserve, protect, and Tennessee Bar Association and will succeed to the offices of President- interpret the history of our great state for our present and future citizens.”

FEDERAL PRESERVATION and thematic surveys based upon existing historic study units produced by the SHPO. This program receives Federal funds GRANTS In addition to historic surveys, assistance is from the . available for other types of historic preservation Regulations of the U.S. Department of The Tennessee Historical Commission is projects. These may include preservation the Interior strictly prohibit unlawful accepting grant applications for historic planning studies for towns, neighborhoods, and discrimination in departmental federally preservation projects for the 2009-2010 fiscal historic districts, the preparation of nominations assisted programs on the basis of race, year. These grants, which are federally funded, to the National Register of Historic Places, color, national origin, age or disability. will be available after October 1, 2009. The planning or pre-development work necessary to Any person who believes he or she has precise amount of funds which will be available been discriminated against in any in Tennessee for such grants will not be known undertake restoration of an historic property, and restoration of historic properties (for program, activity or facility operated by until Congress has passed the FY 2009-2010 a recipient of Federal assistance should budget; however, it is expected to be in the restoration or restoration pre-planning, properties must be listed on the National write to: Director, Equal Opportunity range of $400,000. After review, applications Program, U.S. Department of the will be rated and ranked. Decisions on those to Register of Historic Places). Unless appropriations are significantly increased, funds Interior, National Park Service, P.O. Box be funded will be made when the exact amount 37127, Washington, D.C. 20013-7127 of the allocation is known. This may be as late for restoration projects will be limited; however, as next spring depending on when the Congress THC always encourages quality applications of completes work on the FY-2010 Budget. this type. Applications for projects to prepare As in the past, the selection process will nominations to the National Register of Historic emphasize projects for the conducting of Places are a priority and are also encouraged. The Tennessee Historical Commission architectural, archaeological, and historic site The grants are matching grants and will pay will meet on June 12, 2009, 9:00 a.m. at surveys. Such projects are designed to identify for up to 60% of the costs of approved project and record historic districts, sites, buildings, work. The remaining 40% must be provided by Historic Cragfont, Sumner County. The structures, and objects significant to Tennessee's the grantee as matching funds. meeting is open to the public. history and built before 1960. Surveys may be Applications for grants are available from for a specific geographic area or for sites the Tennessee Historical Commission, 2941 You can find this issue of The associated with themes or events significant in Lebanon Road, Nashville, Tennessee 37243- COURIER and back issues dating from the state’s history, such as the development of 0442. For further information or for an October, 2003, at the Tennessee Historical railroads in the nineteenth century, or the application, contact the Tennessee Historical Commission’s web page at development of motor tourism in the twentieth Commission at (615) 532-1550. Applications www.state.tn.us/environment/hist. Click on century. Priorities for funding survey projects may also be downloaded from the Tennessee the State Programs Menu to find the will include areas which are experiencing rapid Historical Commission Website, newsletter. For information on the Civil War growth and development or other threats to www.tdec.net/hist/federal/presgrnt.shtml. in the Volunteer State visit cultural resources, areas where there are serious Completed applications must be submitted by www.tennessee.civilwarsourcebook.com. gaps in knowledge regarding cultural resources, SEPTEMBER 1, 2009. THE COURIER, Vol. XLVII, No. 2 June 2009

TENNESSEE WARS COMMISSION ACTIVITIES’ REPORT Fred M. Prouty, Director of Programs

SUMMARY OF SELECTED PROJECTS historic sites in the Castilian Springs, Tennessee complete the purchase of 643 acres of endangered UNDERTAKEN BY THE TENNESSEE WARS area. Wynnewood State Historic Site, Castilian Battlefield property at Davis Bridge in Hardeman COMMISSION IN 2008. Springs Mound Site, Bledsoe’s Fort, and and McNairy County. The THCTF grant was The Tennessee Wars Commission has Hawthorne Hill are discussed at length in the matched by project partners the American completed another successful year of service. The report and included an “action plan.” The plan Battlefield Protection Program ($864,500), and following report highlights several milestone forms the basis for historic tourism development the Civil War Preservation Trust ($200,000), for a events of our 14th year. in the area and has the potential to develop an total of $1,929,000. With the addition of this The Tennessee Wars Commission was interpretive “park” atmosphere, explaining the property, approximately 98 percent of the original awarded Federal Enhancement Funding from area’s historic resources ranging from 10,000 Governor Phil Bredesen totaling $3,019,840. The years ago to early frontier settlements. battlefield acreage is preserved and contains over funds will facilitate preservation and interpretation Wars Commission Director Prouty and 860 acres of “hallowed ground.” On February 7, projects at Fort Donelson Battlefield in Dover, Executive Director Dan Brown of the Tennessee 2008, the Tennessee State Lands Acquisition Tennessee, Shiloh National Military Park in Preservation Trust (TPT) met with officials of Committee approved a $61,000.00 Wars Hardin County, Davis Bridge Battlefield in H.C.A. Hospitals to discuss the possibilities of Commission funding request for administrative McNairy and Hardemen Counties, and Parker’s preserving Spring Hill Battlefield viewsheds