The Nashville I Remember

markhollin · August 25, 2021

11 minutes ago, donNdonelson2 said:

In possession of TN State Museum & in storage. (And it’s a crying shame that it is not out where it can be seen and loved, in operation for all to enjoy!)

At one time there was discussion about making it part of the new Tennessee State Museum, or maybe having it installed somewhere nearby on the Bicentennial Mall.

MLBrumby · August 25, 2021

12 minutes ago, donNdonelson2 said:

In possession of TN State Museum & in storage. (And it’s a crying shame that it is not out where it can be seen and loved, in operation for all to enjoy!)

Seems like there'd be a perfect spot near the museum at the Bicentennial park.

donNdonelson2 · August 25, 2021

15 minutes ago, BnaBreaker said:

Agreed... I wonder why it isn't? It's not like there aren't ample places to put it.

My guess is that it a money issue. It won’t be cheap to build an appropriate venue for this valuable work of art, and there will have to be an operating budget to fund the employees to allow the public to ride the carousel. Obviously it’s not a priority to the right people of influence.

Baronakim · August 28, 2021

I remember the construction of the James Robertson Parkway and all the changes in 8th Avenue N, This was where the Farmers Market was relocated and relocated again until we finally lost half of it for the Tennessee State Museum.. 8th Avenue is also now Rosa Parks which to me was almost an apology for the complete bulldozing of the area called Hell's Half Acre back in the 1960s. Here are group of photos of the area below Capitol Hill on the norths side from Jefferson Street looking back towards Capitol Hill. With the acres of surface parking there, I still sometimes wonder if it was a big improvement. The first one is of Hell's Half Acre around the west and north sides of the Capitol. Many of the streets were not paved and most of the residences had outhouses as the city never put in sewers. Some still got their water from wells. Hundreds of homes and many churches and businesses were destroyed for the JRP. The bare street is 8th Avenue N. after demolition was ongoing in the mid 50s. It is very interesting that 6th,,7th and 8th all went as through streets down Capitol Hill through the black neighborhood and completely severed north of the Capitol although 8th was reconstructed into JRP project. The view up 7th is looking Norh in the 5th photo. The H.G. Hill was torn down for the JRP in the east side In the color early 50s photo we are looking down 8th from the corner of Jefferson where all the Bicentennial Mall is today. That is where the Farmer's market was relocated when I was teen. These were demolished for the Mall and replaced with the current market of which only the south half remains

donNdonelson2 · August 28, 2021

Regarding the current Farmers Market, the only portion that was demolished to make way for the new Tennessee State Museum was the north sheds that were primarily just a home for weekend flea market vendors. It was well worth losing that to get our beautiful new State Museum.

Edited August 28, 2021 by donNdonelson2

Baronakim · September 2, 2021

Here is Nashville's very first high rise tower, the 30 story Life and Casualty Building at 4th and Church. Now over 60 years old I remember seeing the weather forecast on it's crown for many years, which sadly they no longer do. The card of the first photo explains the beacon operation. The second is the steel framing going up in 1956. The building was designed by a local architect Edwin Keeble, who also was known for several tall churches in Nashville. The crown is very unique and housed an observation deck that had outstanding views of Nashville until it was closed due to a suicide jumper in the 1990s I recall as a boy scout having our troop taking a trip to the tower as a treat. As the elevators to the observation deck was very small (the building only has 2 passenger elevators), the leaders gave permission for three of us to take the stairs. Even at 10 years old, it was very exhausting to reach the top. The tower was particularly visible after the Maxwell House Hotel burned in the early 60s. The tower dominated the city streets until other towers were built in the 60s.

Edited September 2, 2021 by Baronakim

Bos2Nash · September 3, 2021

14 hours ago, Baronakim said:

Very cool! The John Hancock Tower in Boston (completed in 1947) was Boston's own weather tower. There was a poem to help decipher the colors

Quote

Steady blue, clear view

Flashing blue, clouds due

Steady red, storms ahead

lashing red, snow instead

In 2004 after the Red Sox won the World Series, the lights flashed red and blue and another line was added to the poem, “Flashing blue and red, when The Curse of the Bambino is Dead!”

nashville born · September 7, 2021

This one took me back. That looks like a Buick Riviera crossing the intersection. My dad had a very similar model! It was black and he called it Mudbone!

Edited September 7, 2021 by nashville born

markhollin · March 16, 2022

Feature in The Tennessean on the history of the garbage-fueled Downtown Thermal Plant that used to sit on the site of Ascend Amphitheater from 1974 to 2002. So very glad we have the extension of Riverfront Park in its place now.

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2022/03/14/nashville-ascend-amphitheater-history-garbage-burning-power-plant/6931048001/

BnaBreaker · March 17, 2022

Yikes, I had forgotten what an eyesore that was. I do kinda wish they had kept up the large smokestack with the red stripes though just an homage to yesteryear.

markhollin · March 19, 2022

L&C Tower (Nashville's first skyscraper, opened in 1957, 30 stories, 409') was sold last week for$50.5 million to Tricera Capital and Merrimac Ventures. The Tennessean featured a historic photo gallery including construction. Some of the pics below.

More at The Tennessean here:

https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2022/03/15/downtown-nashville-l-c-building-sold-florida-firms-50-5-m/7053586001/

1954:

1955: