Historic InkThe Newsletter of Historic Nashville, Inc. Fall 2009, Vol. 32, No. 3

HNI Announces “Nashville Nine”Inaugural list receives local attention

NI announced the 2009 “Nashville Nine,” alist of the city’s most endangered historicproperties as nominated by the public, at a

press conference on September 9th. Board presidentDavid Price and members of HNI made theannouncement at the Mt. Olivet Cemetery Chapel,one of the listed properties. The complete list of the2009 Nashville Nine can be seen on page 4.

The announcement was well publicized in the localmedia with articles in the Tennessean, NashvilleBusiness Journal, West Side News, and coverage onWPLN and all four local television stations. Since theannouncement, the Tennessean has published severalfollow-up stories on the Arcade Post Office, CharlotteAvenue Church of Christ, and the Fox’s Donut Den,which features one of the city’s historic neon signs –a property type on the list. Stories have also beenposted on local blogs, email listservs, and websites.Visit the HNI website for links to these stories.

A link to an online video of the Ch. 4 coverage aboutthe Nashville Nine is posted on the HNI website.

Shown is 931 Main Street in East Nashville.

Attendees at the press conference included PatrickMcIntyre (THC), Dan Brown (TPT), Tim Walker

(MHC), David Price, Alan Hayes, and Scarlett Miles.Photo courtesy Tara Mielnik.

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Inside this Issue

From the President 1From the Editor 32009 Nashville Nine 4Behind-the-Scenes Tours 5-6Nashville’s Preservation Timeline 7Membership 8“Fight to Save Union Station” 9“The Home Tour Revisited” 11About HNI 12

Historic Ink: Summer 2009 2

FROM THE PRESIDENT

all is already my favorite season, but this yearthe season is especially exciting for HNI andthe City of Nashville as we welcome over

2,000 participants to the 2009 National PreservationConference this October. On behalf of HNI and ourfair city, let me say to our visitors: Welcome Y’all!

The conference week is packed with programs andfield sessions that will highlight the cultural andnatural beauty of Nashville and Middle Tennessee,and HNI couldn’t be happier to be a local partner inthe effort. In addition to the official conferenceprogram, I hope that conference attendees will maketime to venture off the beaten path and explore someof the places that really show the heart and soul ofNashville. Historic neighborhoods, parks, musicvenues, fine local restaurants, and, my personal gaugeof a great city, top-notch record stores (yes, they stillexist and are thriving here, most of them in vintagebuildings!). Music City simply has it all and I hopeyou enjoy your time here.

HNI has enjoyed a long relationship with the NationalTrust for Historic Preservation. Over the years, we’vepartnered with the National Trust on many projects,beginning with the national campaign to save theRyman Auditorium back in the early 1970s. In the1980s, we launched a series of community outreach,education, and local school programs, which garnerednational attention, including a prestigious HonorAward from the National Trust in 1985. Then, in2006 the National Trust’s southern office assistedHNI in its reorganization effort.

These pages will catch you up to HNI’s recentactivities; you’ll see we’ve been about as busy as anall-volunteer board can be. The publication of theNashville Nine endangered properties list, the firstsuch list by HNI in almost a decade, receivedtremendous positive feedback from the media and thepublic, showing what a passion there is in this city forhistoric preservation advocacy. You will also seephotos from our recent behind-the-scenes tours oflocal landmarks, which by all measures have been agreat success. Please join us for the next one!

We also took the opportunity with this newsletter tohave longtime board member Bob Tuke look back atone of HNI’s greatest past achievements, the

preservation of Union Station, a story paired with atimeline of other notable preservation events inNashville history.

Finally, we have a real treat of a column by notedlocal author and architecture critic (and past HNIboard member), Christine Kreyling, who shares herthoughts on the challenges of “cleaning house” for acrowd of 500 visiting preservation enthusiasts. Nowthat takes guts!

I would like to take a moment to remind our membersto save the date for our upcoming Annual Meeting onJanuary 21, 2010. Following a brief board meeting,we will gather for food and fellowship, review ouraccomplishments from the previous year, elect newboard members, and talk about the good work that westill have ahead of us. Be on the lookout for moredetails, and I hope to see you there.

Cheers,

David Price

Did you know that Nashville has two National Trust forHistoric Preservation “Partner Places”? They are

Belle Meade Plantation and The Hermitage.National Trust members enjoy discounted admission!

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Save the date!

The HNI Annual Meeting will be heldJanuary 21, 2010. An invitation with eventdetails will be mailed to members. ContactHNI membership coordinator Scarlett Milesfor more information.

