Belmont-Hillsboro

The Belmont-Hillsboro neighborhood developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries on parts of two significant estates, those of Colonel and Mrs. Joseph Acklen and Colonel A. B. Montgomery. This development was inspired by the advent of streetcars and later the automobile, forces which saw the formerly compact city of Nashville begin to expand.

Changes in taste resulted in recognizable changes in architectural style as the neighborhood developed. The wealth and pretensions of the builders, however, did not change and the scale of the buildings, comfortable, middle-sized homes of the middle class were the result. The neighborhood was, and continues today to be the home of a large middle-class population reflecting the average American lifestyle from 1890 to 1930.

Following World War II, this neighborhood suffered decline common to many older neighborhoods as the suburbs continued to spread outward. Declining property values, slumlords, and the lack of building maintenance presented the neighborhood with serious problems. However, this trend has been reversed and the presence of a strong neighborhood association has been a significant force in developing a stable atmosphere in the neighborhood.

For further information, contact:

Belmont Hillsboro Neighbors Inc.
PO Box 120712
Nashville, TN 37212

East End

Begun as an addition or outgrowth of the fashionable Edgefield community, the East End neighborhood attracted a population of middle class workers. It was known as East End because it was located on the eastern edge of the city limits. The numerous frame structures reflect the working class character of the East End neighborhood, contrasting with the brick homes of Nashville’s wealthier citizens in Edgefield.

By the turn of the century, East End’s population was in the hundreds. Families bought or built homes which showcased the Victorian love of craftsmanship, intricate design, and numerous decorative elements. During the early 20th century, the East End neighborhood evolved into a stable, picturesque, and conveniently located inner city neighborhood. East End is typical of inner city neighborhoods, a well-preserved neighborhood with a high degree of visual integrity. Maintenance is generally good and the neighborhood has a relatively high number of owner-occupants. Active neighborhood organizations have been instrumental in reversing the declining trend of the last thirty years and continue to work towards future improvements.

For further information, contact:

East End Neighborhood Association
1110 Russell Street
Nashville, TN 37206

Edgefield

One of Nashville’s oldest suburbs, Edgefield today includes the only sizeable concentration of Victorian residential architecture remaining in Davidson County. Edgefield was incorporated as an independent municipality in 1868 and remained so until it was absorbed into Nashville in 1880. It continued, even then, to retain a sense of individuality and always contained a mixture of great two and three story town houses and smaller one story cottages.

The greatest fire in Nashville’s history broke out on March 22, 1916. Starting almost at the river and raging eastward, this fire destroyed over 600 structures. A tornado in the 1930s and urban renewal in the 1960s brought with them further damage and demolition.

During the early 1970s economic conditions, a growing love for the architecture of earlier eras, and a rising interest in urban living, prompted a return to the inner city by middle income people. The Edgefield neighborhood was the first inner city neighborhood in Nashville to begin revitalization as a result of this national trend. Handsome schools and churches, mixed in with fine restored Victorian-era houses are now again a thriving inner city neighborhood.

For additional information, contact:

Historic Edgefield, Inc.
PO Box 60586
Nashville, TN 37206

Fisk-Meharry

The Fisk-Meharry neighborhood is located about 1-1/2 miles northwest of downtown Nashville and is located on the relatively flat crown of a hill overlooking the central business district. It is a small area comprised of structures of varying architectural styles. In the center of this neighborhood is Fisk University and its handsome collection of historic academic buildings. Fisk was established in January of 1866 and is surrounded by a number of Victorian-era residential buildings, many of which now house university functions.

In addition, there are many other houses around the area of the university that are generally supportive of the historic character of the district. This area contains popular residential styles of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s.

Germantown

Established in the 1850s by largely German European immigrants, Germantown became the first suburb in North Nashville. The land was originally platted as a subdivision in 1848 and was incorporated as the Ninth Ward of the city of Nashville in 1865. The common ties of recent immigration to the new world and a desire to re-establish their old world style of life brought together people of varying economic levels and ethnic backgrounds – explaining the diverse styles and sizes of buildings in this neighborhood.

Germantown has had its ups and downs. During the 1870s it was a thriving area of skilled craftsmen, tradesmen, and business people who both lived and worked in the community. Backyard slaughterhouses began to give way to larger packing houses. As these grew and public attitudes toward German culture changed as a result of World War I, the neighborhood began to change. Original owners moved away and much of the area became rental property. Once carefully maintained homes were often divided into apartments or converted into boarding houses.

After World War II an arbitrary “industrial” zoning classification, the pressures of urban renewal, and the forced relocation of residents in the substandard housing on Capitol Hill, together with its “red-light” district, further weakened the neighborhood. With industrial zoning and the lack of incentives for property owners to keep up their residential rental properties came the beginning of the demolition of many historic houses.