and costs connected with the Davis Bridge Battlefield Crossroads Battlefield in Henderson County. green space near the proposed HCA Spring Hill property acquisition of 643 acres. This brings the A new Wars Commission publication hospital site, located to the east of battlefield total 2007-2008 Tennessee Wars Commission entitled, Ready to Die for Liberty, is ready for property. HCA, Wars Commission, and TPT requested grant funding to $1,990,000. publication. It tells the story of Tennessee African officials discussed the battlefields sensitive Additionally, an urgent plea was made to the Americans before, during, and after the Civil War. viewsheds and ways to preserve them. The Civil Tennessee Heritage Conservation Trust Fund A “student friendly” edition should be ready for War Preservation Trust again named Spring Hill’s (THCTF) on behalf of the Parker’s Crossroads publication in 2009. battlefield to its annual list of sites facing the Battlefield Preservation Association to help secure The Wars Commission is now delivering its greatest threat of being lost to development. 87 acres of endangered core battlefield property new Tennessee Civil War Trail Brochure, “A Path In 2008 the Tennessee Wars Commission Divided, Tennessee’s Civil War Heritage Trail” to agreed to hold conservation easements on land for sale at the Battlefield in Henderson County. all Tennessee State Welcome Centers. Over acquired at Fort Donelson through the efforts of The request for $300,000 was approved and 125,000 brochures have been printed and for the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) and the matched by $400,000.00 obtained from the distribution during 2009. The Path Divided National Park Service, American Battlefield Tennessee Lands Acquisition Fund and $100,000 brochure is the most requested state brochure at Protection Program (ABPP). Easements were granted by the Civil War Preservation Trust. The our eleven Welcome Centers. obtained through the State Lands Acquisition $800,000 purchase has now been closed and The Tennessee Department of Tourist Committee and were additionally approved by the property will be incorporated into the existing Development announced the Tennessee Civil War State Building Commission. The State has now 206-acre battlefield interpretive program. Trails program is expanding across the state. The obtained an option to acquire interests in many In October 2008 production began on an Tennessee Wars and Historical Commissions have acres of endangered core battlefield land at Fort educational documentary film about the Battle of worked to encourage the funding and creation of a Donelson and several other significant Tennessee Johnsonville (November 4, 1864). The production, Tennessee Civil War Trail System partnering with battlefield sites, making these “hallowed grounds” funded by the Wars Commission, will aid in our state tourism department. an official state conservation easement. interpreting the battle at the proposed Johnsonville Tennessee Civil War Preservation In August of 2008 the Tennessee Wars Association (TCWPA) received Wars Commission Commission received a TEA-21 Enhancement State Historic Area Welcome and Interpretive funds for the TCWPA’s current preservation, Grant from Governor Phil Bredesen for $929,132. Center in Humphrys County. The film is produced administrative, and educational programs. The The Wars Commission submitted the application by the Renaissance Center Multi-Media money will partly fund the Tennessee Battlefield in 2007 for TEA-21 Enhancement Grant Funds Department of Dickson, Tennessee, creators of Assessment Program (TBAP) website. for the rehabilitation of the Pocahontas award winning educational films for Tennessee Tennessee Historical Commission Executive Schoolhouse as an interpretive center for the Civil War projects. The narrated film will present Director Patrick McIntyre and Tennessee Wars Davis Bridge Battlefield. The application also compilation of interviews, historical documents Commission Director of Programs Fred Prouty are requested funding for the creation and instillation and illustrations, underwater archaeological board members of Governor Phil Bredesen’s of an interpretive trail system for the 860 acre reports, and archival photos. Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Davis Bridge Battlefield. The Trail will include Commission. Board members met throughout interpretive signage and kiosk, handicapped Comments and suggestion are welcome: 2008 to discuss implementation plans for the accessible pedestrian trails, and a pedestrian Fred M. Prouty Tennessee Civil War Trails system and reviewed bridge across the Hatchie River. The grant also Director of Programs, directions for other activities in connection with includes brochures, website and placement of Tennessee’s Civil War Sesquicentennial in 2010. replica artillery pieces at strategic points in the Tennessee Wars Commission The Tennessee Wars Commission recently battlefield. 2941 Lebanon Road funded and developed in cooperation with the During the fiscal year 2007-2008 the Nashville, Tennessee 37214 Bledsoe’s Lick Historical Association an extensive Tennessee Wars Commission received an 615-532-1550, ex. 104 plan to address issues related to the preservation, $864,500 funding grant from the Tennessee [email protected] management, and interpretation of four significant Heritage Conservation Trust Fund (THCTF) to http://www.tedec.net/hist/TnWarsCom.shtml

2 THE COURIER, Vol. XLVII, No. 2 june 2009 Report on National Register Activities by the Tennessee State Historic Preservation Office By Claudette Stager and Brian Beadles, National Register Division Staff, State Historic Preservation Office Since the last issue of The Courier there have been seven entries from stained glass in the twentieth century. When Connick died in 1945 he left the National Register of Historic Places. The properties are: Forrest Park, the studio to a group of craftsmen who were working there at the time. They Shelby County; Arthur J. Dyer Observatory, Davidson County; River View kept the studio active until it closed in 1986. The studio also became a Mounds, Montgomery County; Church Street gathering point for artists and musicians Methodist Church, Knox County; Abston Unlike many of his contemporaries, Garage, Roane County; Gammon House, Connick used transparent, or ‘antique’, glass Sullivan County; and Garrett House, Lawrence reminiscent medieval traditions of stained glass. County. He stressed the interrelation between changing Five properties were removed from the light, color, and texture. Connick felt that his National Register because they no longer greatest contribution was “rescuing it from the existed. They are: Bivvins House, Bedford abysmal depth of opalescent (opaque) picture County; Alcoa South Plant Office, Blount windows of the sort popularized by Louis County; Batte-Brown-Blackburn House, Giles Comfort Tiffany, John La Farge and their County; Fairview School, Hickman County; and followers.” Connick wrote his book Adventures Minglewood Farm, Montgomery County. in Light and Color, stressing that stained glass is There are now 2010 entries in the National a way of transforming light and color to form a Register for Tennessee including 267 districts, work of art. In his eyes, “the stained glass for a total of 40,983 resources now listed. window belongs to Brother Sun and is in itself a Two of the more recent listings are mighty symbol of his natural beauty and power discussed below. Church Street Methodist Church Photo by Brian that may be translated into a new symbol of Beadles. spiritual beauty.” Church Street Methodist Church Since the time of its construction, Church Church Street Methodist Church in Street United Methodist Church has been a Knoxville represents the work of several designers. Built in 1930-31 it was significant landmark in Knoxville. Its sandstone exterior and architectural designed by the architectural firms of John Russell Pope and Charles Barber. detailing led President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, on a 1940 trip through Constructed of Crab Orchard sandstone it features a front tower and a Knoxville to dedicate the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, to declare courtyard with arched openings. The church also contains a collection of it “ . . . the most beautiful church I have ever seen.” stained glass windows produced by the Charles Connick Studio of Boston and installed between 1941 and 1956. Dyer Observatory John Russell Pope was a graduate of Columbia University in New York Built under the guidance of well-known known astronomer Carl K. and the Ecole des Beaux-arts in Paris, and apprenticed with McKim Mead & Seyfert, the 1953 Dyer Observatory has been an important research facility White before opening his own firm in 1905. He was known for designing for . It continues today to be used for research and mansions for some of America’s wealthiest families. Pope was also the public outreach. While under Seyfert’s tenure the observatory was built and designer of public buildings such as city halls, the innovative telescope was completed. libraries, and museums including plans and Carl Seyfert was known for his work in buildings at Dartmouth, Yale, Johns Hopkins, and classifying the Seyfert Galaxies. In 1943 Seyfert Syracuse universities. Pope’s work is probably best identified this class of galaxies compromising ten known for his Neoclassical-style public percent of all galaxies and are among the most commissions in Washington, DC, including the studied objects in astronomy; many are now National Archives in 1930, and the Jefferson thought to have giant black holes at their centers. Memorial (1935). He rarely designed churches, and At the heart of the observatory is the original it has been suggested that most of the churches twenty-four-inch Baker Reflector–Corrector attributed to Pope were generally done by his telescope. Instead, the primary mirror, as well as the associate Otto Eggers. secondary mirrors, are made with Pyrex. The primary Charles Barber, who by 1928 was a member of mirror alone weighs 175 pounds. The telescope Church Street United Methodist Church, was the weighs about one-half ton, and is counterbalanced by principal designer in the Knoxville architectural Dyer Observatory Photo by Brian Beadles. weights to bring the full weight of the total apparatus firm of Barber & McMurry. The son of prominent to approximately one ton (not including the Knoxville architect George F. Barber, he had mounting). The counterbalances allow the telescope worked in his father’s office since1913, pursuing studies including some to be moved by hand. Additionally, two small precision motors move the time spent at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. Barber designed country manors as telescope at a rate that is comparable to half that of a watch’s hour hand. well as many public buildings and was known as one of the outstanding The telescope is versatile and was among the first of its kind to be church designers in the southeast during the 1940s and 1950s. Charles constructed. Its design allows the telescope length to be half as long as a Barber’s firm also planned many of the collegiate buildings at the Knoxville comparable telescope designed by Bernard Schmidt with the same optical campus of the University of Tennessee and during the 1930s was the Chief capabilities. Developed by Dr. James G. Baker of the Harvard College Architect for the Tennessee Valley Authority. Observatory, the main telescope at the Dyer Observatory is a modified version The stained glass windows were designed and manufactured by Charles of a Schmidt telescope known as a Baker-Schmidt J. Connick of Boston, one of the leaders of the design and manufacture of telescope or Baker Reflector-Collector. Additionally it cont. next page

3 THE COURIER, Vol. XLVII, No. 2 june 2009