Historic Ink: Summer 2009 3

In 1847, President James K. Polk purchased the 1820 Grundy Place in downtownNashville where he lived until his death in 1849 at age 53; his widow Sarah lived

here until her death in 1891, both were buried in a tomb (right) designed in 1850 byWilliam Strickland. Andrew Carnegie visited in 1889. In 1893, the tomb was

relocated to the grounds of the Tennessee State Capitol. Local leaders tried to save“Polk Place,” but it was razed in 1901 by an out-of-town developer. Today, the site

is occupied by a Best Western Hotel, apartments, and the former YWCA.

FROM THE EDITOR

This month, some 2,000 preservation leaders from around the nation willdescend on Nashville for the 2009 National Preservation Conference, the“Olympics” of the historic preservation world. Over the years, I’ve beenfortunate to attend seven NPCs from Pittsburgh to Portland. At each, Ibrought back new information as I learned about the successes and failuresof each host city. Here in Nashville, we have our share of stories to tell,many of which involve Historic Nashville, Inc. One of those success storiesis told in this issue by one of its key leaders, Bob Tuke. You’ll also have thetreat of reading a story by one of HNI’s former leaders, Christine Kreyling,as she prepares her own historic home for a NPC tour.

Here at HNI, we’re hoping that the 2009 NPC serves as an introduction tonot only the city, but to its many preservation stories, both good and bad. Toour visitors, welcome to Music City! To our members, get ready becauseit’s Nashville’s time to shine!

Robbie D. JonesEditor, Historic Inknewsletter@historicnashvilleinc.org

Send correspondence and submissions for publication to the Historic Ink editor.Deadline for submission of material for the Spring 2010 issue is February 4, 2010.Contact the editor about format preference.

Historic Ink was published from 1977 to 2003 and re-launched in 2009.

All content is copyrighted © 2009 by the Historic Nashville, Inc. and is protectedby federal copyright law.

Printed by Allegra Print & Imaging, Nashville, Tennessee.

HNI OFFICERSPRESIDENTDavid Price

PAST PRESIDENTRobert “Bob” Tuke

VICE PRESIDENTAlan Hayes

SECRETARYPatrick Gilbert

TREASURERDon Shriver

BOARD MEMBERSBeth CourtneyKeith DurbinTony GiarratanaJason HollemanMike JamesonRobbie D. JonesStephen McRedmondScarlett C. MilesMike MurphyJoshua SmithVivian Wilhoite

NEWSLETTER EDITORRobbie D. Jonesnewsletter@historicnashvilleinc.org

MEMBERSHIP COORDINATORScarlett C. Milesmembership@historicnashvilleinc.org

PRESERVATION EASEMENTSBob Tuke, Committee Chaireasements@historicnashvilleinc.org

WEBSITE MANAGERDavid Price

Historic Nashville, Inc.PO Box 190516

Nashville, TN 37219

http://www.historicnashvilleinc.org

Email: info@historicnashvilleinc.org

Historic Ink: Summer 2009 4

THE NASHVILLE NINE2009 Nashville’s 9 most threatened properties

“Silverdene”Lawrence Finn House931 Main Street (East)

Jackson House3500 Brick Church Pike

(Bordeaux)

US Post Office – Arcade(downtown)

Mt. Olivet Cemetery Chapel1101 Lebanon Pike (Southeast)

Charlotte Ave Church of Christ4508 Charlotte Ave

(Richland Park)

Historic Neighborhood Schools– Countywide

Ransom School shown(West End)

Historic Neon Signs –Countywide –

Weiss Liquors on Main Stshown (East)

Home for Aged Masons &Masonic School

R.S. Gass Boulevard(Inglewood)

McCambell House305 Kent Road (Donelson)

Historic Ink: Summer 2009 5

New “Behind-the-Scenes” Tours!The recently launched “Behind-the-Scenes” Tour oflocal landmarks is an exciting new program offeredby HNI. Nearly fifty people participated in the firsttwo tours, which are free for HNI members. We lookforward to seeing you at future tours. Is there a locallandmark that you would like to tour? Let us know!We’ll do our best to schedule tours of the mostpopular nominated landmarks.

Participants of the inaugural tour of the historicAmerican Trust Building, held on August 30, 2009.

Bob Tuke and Jean Nelson had fun inspecting theoriginal vault in the American Trust basement.

The historic Fall School was converted into theChurch of Scientology in 2009.

