In the Beginning. . .the Evolution of the WNFM

The idea to establish an educational, history-oriented complex in an "authentically pioneer" Tennessee Towne was formed in 1967 by two Nashville homemakers, Gladys (Mrs. C. M.) Hamilton and Glenice (Mrs. E. L.) Anderson. They responded to an article written by Davidson County Historian Hugh Walker, published in the daily Nashville Tennessean, appealing to history-minded citizens to preserve the double-log house reputed to have been the home (c.1784 or earlier) of General James Robertson, Nashville's founder and Father of Middle Tennessee. The old home was standing vacant on James Avenue in West Nashville and, left to the ravages of vandals and time, would soon be "doomed with demolition."

Sharing Hugh Walker's conviction that the pioneer home should be preserved for future generations of Tennesseans, Gladys Hamilton and Glenice Anderson joined with Lillie (Mrs. Fowler) Hollabaugh and Carl Hasty to found the non-profit Historic Landmarks Association (H.L.A.). Acting on the founding principle of "exploring history so that it may live again for others," a campaign was launched to preserve the log house to use constructively in teaching Tennessee history.

In an effort to acquaint school children with their rich heritage, a personal-involvement-in-history approach was created by the two women and voluntarily taken into the schools of Metro Nashville-Davidson County. This new approach, called "Living History," placed emphasis on the "see and touch" concept. To create the feeling of "being there," a volunteer appeared before the children dressed in authentically-styled pioneer clothing as a "200-year-old lady who has come to tell the story of Nashville as it was in the beginning." The story of the journey to, and settling of, the Bluffs (later Fort Nashborough, then Nashville) was told in a fresh, vivid style and illustrated with an array of color slides of actual featured locales, as well as a collection of pioneer implements and tools used during the frontier era. The children were encouraged to see. . .touch. . .examine. . .and ask questions. The "Living History" program covering Tennessee's formative years during 1770-1812 was met with immediate and gratifying success in Davidson County schools. After the volunteer program spread to adjacent Williamson County schools, H. L. A. expanded its charter to a statewide organization in 1969.

A parallel effort had begun in southwestern Davidson County in 1969 to preserve the c.1850 double-log house of Squire John Hows, an early settler on the Big Harpeth River in the Bellevue community. Gloria D. Wells, president, and Ilene J. Cornwell, community improvement chairman of the Bellevue Junior Woman's Club (founded in 1967), contacted Davidson County Historian Hugh Walker and State Historian Stanley Horn for guidance in saving the structure, and a subsequent article was published in Walker's newspaper column. H.L.A.'s Gladys Hamilton contacted Ilene Cornwell to suggest merging the two preservation movements, with the proposed site for Tennessee Towne to be near Highway 70S in Bellevue. With concurrence of the Bellevue Junior Woman's Club, plans were made to incorporate the Hows house in the Tennessee Towne complex. In December of 1969, heavy rains during that month covered the proposed site under approximately eight feet of water, and a new location for Tennessee Towne had to be found. In February, 1970, Nashville contractor Henry Hudson met with members of H.L.A.'s board of directors, Gladys Hamilton and Ilene Cornwell, to discuss a location for Tennessee Towne. Hudson suggested a dollar-per-year lease on land he and Miller Kimbrough owned along Old Hickory Boulevard, across from Buzzard Hollow (the old county garbage dump), and the lease was signed in July. In gratitude for his support and generosity Hudson was named a Life Member of H.L.A.

Henry Hudson (left) and Miller Kimbrough, Jr. (right), sat beside H.L.A. President Gladys Hamilton as a 99-year lease on Hudson-Kimbrough land was signed in July 1970 for the five-acre home of the proposed Tennessee Towne. H.L.A. board members standing are (from left) Joel Moseley, Douglas Henry, Jr., Ilene J. Cornwell, Ervin M. Entrekin, and Betty Gower. (Published in the Nashville Banner, July 11, 1970; photo by staff photographer Bob Ray.)

On June 1, 1970, Cornwell founded the Bellevue-Harpeth Historical Society to record Harpeth Valley history, and her booklet on Bellevue settlement, Footsteps Along the Harpeth, was published in December, with all proceeds donated to benefit Tennessee Towne. The Bellevue Junior Woman's Club also sponsored a Harpeth Valley Antiques Show during October 17-18, 1970, with proceeds from the show donated to H.L.A. for establishment of Tennessee Towne and restoration of the c.1850 Hows house in the complex.

Further fund-raising was in the form of H.L.A.'s third annual "Typically Tennessee Christmas" celebration held in December in Nashville's historic McGavock Mansion, "Two Rivers," to benefit the proposed Tennessee Towne.

Hanging evergreen wreaths on the double doors of the McGavock Mansion, "Two Rivers," in preparation for H.L.A.'s "Typically Tennessee Christmas" in December 1970 were (left to right) Ilene J. Cornwell, Betty Williams Gower, and Gladys Hamilton. ( Photograph by Tennessean staff photographer Frank Empson. )

As progress and population continued to march into Bellevue, interest in establishing Tennessee Towne had waned by the time a second edition of Cornwell's Footsteps Along the Harpeth was published in 1976 for "Bellevue Bygone Days," celebrating Bellevue's 180th birthday and America's 200th birthday. In the following decade, metro government "caught up" with the community and, with assistance from the Bellevue Woman's Club, established a community center in the old high school building on Colice Jeanne Road. The availability of meeting rooms and a makeshift library in Bellevue sounded the death knell for the proposed Tennessee Towne in the community. The dismantled logs from the Robertson, Hows, and Talbot houses, stored on land leased from Henry Hudson on Old Hickory Boulevard, decayed and became unfit for use in construction.

After the death of H.L.A. President Gladys Hamilton in 1985, the dream of reconstructing the Robertson house remained alive for board member Sarah Foster Kelley, a seventh-generation descendant of James Robertson. She held onto the dream and in 1986 revived the effort through the newly organized West Nashville Founders' Museum, Inc.

Ralph Cohen became Sarah Kelley's "right hand" when she launched a new campaign for reconstruction of the Robertson house. Other charter members were Charlotte Anderson, Lillie (Hollabaugh) Rhame, Richard Hedgepath, Linda Reed, Dean Clark, Ilene Cornwell, Verla Hodges (1942-1998), and H. C. Brehm (1918-1995). Sale of the Old Hickory Boulevard land in Bellevue provided reconstruction funds, and land on Charlotte Avenue was furnished by Metro Parks. The reconstructed double-log house was erected on land secured by former-councilman Ralph Cohen in Metro Nashville's H. G. Hill Park--and Cohen oversaw every step of construction-- during the 1996 Tennessee Bicentenary (click link on Log_Donors ~ Honorees for listing of generous donors). Formal dedication of the James Robertson House was held on May 11, 1997.

The West Nashville Founders' Museum, Inc., is a non-profit corporation. Membership is welcome, and annual dues are $5.00 per individual, $8.00 per couple, and $10.00 per business. Mailing address for dues to WNFM, P. O. Box 90207, Nashville, TN 37209.

The WNFM also has a Log Donor Trust Fund, with 168 logs available for purchase to honor or memorialize individuals; logs are being sold in three phases at $250.00 each. Phase 1 has been completed (click link to see listing of Log_Donors ~ Honorees ). Phase 2 is underway to establish our visitors' center and research library / archives. Both purchaser and honoree will be listed in an outdoor exhibit at the museum.

If you would like more information on programs of the West Nashville Founders' Museum and would like to be added to our e-mail list for news bulletins, contact us by e-mail:

James Robertson Life & Times

RobertsonRoots & NEWS

WNFM Publications

Guest Book & Comments

Home Page

Founding Families

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Founders' Memorials

Website graphics and content copyright © 2002-2005 by West Nashville Founders' Museum, Inc., H. G. Hill Park, 6730 Charlotte Pike (mailing address: P. O. Box 90207), Nashville,Tennessee 37209. Revised: May 10,2005.