THE FIRST AMERICAN CAVE SITE REVISITED National Register ...continued Aaron Deter-Wolf, can also be configured to work as a Cassegrain or as a Tennessee Division of Archaeology Newtonian reflecting telescope. n August of 1971, the partial skeleton of a Following identification of the bones, the The telescope can be configured in two ways. In Isabertoothed cat (Smilodon floridanus) was developer halted work and contacted the reflector-collector configuration, there is a twenty- discovered during construction of the First Vanderbilt University and the Southeastern four-inch primary mirror placed at the lower end of American National Bank at the corner of 4th Indian Antiquities Survey (SIAS). The SIAS the telescope. Near the upper end of the telescope is and Union Streets in downtown Nashville. arranged to conduct excavations at the site the reflector-collector plate. This consists of a twenty- This find captured the attention of the public, during the fall of 1971. Newspaper reports four-inch ring-shaped glass plate with an eleven-inch and was the subject of numerous local and from the time indicate that more than 1,000 achromatic lens centered in the plate. In this system national general-interest articles during the bones were recovered as a result of the light from the stars and the sky passes through the early 1970s. The Smilodon became an integral excavations. John Guilday of the Carnegie glass plate to the bottom end of the telescope where it Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, PA is reflected off the primary mirror. The light then subsequently examined these finds and passes through the eleven-inch achromatic lens, published his results in the July 1977 issue of which focuses the light to a point near the top of the the Journal of the Tennessee Academy of telescope. A photographic plate, or any other kind of Sciences. That article constitutes the only light sensor, can be placed in the focal plane to scientific publication on the First American produce photographs. cave site. In order to convert the telescope to work as a Geologic analysis revealed that the Cassegrain or Newtonian reflecting telescope the Smilodon bones were situated within the reflector-collector plate is removed and replaced with remnants of a mud and clay-filled cave a secondary mirror. In the Cassegrain design light is approximately 30-feet below ground surface. reflected off the primary mirror to the secondary Eighty to 90 percent of the cave was mirror. The light is then reflected off the secondary destroyed by construction efforts prior to mirror back down the telescope tube and passes identification of the Smilodon remains. through a five-inch hole in the center of the primary Consequently it is not clear how large the mirror to an eyepiece for viewing. In the Newtonian cavern was, or where the original entrance to the cave was situated. Archaeologists have configuration the secondary mirror is angled so that since suggested that the cavern connected to the reflected light is directed to an eyepiece on the the ground surface via a small vertical shaft or side of the telescope. sinkhole that was built over sometime during The telescope is mounted onto a concrete pier the historic period. resting on its own foundation independent of the rest In addition to the single maxillary canine, of the building. The mounting mechanism was archaeologists recovered more than 100 constructed by the J. W. Fecker Company of TDOA Site Files, photograph by the author fragments of the Smilodon skeleton. Guilday Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The optical elements of the noted that based on the level of bone telescope were made by the Perkin-Elmer Corporation preservation the skeleton was likely complete of Norwalk, Connecticut. part of Nashville iconography in 1997 when it prior to construction efforts. The bones of In order to build the observatory an unusual was selected as the logo for the Predators hockey team and the inspiration for their several late Pleistocene mammals (ca. tactic was used. Instead of asking for money to mascot, Gnash. Despite the initial interest that 130,000–10,000 years ago) were also finance the construction, in-kind services and the find generated and the recent prevalence recovered from nearby the sabertooth donations of materials were requested. In all, eighty of sabertooth imagery along lower Broadway, remains. These included partial skeletons of firms and foundations were involved donating time or the cave site was largely forgotten by the late- now-extinct species such as mastodon, materials, including sand and gravel, concrete blocks, 1970s, and was not revisited again by ice-age horse, and peccary. Additional late bricks, reinforcing steel, electrical materials, doors, archaeologists until 2008. This past fall staff Pleistocene remains were recovered from glass and hardware. from the Tennessee Division of Archaeology off-site backdirt piles where they had been One major benefactor was Arthur J. Dyer, owner reentered the cave in order to assess its inadvertently dumped by mechanical of the Nashville Bridge Company. The metal domes condition 37 years after its discovery. equipment prior to the archaeological effort. over the telescope and the planetarium were built by The cave site was first identified in 1971 Collagen extracted from the Smilodon his firm. The main dome is twenty-four feet in during mechanical excavations of what would bones was radiocarbon dated to 7460+/-155 diameter and is constructed of quarter inch steel. and 8085+/-650 B.C. These dates are become the foundation of the First American Although the primary purposes of the Dyer extremely late for the presence of Smilodon in National Bank. According to news reports at Observatory were research and providing graduate the region, and overlap human occupations the time, one of the contractors removing training in astronomy and astrophysics, because the along the Middle Cumberland by at least blasted limestone bedrock for the building community at large played such a significant part in foundation noticed bone in the bucket of his 1,000 years. It has been suggested based on its construction, it is committed to serving the public. excavator, and stopped to examine the these dates that the sabertooth cat found Today as in 1953, the observatory is regularly open material. The first bone that emerged from the beneath the bank was the one of the last of its to the public for school tours, popular lectures, bucket was a 9-inch long upper maxillary canine, the iconic fang of a sabertooth cat. cont. next page observation nights, and other programs.