Participants enjoyed a tour of the Church ofScientology on September 27, 2009.

The original atrium at the Fall School.

Historic Ink: Summer 2009 6

The Hodge House Renovation received a2009 Preservation Award from the MHC.

“Behind-the-Scenes” Tour of theHodge House at Warner Park

HNI members only – Free!

Saturday, December 12, 200910:00a.m.

Discover the recently renovated Hodge House and learnabout the innovative restoration process for this city-owned historic site. What better way to celebrate theseason than by a visit to our city’s beautiful Warner Park?Tour leaders include Heather Gallagher and Robbie D.Jones. Coffee and Krispy Kreme donuts will be provided.

RSVP for both tours today!Contact Scarlett C. Miles

membership@historicnashvilleinc.org

Rear elevation of the Hodge House, the log wall beneaththe porch was left exposed – one of several innovative

interpretive features.

Grand Lodge of Tennessee -Free and Accepted Masons

100 7th Avenue North

Designed by Nashville architectural firm Asmus & Clark(Christian A. Asmus and Richard R. Clark), the recentlyrenovated Grand Lodge of Tennessee was originally builtin 1923-1925 as a Scottish Rite Temple. Due to thefinancial strain of the Great Depression and a decreasingmembership, the Scottish Bodies sold the building to theGrand Lodge Masons in May 1937. The name waschanged to The Grand Lodge Building.

Designed in the Neoclassical style with elements of theGreek Ionic order, the monumental four-story concretebuilding features Ionic pilasters and engaged columnsacross the visible facades and bronze light standards at theentrance. The scope of this restoration project involvedupdating the building to meet modern-day needs forcomfort, safety, and accessibility. The renovation alsoaddressed the lobby, gathering areas, and auditorium. Therestoration project received a 2009 Preservation Awardfrom the Metropolitan Historical Commission.

“Behind-the-Scenes” Tour of theGrand Lodge of Tennessee

HNI members only – Free!

Sunday, February 28, 2010 - 2:00 p.m.

HNI will lead a special behind-the-scenes tour of theGrand Lodge of Tennessee, which was recently renovatedby Tuck-Hinton Architects of Nashville. HNI memberswill enjoy a tour of the interior of this impressivedowntown landmark, including the spectacular 1, 400 seatauditorium. Tuck-Hinton architect Curtis Lesh and LodgeBuilding Committee Chair Ken Moore will lead the tour.

Grand Lodge of Tennessee, built 1923-1925.

Historic Ink: Summer 2009 7

he 2009 National Preservation Conference isshining a spotlight on Nashville to the entirehistoric preservation community, not just here in

Music City but throughout the nation. We thought wewould share some milestones of the historic preservationmovement in Nashville. Enjoy!

1855 State of Tennessee purchased Andrew Jackson’sHermitage in order to preserve the national icon

1889 Ladies’ Hermitage Association organized in Nashville;acquires and opens The Hermitage as museum

1901 James K. Polk’s downtown mansion destroyed despiteefforts to preserve it

1919 Tennessee Historical Commission (THC) established,headquartered in Nashville

1930s New Deal funds used to restore Civil War era FortNegley and improve city parks and The Hermitage, butalso to destroy landmarks such as county courthouseand urban townhouses near State Capitol

1940s City builds Lafayette Avenue through Black Bottomneighborhood near downtown

1949 Federal funds approved for destroying historic CapitolHill neighborhood as part of Urban Renewal program;National Trust for Historic Preservation organized

1951 Association for Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities(APTA) established, headquartered in Nashville

1954 APTA opens Belle Meade Plantation as museum;Traveller’s Rest opens as museum

1955 Nashville hosts annual meeting of the National Trustfor Historic Preservation

1960 The Hermitage designated National Historic Landmark;Cheekwood opened as art museum & botanical garden

1960s Federal funds used to destroy historic neighborhoods aspart of construction of I-40 and I-65; city landmarksdestroyed for construction of new office buildings,municipal auditorium, and subdivisions

1965 George Peabody College for Teachers designated NHL

1966 U.S. Congress passes National Historic PreservationAct; City establishes municipal Metropolitan Historical

Commission (MHC), hires staff; City acquiresTwo Rivers Mansion in Donelson

1968 The Historic Sites Federation of Tennessee (HSFT)established in Nashville with mission of preservinghistoric landmarks

1972 HSFT launched national campaign to save historicRyman Auditorium; assisted by National Trust

1975 HSFT becomes Historic Nashville, Inc., hires firstexecutive director, launches Market Street Festivaland Silver Dollar 5K run, renovates Silver DollarSaloon on 2nd Avenue for headquarters

1978 City launched Historic Zoning District in Edgefield

1970s HNI launches survey of downtown properties; NHLsdesignated: Jubilee Hall at Fisk University, UnionStation, TN State Capitol; City acquires U.S. CustomsHouse and publishes Historic Sites Survey

1982 HNI launches Preservation Easement program

1983 HNI sues federal government to save Union Station

1985 HNI receives Honor Award from National Trust forHistoric Preservation for education programs

1989 City launched Local Landmark program

1980s HNI spearheaded archaeological excavations ofCaptain Ryman House; campaigns to save theHermitage Hotel and Tennessee Theater (razed);sues to prevent 20-story building on 2nd Avenue;TDOT builds I-440 through historic neighborhoods

1990s HNI campaigns to preserve historic neighborhoods;campaigns to save Shelby Street Bridge; preparesNational Register nomination for city’s residentialarchitecture; launches endangered properties list;First Presbyterian Church designated NHL

2000 HNI launches Sacred Sites Survey; National Trust forHistoric Preservation designates First HermitageRestoration a Save America’s Treasures site; TennesseePreservation Trust established in Nashville

2001 Ryman Auditorium designated NHL

2002 The Hermitage receives Stewardship Award fromNational Trust for Historic Preservation

2003 HNI disbands, Sacred Sites Survey completed

2000s Several landmarks destroyed for development orneglect such as Jacksonian Apartments on West End,Evergreen in Inglewood, and Union Station Train Shed

2006 HNI reorganized with help from National Trust

2009 Nashville hosts National Preservation Conference

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Historic Ink: Summer 2009 8

MEMBERSHIP NEWSWelcome New & Renewing Members!

Sherry Beard and Richard QuinTeresa BenedettiSarah Campbell-DruryRebecca and David ClimerMary Jo CunninghamWanda DavisCindy EvansLelia Gilchrist and Larry WoodsonCherrie H. Hall

Alyssa and Alan HayesDavid Morgan JonesChristine and Michael KreylingAndrea and Keith LawrenceShirley K. ManaleyOphelia and George PainePhil PonderHelen and Rick SandersDon Shriver

Joshua H. SmithNancy and Joan VanReeceTom VickstromMr. and Mrs. Ridley Wills IIIRobin ZeiglerMelissa Gibbs

f you are not already a HNI member, please consider joining or renewing your membership! Know someoneinterested in Nashville history? Surprise them with a gift membership! Your support is essential to thesuccess 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 ofsome of Nashville’s latest preservation projects and unique historic sites, a subscription to the Historic Inknewsletter, and the inside scoop on all of our programs. Join today!

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

Individual/Family MembershipsStudent $15 _____ Column $100_____Cornerstone $25 _____ Cornice $250 _____Hearth $50 _____ Pediment $500 _____

Corporate Members & Major Supporters$1,000 _____$2,500 _____$5,000 _____$10,000 _____

Name(s): _________________________________________________________________________________________The way the membership should read

Address:______________________________________________________________________________________City:____________________________State:______________Zip:_______________Phone:__________________

Neighborhood:_______________________________Email:______________________________________________

Remit to: Historic Nashville, Inc. P.O. Box 190516

Nashville, TN 37219

Email: membership@historinashvilleinc.org

Website: www.historicnashvilleinc.org

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

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Historic Ink: Summer 2009 9

The Fight to Save Union StationBy Bob Tuke

n 1983 Union Station stood empty, abandoned, andcondemned. Although the General ServicesAdministration of the United States (GSA) had owned

the Station since 1978, having acquired it under the PublicBuildings Cooperative Use Act for restoration and use asfederal office space, by 1983, no restoration or evenstabilization had occurred. The Public BuildingsCooperative Use Act had been passed in 1976 during theCarter Administration. Its intent was to identify threatenedbuildings of exceptional historic and/or architectural valuewhich could be restored and converted to federal use,instead of having the federal government build newmonolithic buildings. The Administrator of the GSA underPresident Jimmy Carter, Jay Solomon from Chattanooga,was a strong advocate of historic preservation and ofPublic Buildings Cooperative Use Act projects. So theempty and decaying Union Station had been acquired in1978 for $1.00 from L&N Railroad, among a dozen or soother major federal acquisitions. Congress appropriatedfunds for these projects, and Union Station's share wasapproximately $7.1 million. But nothing happened.

