Historic Nashville, Inc. Edgefield-East Nashville oral history project, 1977, 1982.
(Document/manuscript/pamphlet/archival material)

Digital files and CD's are identified by the project abbreviation: "HNIEEN" which serves as a prefix. Arranged thereunder alphabetically by the last name of the interviewee.

Erroneous digital filename identifiers:,Angie (Cantrell) Merritt Donelson erroneously appears as HNIEENOverton; Louise Morrison uses erroneous prefix of HNIOH and incorrect first initial; Anne White Murphy uses erroneous prefix of HNIOH.

Materials housed in Special Collections Division of the Main Library, Nashville Public Library.

Conversion of analog interviews with Donelson, Farris, Morrison, Murphy, and Saunders to digital format made possible by funding from the Nashville Public Library Foundation in 2006.

In library use only. Available by appointment.

Scope and content: Seven audio-recorded interviews with lifelong Nashville residents, most of whom were born in the early twentieth century. Focus is upon East Nashville, formerly known as Edgefield, but also includes downtown Nashville and other nearby locales.

Angie (Cantrell) Merritt Donelson (later Ezell) tells about her family history, and the business operations of her first husband, Gilbert Merritt, who owned Southern Woodenware, located in downtown Nashville. She also discusses the Cantrell family home at Stone Hall, on Stones River near the Hermitage and Donelson areas of Davidson County. She briefly mentions Russell Street in East Nashville. A typed transcript of the interview is available. Note: Digital identifier for this interview uses erroneous surname and appears as: HNIEENOverton.

Willis Farris owned Farris Hardwood Lumber Company. He describes the East Nashville fire of 1916, believed to have started in a lumberyard; describes various lumbering operations on the Cumberland River and in Nashville; mentions the Hamilton Lumber Company; and the Edgefield and Nashville Woodworking Company. Farris talks about Tom Ryman's steamboat line, and Farris's father, who worked on one of Ryman's steamboats, the James White. Other subjects include: Market Street (now Second Avenue); and Cummins Station. A typed transcript of the interview is available.

Lera Bush Moore, in a short interview (approx. 8 min. long), tells about the East Nashville Fire of 1916; Tulip Street Methodist Church; St. Ann's Episcopal Church; and several businesses, including Underwood Bros. Co., National Casket Co., and Shelton & Moore - a business which she started in 1936. Interview index available, housed with transcripts.

Louise Morrison focuses on her childhood in East Nashville, including schools, friends and childhood activities, businesses and homes in the area, particularly Russell Street, transportation, and the East Nashville Fire of 1916. She also speaks briefly about the Nashville Chair Company and the National Casket Company. Interview index available, housed with transcripts. Note: Digital identifier for this interview uses erroneous prefix of HNIOH and incorrect first initial.

Anne White Murphy recalls her childhood growing up on Russell Street in East Nashville during the early 20th century. She tells about her family, Warner School, houses in the area, Boscobel College, Edgefield Baptist Church, recreation including tennis, stores in the area, and streetcars. Interview index available, housed with transcripts. Note: Digital identifier for this interview uses erroneous prefix of HNIOH.

Hershel G. Payne talks about his memories of Edgefield in the 1930s and 1940s, when he was growing up there. He provides a verbal tour of the neighborhood, describing homes and residences in East Nashville, including construction types and materials, and architectural styles. His focus is upon Russell Street; Fatherland Street; and Woodland Street, and often exact addresses or cross-streets are provided. In the course of his narrative, Payne recalls some residents by name, describes what used to be there and what was located there in 1982. Other East Nashville subjects mentioned by Payne include: Shelby Apartments; Jesse James, the outlaw; Richard Fulton and father, Lyle, and their family; peach pickles; East Park; Warner School; schooling and education in general, including memories of teachers. Payne recalls personal memories about his childhood, family members, and growing up in East Nashville, as well as homes he has lived in, and his fondness for music. Other subjects include: S.I. Cason's grocery and bakery; the Petulius (?) family; and Tommy Jackson, a country musician who plays the fiddle. A typed transcript of the interview is available.

Sara Bradford Saunders speaks about living on Woodland Street, attending Sunday School at Russell Street Church of Christ, moving to "the country" in Madison, Tenn., and the building of Evergreen Place. She also talks about her education at Jere Baxter school, Warner school, and Hume-Fogg High School, as well as providing details about the man, Jere Baxter. She discusses dating and courtship, hope chests, and her marriage to Joe Saunders, who may be present during the interview. Other topics include: early automobiles, the Gallatin Interurban railway, more about Jere Baxter (both the school and the man), early married life, her children, the role of religion in her life, including both Church of Christ and Baptist experiences, writing books about buildings, homes, and historical subjects, working for the Baptist Sunday School Board, Gallatin Road and the Glen Echo home; and interviewer Hershel Payne's own brief recollections of attending Warner School. Two different interview indexes are available, housed with transcripts.

Cite as: [individual interview], Historic Nashville, Inc. Edgefield-East Nashville Oral History Project; Special Collections Division, Nashville Public Library

Copyright status is undetermined.

Source of acquisition unknown;,Acc. RT-100.

Other materials created by Historic Nashville, Inc. are also in the holdings of the Special Collections Division of the Nashville Public Library.

In 1968 the Historic Sites Federation of Tennessee was formed. The name was changed to Historic Nashville, Inc. in 1974. Historic Nashville, Inc. (HNI) was organized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a stated purpose to document and preserve the cultural, historical, and architectural heritage of Nashville. This group was instrumental in saving Union Station, the Ryman Auditorium, and many other historic buildings. In 1970s and 1980s, they undertook a number of oral history projects, many of which were donated to the Special Collections Division of the Nashville Public Library.

The purpose and origin of the Edgefield-East Nashville Oral History Project is not known (as of June 2016). However, numerous events occurring around the time of the recordings probably bear some influence. In 1976, the Metropolitan Historical Commission and Historic Edgefield, Inc., the newly established neighborhood organization, planned Edgefield's first historic home tour. In 1977 the neighborhood was listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the first residential district in Nashville to be so honored. In 1978, residents successfully lobbied the Metropolitan Council to designate the neighborhood as Nashville's first historic zoning district.

In English

Unknown provenance as of 2016. It is believed that the recordings were donated to the Nashville Public Library by Historic Nashville, Inc. shortly after they were created in 1977 and 1982.

original analog audiocassette recordings of Donelson, Farris, Morrison, Murphy, Saunders interviews,reformat,2006;,Safe Sound Archive;,Jim Havron via outside vendor;,converted to .mp3 digital files.

original analog audiocassette recordings of Moore and Payne interviews,reformat,2016;,Nashville Public Library;,Linda Barnickel;,converted to .wav and .mp3 digital files.

No further accruals are expected.