4 THE COURIER, Vol. XLVII, No. 2 june 2009

Cave Site Revisited ...continued lobby includes basic information and photos ladder by the same muddy reddish-brown clay from the site, as well as approximately 40 that filled the entire cave prior to discovery. kind, and lived contemporaneously with bones from the Smilodon and various other Only a small portion of the original cave prehistoric peoples. However, no additional animal species. The sabertooth remains on remains beneath the bank building. The archaeological evidence supports the overlap display include portions of the ribs, vertebrae, remnants of the natural cavern extend only 5- of sabertooth cats with prehistoric people in jaw, and left leg. A replica cast of an intact feet below the base of the access ladder, and North America, and scientists generally believe Smilodon skull from the La Brea Tar Pits site run underneath the concrete foundation for a that Smilodon were extinct prior to the arrival in California serves as the centerpiece of the total area of less than 75 square feet. The floor of humans in the Western Hemisphere. exhibit. The sabertooth fang that led to the site of the cave is wet as a result of natural Consequently the radiocarbon dates from the discovery is not included in the lobby display. moisture moving through the surrounding First American site are regarded with some The last known images of the fang found bedrock. Small pools of standing water and skepticism. beneath the bank appear in a November 1975 fragments of rusted metal from the building The 1971 excavations also substructure are scattered across the recovered portions of four human muddy surface. The soil contained burials and the remains of several small fragments of natural limestone modern species from a separate, more and a handful of tiny marine fossils that recent zone within the remaining cave originated in the surrounding bedrock. area. That zone was separated from the No artifacts or bones were observed late Pleistocene remains by during the visit. approximately 16-feet of muddy clay TDOA archaeologists determined soil, and postdates the Smilodon remains that the damp clay soils that fill the by at least 10,000 years. Animal remains remaining cavern have not been heavily from the upper zone included those of disturbed, and are therefore likely to mole, snake, raccoon, rabbit, bobcat, contain additional paleofaunal remains skunk, and squirrel. The human remains that could be recovered through careful were identified as bundle burials dating excavation. These soils are situated to the Woodland period (ca. 1000 below the level where the Smilodon B.C.–850 A.D.). The upper zone of the remains were identified in 1971. cave was totally removed during TDOA Site Files, original image courtesy John Dowd Consequently, they almost certainly subsequent bank construction. predate any human occupation in Because of interest that the site generated, Tennessee, and therefore are not First American National Bank redesigned the article for the Memphis Commercial Appeal’s considered archaeological in nature. building to preserve the remaining intact Mid-South Magazine. Photographs from that Nevertheless, the cave beneath the bank still portion of the site for future archaeological article show an earlier version of the site holds research interest for any paleontologist investigations. The building foundation was display located on the ground floor of the or geologist studying ice-age fauna. vaulted over the remaining cave, creating a building. In those images, the canine is small artificial cavern beneath the lowest level exhibited alongside the replica Smilodon skull of the bank’s parking garage. This space was and a number of bones from the Woodland HISTORICAL MARKERS made accessible via a steel hatch and 20-foot burials. The ultimate disposition of both the ladder bolted into the concrete substructure. In fang and the human remains is unknown. August of 1973 Time Magazine reported that Conventional wisdom among bank and At its meeting on February 20, the bank was preparing to let archaeologists building management personnel is that the 2009, the Tennessee Historical resume excavation. However, no additional sabertooth canine was given to the Commission approved six historical Smithsonian; however, that institution has no investigations ever took place. markers: Johnson City Sessions, record of receiving the artifact. Beyond the The next documented entry into the site Battle of occurred in June of 1978, when the Tennessean lobby display it is unclear which, if any, of the Washington County; reported on a group of cavers from the original >1,000 bones from the site are still in Johnsonville, Fort Hill and Yellow Nashville Grotto who visited the site but were the possession of the bank. Bank Trestle, Humphreys County; underwhelmed by the small size of the In August of 2008, TDOA archaeologists First United Methodist Church, arranged to enter the First American cave site remaining cavern and absence of any open Gibson County; and Paul W. Barret passages. The next entry into the cave did not in order to examine its condition and assess the occur for 26 years. In 2004, the site was used possibility of additional paleofaunal (ice-age (1899-1976), Shelby County. to hold vibration monitors collecting data animal) remains. The site is off-limits to the during blasting for the new Courthouse Square, public, but was still accessible via the secure Those interested in submitting located one block northeast of the bank. No lower level of the parking garage. Beneath the proposed texts for markers are urged to archaeologists were present during either the metal hatch, the access ladder descends into an contact Linda T. Wynn at the 1978 or 2004 reentries to the cave, and no artificial cavern approximately 8 feet wide by excavations were conducted at the site during 25 feet long. The foundation of the parking Tennessee Historical Commission, either visit. deck comprises approximately half of the walls 2941 Lebanon Road, Nashville, Today the building located at 4th and of this space, while the other half consist of Tennessee 37243-0442, or call (615) Union Streets is the main Nashville Branch of blasted limestone bedrock. Both the bedrock 532-1550. Regions Bank. A display in the first floor and concrete are replaced below the base of the

5 THE COURIER, Vol. XLVII, No. 2 june 2009 Certified Local Government Rob Crawford ne of the most effective ways to protect a Code Annotated. It is important to note that the consistently applies – review guidelines Ocommunity’s heritage is by establishing state law enables local governments to enact which comply with the current Secretary historic districts. A historic district is an area historic zoning laws; it does not itself protect of the Interior’s Standards for the with a definable concentration of buildings, historic resources. It serves to recognize local Treatment of Historic Properties sites, or other items associated with past events, protection measures as authoritative, so local city growth, or architectural design, or which lawmakers, historic zoning commissioners, and For applications and information on the planners have a special responsibility to act as otherwise have aesthetic value. There are two application process, please contact the types of districts: national and local. good stewards of the historic resources in their Tennessee Historical Commission: A national district is one that is listed on the communities. 2941 Lebanon Rd. National Register of Historic Places. Various Communities that have effective local Nashville, TN 37214 tax incentives may be available to the owners of historic districts can have their preservation contributing properties in the district, and the efforts “certified” through the Certified Local (615)532-1550, ext. 114 National Register may protect the buildings Government Program. Certified Local [email protected] from adverse effects of federally funded Governments, or CLGs, are more competitive projects; however, the National Register when seeking grant funding and technical provides no protection from private demolition assistance from the state historic commission or inappropriate alteration. and thus better able to realize the preservation Published by the goals of their community. A local district is established by enacting a TENNESSEE HISTORICAL local municipal ordinance. Administered by a One of the most important things a local local historic zoning commission, its guidelines historic zoning commission can do is to COMMISSION specify appropriate types of alterations in the “network” with other organizations and district’s character. The commission reviews government departments within the local 2941 Lebanon Road applications for all exterior alteration, addition, community. Becoming certified further expands Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0442 construction, and other related changes. Local your community’s preservation network beyond Sam Elliot, Chairman its borders and puts your preservation staff and historic districts are the only public means of E. Patrick McIntyre, Jr., Executive Director & SHPO commissioners in contact with their stopping demolition and neglect. First used in James B. Jones, Jr., D.A., Public Historian, Editor, The Charleston, South Carolina, in 1931, today they counterparts in communities around the state. Courier are one of the most popular methods of Many historic zoning commissions believe they preserving a community’s history, with over are succeeding by not being noticed – by Linda T. Wynn, Assistant Director of State Programs and 2,300 found nationwide. “flying under the radar” within their Publications Editor Local district designation is a powerful tool community. As laudable as it is to avoid of historic preservation and of broader city situations that galvanize the community – and it The Courier is published three times per fiscal year and not is impossible to avoid them forever – it is better planning. Whereas a national district provides copyrighted in order that all or any portion of an article may still to succeed because the mission of your only limited measures against potential adverse be reproduced. The following credit line is requested: “From effects stemming from federal projects, local commission is widely and publicly understood and appreciated. The CLG network builds The Courier, (issue and year), a publication of the Tennessee designation allows citizens to protect their relationships that are productive, proactive, and Historical Commission.” Persons interested in receiving The property from demolition, neglect, and to ensure valuable sources of information – especially in the architectural, historic, and visual character Courier free of charge should send name, address and zip a crisis. of an area. It controls changes and directs code to the above address. News of historical activities will be CLGs are known statewide for preservation progress by protecting the integrity of buildings considered for publication, but unsolicited manuscripts leadership and some CLGs even become and the cohesiveness of the area according to nationally recognized as outstanding examples cannot be returned. the guidelines adopted by the neighborhood. of effective historic preservation. The greater Because it helps create a sense of the recognition, the greater the economic Tennessee Historical Commission, Authorization Number neighborhood and community pride, stabilizes benefits that will be felt in your community in 327324, 27,000 copies yearly. This public document was the neighborhood, directs growth by every area from sales tax to tourism to real promulgated at a cost of $.15 per copy. Printed by State of encouraging maintenance and discouraging estate. inappropriate changes, discourages absenteeism, Tennessee Printing and Media Services Division, Andrew A community can become a CLG if it meets and has a positive effect on property value. Jackson Building, Nashville, TN 37243-0540. state and federal requirements. Among these One of the best benefits of local district requirements are designation is that, in addition to underlying The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation municipal zoning, it helps maintain a • your city, county, or metropolitan is committed to principles of equal opportunity, equal access government has enacted a proper historic predictable framework in which community and affirmative action. Contact the Tennessee Department of preservation ordinance decisions can be made so that, even as owners Environment and Conservation EEO/AA Coordinator at 1- come and go over time, those areas which make • your community has established a historic 808-867-7455 or the ADA Coordinator, at 1-888-253-2757 your community unique will retain their zoning commission comprised of five to character. nine members with preservation for further information. Hearing impaired callers may use the In Tennessee, local districts are regulated by knowledge and experience that Tennessee Relay Service (1-800-848-0298). Title 13, Chapter 7, Part 4 of the Tennessee commission has adopted – and