In 1982 Historic Nashville, Inc. began its efforts to saveUnion Station in earnest by announcing a campaign called“Unite to Save Union Station,” or USUS. That campaignultimately resulted in volunteers collecting more than20,000 signatures on petitions for presentation to the GSAand to Congress to demonstrate the commitment ofNashville citizens to the preservation of Union Station.Some members of HNI also founded the Union StationTrust Fund to help raise money for the effort to save theStation and to be available to take legal action, ifnecessary, against the GSA as part of the effort. Thepreservation campaign had the full support of then MayorRichard Fulton and much of the Metro Council. Mostimportantly, we had the enthusiastic backing of the HNImembers and of thousands of Nashville citizens.

By February 1983 it had become obvious that GSA did notintend to restore Union Station, and the magnificentbuilding had continued to decay. HNI and the UnionStation Trust Fund decided to take action. They authorizedmy partner Steve Rush and me to file suit in United StatesDistrict Court against GSA and its Administrator GeraldCarmen. Stalwart HNI member Dr. Ben Caldwell joined inthe suit as an individual plaintiff. We alleged that thedefendants had violated the Public Buildings CooperativeUse Act and the National Historic Preservation Act byfailing to protect and restore this nationally significantlandmark. We undertook extensive documentary

discovery, finding plenty of evidence of the intent of GSAto allow Union Station to deteriorate and to abandon therestoration project. We also scheduled the depositions inWashington D.C. of GSA Administrator Gerald Carmenand of Richard Haase, the United States Commissioner ofPublic Buildings. We threatened to file motions forcontempt if they failed to appear for their depositions.

The HNI delegation presented U.S. Rep. Bill Boner (right)with a petition containing over 20,000 signatures at the

U.S. Capitol; pictured are HNI chairman Joseph K.Presley, HNI executive director Debbie Dale Mason, and

HNI board member and lead attorney Bob Tuke.

Commissioner Haase asked for a meeting before hisscheduled deposition, and we obliged him. He asked uswhat we wanted, and I still clearly recall my response:“We want Union Station deeded to Metro Nashville, the$7.1 million originally allocated to the project, immediatefumigation and stabilization of the building at federalgovernment expense, support for an Urban DevelopmentAction Grant for further restoration costs, and cooperationby GSA with all these efforts going forward.”

The next day the House Committee on Public Works heldhearings that HNI had asked Nashville’s Congressman BillBoner to schedule on the failure of GSA to restore UnionStation and its earlier decision to reallocate to $7.1 millionto other uses. Then Senator Jim Sasser testified before theCommittee, and HNI Executive Director, Debbie DaleMason, and the HNI Chairman, Joseph K. (Pepe) Presley,presented the USUS petitions and written testimony to theCommittee. The Committee determined to investigate thematter and sent Representatives to visit Nashville andUnion Station.

The rest is history. By May 1983, GSA had agreed to ourterms. Union Station was deeded to Metro, the buildingwas fumigated and stabilized, federal funding was

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Historic Ink: Summer 2009 10

provided, and HNI helped conduct a national competitionfor proposals to restore Union Station to functional use.The winning proposal called for a hotel, and the successorto the restoration effort is once again a Nashville jewel, theWyndham Historic Union Station Hotel. We at HistoricNashville, Inc. are proud of the part we played to saveUnion Station. Mostly, however, we are grateful that ithappened. And what an adventure it was!

Nashville’s Union Station, built in 1900.

Belle Meade Theater Update!

The historic Belle Meade Theater, which operated from1940-1991, is the centerpiece of a new retail andresidential complex, featuring a bank, supermarket, andluxury apartments. Renovation of the Art Deco-styletheatre, an undertaking of HNI board member TonyGiarratana, includes preservation of many of the theatre’shistoric details such as the iconic marquee, the scallopedfacade and the two story lobby space that features a grandstairway leading to the mezzanine. Occupied by BookStarfrom 1991-2004, the former theater will soon be used as arestaurant. During its use as a grand movie palace, manycelebrities visited including Fess Parker, Bing Crosby,Doris Day, Charleton Heston, Dinah Shore, Pat Boone,Bob Hope, Gene Kelly, Helen Hays, and Ronald Reagan.

Glen Clark submitted this photo of an old advertisementhidden behind plaster in the building adjacent to the Fidocoffeehouse in Hillsboro Village. The building is currentlyunder renovation. The owner of Fido intends to preserve

most of the historic ads. Very cool!

HNI group on Facebook!