In today’s Germantown, the large residences next to modest workers’ cottages well express the original and natural diversity of the residential makeup of the area. As extension of the Nashville town plan grid and because of its hilly knoll location, the neighborhood has one of the most sweeping views of downtown and the State Capitol building. Just minutes from the Capitol, Germantown is developing into a diverse neighborhood of professionals and tradesmen, artisans and homemakers, shopkeepers and restaurateurs, making Germantown Nashville’s most in-town neighborhood.

For additional information, contact:

Historic Germantown, Inc.
PO Box 280601
Nashville, TN 37228

Hillsboro-West End

Largely platted and subdivided after 1900 as the city expanded to the west and south, this neighborhood is important for is notable collection of early 20th century architectural styles. A large area, it contains many examples of bungalow, foursquare, colonial revival, Tudor revival and other styles. A new style of real estate promotion came with the age of the electric streetcar and various real estate “syndicates”, often financed by those involved in the streetcar companies, aggressively marketed the various subdivisions found in this district.

By 1910 churches, apartment buildings, and later schools were also being constructed in the neighborhood. Hillsboro Village developed as the commercial center of the district, still serving that function today. Hillsboro-West End has evolved into a stable middle and upper middle class neighborhood, diverse in character.

In recent years, the neighborhood has been faced with several adverse issues – first, the expansion of Vanderbilt University through a redevelopment plan, and most recently by the construction of I-440 along the southern boundary of the neighborhood. In recent years hundreds of new owners have sought out the Hillsboro-West End neighborhood in their search for a livable, human-scaled community.

For additional information, contact:

Hillsboro-West End Neighborhood Association
2801BlairBlvd.
Nashville, TN 37212

Lockeland Springs

Lockeland Springs is one of the three historic neighborhoods in the urban area of East Nashville. Located just beyond Edgefield and East End from downtown, Lockeland Springs is roughly bounded by 14th Street and Eastland Avenue between Gallatin Road and Shelby Avenue, and bordered by Shelby Park.

A large area of many diverse architectural styles and sizes, the neighborhood has experienced a tremendous amount of renovation since the late 1970s, and this same spirit is still active today. Even more so as an after-effect of the 1998 tornado damage. With homes dating from the 1890s to the 1930s, this area offers much to choose from for first-time do-it-yourself renovators, professional renovators, and old house lovers seeking historic homes already renovated. Queen Annes, Tudors, Craftsmans and bungalows beckon artists, professionals, and other middle-income buyers wanting a positive sense of neighborhood and easy downtown access. In addition, there are some great neighborhood restaurants..

For further information, contact:

Lockeland Springs Neighborhood Association
P. O. Box 60719
Nashville. TN 37206

Old Hickory

The Old Hickory neighborhood and district is located in Hadley’s Bend in northeast Davidson County. The community came about to fill the need for worker housing for the nearby DuPont Powder Plan (since replaced by the rayon plant). Many of the “permanent village” and “temporary village” structures were built in 1918, The “temporary village” structures were demolished in the 1920s and 1930s.

The permanent houses, of frame construction, exhibit great variety in design and detailing. Ten types of houses were designed for the village, varying in size and quality with respect to the intended occupant, from worker, to foremen, supervisors, and management staff. As the population of Old Hickory grew, it became clear that this was to be a permanent community, and soon churches and public buildings were erected.

As the community grew, other areas adjacent to the plant and village developed. Rayon City evolved to the north of the plant, while Dupontonia (now Lakewood) grew to the south of Old Hickory. Overall, in many respects, the appearance of this district has not materially changed in 60 years, today representing an important architectural and historical resource and is the only planned company town in Middle Tennessee.

For further information, contact:

Old Hickory Neighborhood Association
PO Box 13
Old Hickory, TN 37138

Richland-West End

The Richland-West End neighborhood had its beginnings in 1905, when a group of investors purchased the old Craighead estate to build a cemetery. Wisely, they decided that the land would be better suited for residential development. Streets were laid out, lots subdivided, and construction began. By 1930, the community had grown into a fashionable residential area.

The people originally drawn to the area were largely professionals who desired to escape the “noise, smoke, crime, and moral decay” of the city. Here they built spacious homes. As a result of its short, but intense development period, the Richland-West End neighborhood is unique among Nashville’s many historic neighborhoods. Nowhere else are the styles of the early 20th century so completely represented, unmixed with styles of other periods. Bungalows and four-square homes are the most prevalent architectural styles in the neighborhood. In addition, Federal, Cottage, Georgian and Tudor Revival style homes were also built.

The post-World War II housing shortage contributed to the conversion of many of the large homes into apartments and rooming houses. The neighborhood began to take on an unkempt, seedy character. However, by the mid-1970s people began to see the potential of even the most neglected homes, and since that time there has been a resurgence of interest in the neighborhood as a family residential area.

For additional information, contact:

Richland West End Neighborhood Association
3600 Richland Avenue
Nashville, TN 37205

Rutledge Hill

South Nashville was the first of Nashville’s suburbs to become an incorporated community in 1850, consolidating with the city of Nashville in 1854. The current Rutledge Hill name is derived from Henry Middleton Rutledge and his wife, Septima Sexta Middleton, who were members of the Rutledge-Middleton families of South Carolina. The Rutledge home was located on the site of the present residence at 101 Lea Avenue, with terraced gardens below the house.

Located in this area was Davidson Academy (1785-1806), which became Cumberland College (1808-1826) and later the University of Nashville (1826-1875). This formed the basis of Nashville’s first university community, a magnet for population, giving the area the name of “College Hill.” As the University of Nashville became Peabody College and, together with the Vanderbilt University Medical School moved to the Hillsboro-West End area, the residential areas of this section of South Nashville became, to some extent, deserted.

Located in the neighborhood are the old Howard School complex, renovated for use as various city offices, and Lindsley Hall, the principal building of the old University of Nashville, now the Metro Planning Commission. The old Litterer Laboratories building was built by the Tennessee Medical School of the University of Nashville and later became part of the original Vanderbilt University Medical School.

Today, Rutledge Hill is again an active, growing neighborhood. Most of its historic structures have been renovated for use either as residences or offices and numerous new residential developments have filled in the vacant lots. This mixed-use residential, office, restaurant area is a thriving part of Nashville’s historic inner city.

Sunnyside/Waverly-Belmont

Extending east from Belmont Blvd. To Ninth Avenue South and from Gale Lane north to Bradford Avenue, the Sunnyside neighborhood, also known as Waverly-Belmont, is an eclectic area of mostly 1890s to 1930s homes. Located in the middle of this socio-economically diverse neighborhood is Sevier Park, the site of Sunnyside Mansion, a structure believed to date from before the Civil War. (It was the home of Mrs. Jesse Benton, whose husband feuded with Andrew Jackson.)

The Sunnyside neighborhood offers tremendous opportunities for old house lovers seeking rambling Queen Annes and American Foursquares, spacious 1900-1915 Queen Anne cottages, smaller 1920s and 1930s Tudor cottages and bungalows, and a few early 20th century shotgun cottages and Dutch Colonial style houses. Many of the larger homes have been cut into apartments, but since the late 1980s, a rapidly increasing number of homes have been renovated and preserved. Easy access from Eighth Avenue, 12th Avenue and Belmont Blvd. Make this urban neighborhood convenient to the Melrose commercial district, downtown, Green Hills and the university area.

Sylvan Park

Quickly accessible to West End Avenue, Nashville’s most affluent commercial corridor, Sylvan Park features mostly 1910 to 1940s frame and brick bungalows ranging from 800 to 2,500 square feet. Other architectural styles scattered throughout the neighborhood include 1900-1915 Queen Anne cottages, small brick 1930s cottages with Tudor and Deco influences, and a few large, handsome Queen Anne homes.

Largely a blue-collar neighborhood until the early 1980s, Sylvan Park has become one of the popular “yuppie” neighborhoods of Nashville. McCabe Park and Community Center offers convenient recreational facilities, and the area boasts several diverse restaurants and markets. Sylvan Park is located between West End and Charlotte Avenues and is easily reached by I-440 and I-40.

Waverly Place

Waverly Place is a small locally designed and developed suburban subdivision reflecting the late 19th century national popularity of suburban developments with curving streets and gently rolling terrain. It is primarily a residential neighborhood that developed as Nashville spread out into the farm lands to the south and west of downtown with the advent of the streetcar.

Waverly Place soon became home to middle and upper class families, who built houses ranging from comfortable to large and imposing. The range of architectural styles indicates that development occurred steadily from the area’s subdivision through the 1930s. Late Victorian styles, four-squares, and bungalows line the streets. The Eighth Avenue commercial district separating this neighborhood from the Woodland in Waverly neighborhood has evolved into an active antique district.

For additional information, contact:

Waverly Place Neighborhood Association
1908 Elliott Ave.
Nashville, TN 37204

Woodland in Waverly

The Woodland in Waverly neighborhood is a well-preserved example of an early twentieth century suburban neighborhood in Nashville. The residences represent architectural styles adopted by the upper and middle classes between 1900 and 1930. Originally the site of A. W. Putnam’s farm, on which his house “Waverly” stood, he had named his farm Waverly Place for the novel by Sir Walter Scott. The farm was sold in 1858, and in the 1880s the Waverly Land Company began selling lots in the vicinity of the district.

The architectural styles range from high-style residences to vernacular cottages and bungalows. The neighborhood has historically been heterogeneous. Residents have included ministers, doctors, salesmen, and clerks. Albert H. Roberts, governor of Tennessee from 1919 to 1921 resided in the neighborhood. Despite changes which have occurred in the areas adjacent to the neighborhood, the district itself has undergone relatively little change and maintains its original neighborhood scale and character.

For additional information, contact:

www.nashvilleneighborhood.com

Woodland in Waverly Neighborhood Association
PO Box 40067
Nashville, TN 37204