6 THE COURIER, Vol. XLVII, No. 2 june 2009 PUBLICATIONS TO NOTE Linda T. Wynn, Assistant Director for State Programs, Publications Editor University of Alabama Press, Box 870380, the forefront unrevealed historical elements that during the years following the American Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0380 has published give readers a better insight into Tennessee’s place Revolution. Barksdale outlines the debate over the following: Speaking with the Ancestors: within human rights movements and its role as a whether Franklin was a product of revolutionary Mississippian Stone Statuary of the Tennessee- generator of extraordinary cultural life. This book spirit or of political and economic greed. The Cumberland Region by Kevin E. Smith and James makes a major contribution to American women’s Franklin statehood movement emerged from the V. Miller, who, over the last twenty years, history, southern history, and especially to the unstable political and economic climate that the researched over eighty-eight possible examples of history of the Volunteer State. Paper, $24.95. Articles of Confederation produced directly after southeastern Mississippian stone statuary, dating Louisiana State University Press, 3990 West the formation of the United States. Going beyond as far back as a thousand years, discovered along Lakeshore Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808 The Lost State the river valley of the interior Southeast. Separate has published the following: Race and Liberty in discussions about regional history, and together, the authors measured, analyzed, the New Nation: Emancipation in Virginia from of Franklin offers a history of this miscarried photographed, and traced the known history of the the Revolution to Nat Turner’s Rebellion by Eva withdrawal and its romanticized legacy. Barksdale forty-two examples that appear in this volume. Sheppard Wolfe examines how ordinary Virginia directs the reader’s attention to this futile Collecting data from both early documents and citizens wrestled with the dilemma of slavery in a insurrection, reminding readers of the fragile public and private collections, Smith and Miller social order committed to universal freedom. Wolf nature of America’s young independence. Cloth, informs the reader that the statuary should not be broadens the reader’s understanding of important $50.00. viewed as regional expressions of a broader body concepts as freedom, slavery, emancipation, and Edited by James Oliver Horton, the Benjamin of art, ritual, and belief. Together, Smith, and race in the formative years of the American Banneker’s and Lois E. Horton’s Slavery and Miller, bring forth and depict all known examples republic. She frames her research around the Public History: The Tough Stuff of American of the Tennessee-Cumberland statuary. Speaking moment between slavery and emancipation and Memory analyzes how people remember their past with the Ancestors is the first systematic effort to zooms in on trelations between blacks and whites and how those memoriees influence American document their archaeological context, and to put in a slave society. Wolf through an in-depth politics and culture. Essays contributed respected forward their significance as a distinctive analysis of archival records, particularly those historians including Ira Berlin David W. Blight Mississippian art form. Paper, $38.50. dealing with manumission between 1782 and Publications of the University of Georgia 1806, reveals how entrenched beliefs shaped and Gary B. Nash make this a major contribution Press, 330 Research Drive, Athens, Georgia thought and behavior. Race and Liberty in the to the debate about the significance of slavery and 30602-4901 includes the following: The Civil New Nation makes known how white attitudes its meaning for racial reconciliation. An excellent Rights Reader: American Literature from Jim hardened during the half-century that followed the text for museum studies and public history, this Crow to Reconciliation, edited by Julie Buckner declaration that “all men are created equal.” volume illuminate the challenges faced by those Armstrong and Amy Schmidt is an anthology of Paper, $24.95. who interpret slavery outside institutions of higher drama, essays, fiction, and poetry that focuses on The Donning Company Publishers, 184 learning. Paper, $19.95. creative writing beyond the familiar modern civil Business Park Drive, Suite 206, Virginia Beach, Publications of The University of Tennessee rights 1954-1968 chronology to include works Virginia 23462 has published the following in Press, 110 Conference Center, 110 Henley Street, from the 1890s to the present. In ways that conjunction with the Tennessee Electric Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-4108 included the historical documents cannot, these collected Cooperative Association and its official following: writings demonstrate how Americans negotiated publication, The Tennessee Magazine: Barns of The University of Tennessee Press has the process of defining national values such as Tennessee by Caneta Hankins and Michael Gavin republished Walter T. Durham’s Nashville: The freedom, justice, and equality. Armstrong and is a limited edition photographically documenting Occupied City, 1862-1863 Reluctant Schmidt have gathered the works of some of the Tennessee’s barns. A project of the Tennessee and most influential writers to engage issues of race Electric Cooperative Association and its official Partners: Nashville and the Union, 1863-1965. and social justice in America. The first of its kind, publication, The Tennessee Magazine, the project Durham traces Nashville’s transition from Rebel The Civil Rights Reader is an important began in 2007 with a request to the magazine’s control to Union occupation. Together, these contribution to both the cultural and the literary readers to share photographs and stories of and books highlight the importance of local Civil War history of the African-American freedom struggle. about their barns. Hankins, assistant director of history assessing the impact of the war on the Paper, $24.95. the Center for Historic Preservation at Middle civilian population.. Durham, in Nashville: The Edited by Sarah Wilkerson Freeman and Tennessee State University and Gavin, a Occupied City examines the first seventeen Beverly Greene Bond, Tennessee Women: Their preservation specialist for the Tennessee Civil War months of the Union occupation, demonstrating Lives and Times focuses on the lives of individual National Heritage Area, compiled historic how the local population coped with an enemy women. The eighteen biographical essays written references to the 375 photographs and tales about force. In Reluctant Partners, he depicts a city by leading historians of women direct attention types of barns, functions in the lifestyles of coming to grips with the fading prospect of a from the more conventional androcentric Tennessee farmers. A tribute to Tennessee’s Confederate victory and how its citizens began to perspective, place women and their experiences at agrarian history, Barns of Tennessee will be a cooperate with the Union. With new prefaces center stage in Tennessee’s history. Freeman and pictorial keepsake. Cloth, $45.00. Bond through the contributors, portray the Publications of The University of Kentucky discussing the historiography over the last twenty, richness and variety of voices in this collective Press, 633 South Limestone Street, Lexington, these two works offer an absorbing view of Union portrait of Tennessee women includes suffragists, Kentucky 40508 include: The Lost State of occupation at local levels. Students and scholars civil rights activists, reformers, and influential Franklin: America’s First Session, written by of the Civil War who share an interest in its social participants in politics and the music industries of Kevin T. Barksdale, investigates the rise and fall dimensions will find these new editions Nashville and Memphis. This collection brings to of the state that incited violence and conflict invaluable. Cloth, $45.00 each.