Join our Facebook® group atwww.facebook.com where you can keep

up with the latest news, events,announcements, and see photos

uploaded by HNI members.

Also request to be added to the email listby contacting Scarlett Miles at

membership@historicnashvilleinc.org.

Historic Ink: Summer 2009 11

The Home Tour RevisitedBy Christine Kreyling

t’s news only to those Nashvillians who prefer thearoma of hot dogs at football games to the scent of oldhouse dirt and fresh varnish that the annual conference

of the National Trust for Historic Preservation comes totown this month. Beginning October 13, thousands ofhistoric architecture lovers from across the nation descendon our fair city to explore such topics as “Challenges toCemetery Restoration” and “Demystifying ‘Affordability’in Housing Development,” to take walking, bus and evenbiking tours of local landmarks large and small.

Unfortunately, about 500 of the Trusters will also descendon my house during the “Candlelight Tour.” This state ofaffairs is the result of opening my big mouth: When I tolda local organizer that I thought East Nashville offered oneof the most educational examples of preservation success,she asked me to put my home where my mouth was—andI could only oblige.

Since then, I’ve been getting ready to open up my 1885Victorian and fluctuating between depressive and manicstates. In melancholy mode I become as paralyzed byhouse-doubt as Hamlet in mid-soliloquy. Why have Inever reupholstered the wing chair a long dead cat used asa scratching post? Is it even possible to dissolve the soapscum on the shower door without liquefying the aluminumfinish of the frame as well? I see each chip in woodworkand stain on wall in magnification—like a teen with a new-flowering zit.

1201 Holly Street, designed by Hugh C. Thompson.

Feelings of hopelessness are interspersed with phases oflunatic optimism, a.k.a., “We can make over the wholeplace in a month.” I’ve sanded butcher-block, strippedrings from tabletops, juggled a rainbow of paint chips tocolor coordinate the retinting of every room. I’ve made

mayday calls to masons while scouting pavers at JonesStone yard to replace the cracked front sidewalk. By showtime, I can safely predict that I’ll be exhausted, and spousewill be staring glumly at the checkbook.

Mantel and staircase of the Victorian Gothic-style home.

That’s because I’ve been down the home tour road before,albeit at the neighborhood and not the national level. AndI’ve learned a few ways to take at least some of the edgesoff the experience.

For starters, rationalize being on tour as a crash course inhome improvement. Repairing the dog-masticated bindingof the oriental rug and installing new leather seats on thedining room chairs have been on my “to do” list for years.

Remind myself that most home tourists are more interestedin lifestyles than design values. On previous open houses,no one ever commented on the antebellum armoire or the19th century albumen prints of Italian palazzi. They weretoo busy putting on their reading glasses to study the wallof family and pet pics—and the invitations magnetized tothe refrigerator.

Think positive. At a recent tour planning meeting, fellowtouree Carol Williams laughed: “Thank God it’s acandlelight tour. My house couldn’t take the full light ofday.”

Amen.

Ed. Note: Photos courtesy the author. Christine Kreylingis a former HNI board member and was a regularcontributor to Historic Ink in the 1980s. Her home is listedin the National Register of Historic Places as part of theEast Nashville Historic District.

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Historic Ink: Summer 2009 12

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

Please notify the Membership Coordinatorof address changes:membership@historicnashvilleinc.org

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

ABOUT HNI

Historic Nashville, Inc. was originally chartered in 1968 as“The Historic Sites Federation of Tennessee.” In 1975, thename and mission changed in response to the urgency ofthreats to historic landmarks in Nashville. The nonprofit501(c)3 organization became “Historic Nashville, Inc.”and its mission was to preserve and maintain“architecturally significant or historic buildings in urbanNashville.”

Over the years, HNI has successfully advocated for thepreservation of many downtown landmarks, including theRyman Auditorium, Union Station, Hermitage Hotel,Shelby Street Bridge, and the Second Avenue, Printer’sAlley, Lower Broadway, and East Nashville historicdistricts. In 1982, HNI established the state’s firstPreservation Easement program and currently ownseasements on 16 historic landmarks with a market value ofover $30 million. HNI hosts an annual membershipmeeting, publishes a newsletter, maintains a website, givesspecial tours of local historic landmarks, and recentlylaunched the annual “Nashville Nine” endangeredproperties list.

MISSION STATEMENT

Historic Nashville, Inc. works to preserve,revitalize, and enhance the natural, built, and

cultural heritage of Nashville andDavidson County through education,

partnerships, and advocacy.

www.historicnashvilleinc.org