7 THE COURIER, Vol. XLVII, No. 2 june 2009

Tennessee Preservation Trust’s 2009 List of the “Ten Most Endangered Historic Sites in Tennessee” 1) Hufstedler Cemetery/Pinckney’s Tomb, Linden, Perry County. 6) Niota Depot, Niota, McMinn County. Originally known as the This tomb is a rare example of 19th century vernacular, dry-stone Mouse Creek Depot, the Niota Depot was constructed in 1854. This constructed rural cemetery architecture. The foundation has begun to intact rectangular, brick building features a hipped roof and suffers fail and there is a lack of financial resources to provide for necessary from roof drainage problems damaging the outer layer of brick. Timely repairs. lime mortar re-pointing is required to avoid deterioration of the building. 2) Shelbyville Dam on the Duck River, Shelbyville, Bedford County. This site is an early c.1915 electrical power producing facility/plant 7) Kingston Springs Hotel Complex, Kingston Springs, Cheatham along the Duck River; there were in fact several dams along the Duck County. The Kingston Springs Hotel is one of a few remaining hotel River that produced power for the towns in the Duck River Watershed. complexes established in Middle TN from the 1890s until 1917. Power was no longer produced at this site after approximately Attracting prominent Tennesseans, visitors came to the mineral February 1948. It was abandoned by TVA and sold to the City of springs, dance hall and bowling alley. Two framed guest cottages are Shelbyville in November 1950. located near the hotel. The Victorian styled hotel was designed by Nashville architect Baxter J. Hodge. This collection of buildings is 3) Graham-Kivette House, Tazewell, Claiborne County. The Graham- threatened by demolition by neglect. Kivette House, ca. 1810, is the oldest home in Tazewell and one of only a few buildings surviving a fire in 1862. It was built for William 8) Columbia Train Depot, Columbia, Maury County. The old Union Graham, a merchant and one of Tazewell’s founders. James Kivette Station in Columbia was built in 1905. It served the community until acquired the home from William Yoakam. Kivette was a lawyer and the 1960s when service was discontinued. This neglected building was coal mine operator whose daughter, novelist Louise K. Redman, had recently threatened by plans that would have relocated the structure to several books published. The Kivette House, built of cut limestone, is St. Louis. Columbia’s tradition of historic preservation should a rare example of Federal style architecture in upper East Tennessee. encourage its rehabilitation. The building is open to the elements and at risk of vandalism and deterioration. 9) Knoxville College, Knoxville, Knox County. The Knoxville College Historic District has contributed to the welfare of the African 4) Rippavilla Plantation Slave House, Spring Hill, Maury County. American community of Tennessee since 1890, particularly in the This is a rare African American slave cabin remaining in Tennessee. fields of industrial and normal education. Over the years, various Its location on the Civil War era Rippavilla Plantation is endangered difficulties have resulted in some historic buildings becoming vacant by proposals by General Motors allowing roads across the site opening and abandoned. The buildings now utilized need maintenance and are the area to unlimited utility easements thereby endangering this in danger of deterioration or vandalism. structure and associated early African American archaeological sites. 10) Temple Avenue Neighborhood, Knoxville, Knox County. The 5) Dickson County Courthouse Charlotte, Dickson County. The 1833 buildings represent Knoxville’s architectural development over the Dickson County Courthouse is the centerpiece of the Charlotte past century. The University of Tennessee announced plans to Courthouse Square Historic District and still the center of Charlotte. demolish the last remnants of the neighborhood once stretching down The structure is largely intact and untouched by modern activities Volunteer Blvd. and punctuated by Circle Park. The remaining revealing a picturesque townscape. This 1833 structure needs basic buildings would have little impact on UT's expansion plans. It is a maintenance and is currently being considered for rehabilitation foregone conclusion they are to be demolished. They were ignored in including HVAC, electrical, roofing, fenestration remediation and the inventory and assessment of historic structures on the UT campus

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— For more information, please visit www.tennesseepreservationtrust.org —

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