05 | Settlement of Nashville, Indian Wars | Elvis at the State Capitol | August 2018 Issue

07/31/18 • 55 min

Nashville today attracts thousands of new residents every month, but over 200 years ago, people risked their very lives to move here. Host Allen Forkum (editor of The Nashville Retrospect newspaper) interviews historian Paul Clements about the first settlers to arrive in the Nashville area in the late 1700s. Led by James Robertson, the settlers not only endured a treacherous journey, but after arriving they also faced an ever-present threat of attack from Native-American groups trying to drive the settlers from their hunting grounds. (Note: This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence. Segment begins at 03:50)

This postcard image, from the mural in the west lunette of the nave of the Kentucky State Capitol, depicts representatives from the Transylvania Land Company and Cherokee Indians negotiating the Transylvania Purchase in 1775. James Robertson attended the meeting, along with Richard Henderson and Daniel Boone. Some of the land acquired would be the future home of the Cumberland Settlements and Nashville. (Image: Mike Slate)

General James Robertson (1742–1814) as depicted by Henry Benbridge (1744–1812). (Image: Tennessee State Library and Archives)

This mural, located in offices of the Tennessee State Capitol, depicts the Battle of the Bluff, which occurred on April 2, 1781. Legend holds that Charlotte Robertson, James Robertson’s wife, let dogs out of Bluff Station (later know as Fort Nashborough) to drive off attacking Creek Indians.

Also in Episode 05, hear Elvis Presley’s speech to the Tennessee Legislature at the State Capitol on March 8, 1961. School-skipping teenagers in the galleries screamed as a gavel was banged to bring the crowd to order. Elvis received a round of applause after declaring that he would never leave his adopted home of Tennessee. (Segment begins at 48:00)

Excerpt from the original caption in the March 8, 1961, Nashville Banner: “Gov. Buford Ellington introduces singer-actor Elvis Presley to the State Legislature this morning amid applause from the packed house. ... The artist, who drove up from Memphis for the appearance, was named a colonel on the governor’s staff and in reply said: ‘This recognition is the greatest honor I’ve ever received.’ ... He’ll be returning here this weekend for a RCA Victor recording session.” (Image: Tennessee State Library and Archives, photo by Don Foster)

Original caption from the March 9, 1961, Nashville Tennessean: “Ann Ellington and Elvis share a private joke at the entrance to the governor’s mansion after his tumultuous reception at the Capitol. Shorty before, Gov. Buford Ellington said, ‘You’re a great man.’ And Elvis rode off—with Ann.” (Image: Tennessee State Library and Archives, photo by Gerald Holly)

The blue vinyl disc above features the audio recording of Elvis’s appearance before the state legislature in 1961. A machine like the one pictured below was used to make the recording. Both items are archived at the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

And finally, Allen Forkum briefly reviews some of the stories in the August 2018 issue of The Nashville Retrospect, including: the rediscovery of a mystery tunnel on Capitol Hill in 1961; old swimming pools of Nashville, such as Cascade Plunge and Centennial Park (story by Tom Henderson); the city of Nashville’s purchase of slaves in 1830 (story by Bill Carey); and a road rage incident in 1884. (Segment begins at 01:30)

SHOW NOTES

A list of articles relating to this episode contained in archive issues of The Nashville Retrospect (archive issues can be ordered by clicking here or on the issue links below):

• “Our Frontier Heritage and Why It Matters” by Paul Clements, The Nashville Retrospect, October 2010

• “James Robertson” by Paul Clements, a 25-part series, The Nashville Retrospect, from September 2014 to September 2016

• “Richard Henderson” by Paul Clements, a 3-part series, The Nashville Retrospect, from December 2017 to February 2018

• “Colonel John Donelson” by Paul Clements, a 4-part series, The Nashville Retrospect, from

General James Robertson (1742–1814) as depicted by Henry Benbridge (1744–1812). (Image: Tennessee State Library and Archives)

SHOW NOTES

A list of articles relating to this episode contained in archive issues of The Nashville Retrospect (archive issues can be ordered by clicking here or on the issue links below):

• “Our Frontier Heritage and Why It Matters” by Paul Clements, The Nashville Retrospect, October 2010

• “James Robertson” by Paul Clements, a 25-part series, The Nashville Retrospect, from September 2014 to September 2016

• “Richard Henderson” by Paul Clements, a 3-part series, The Nashville Retrospect, from December 2017 to February 2018

• “Colonel John Donelson” by Paul Clements, a 4-part series, The Nashville Retrospect, from

Previous Episode

04 | Dutchman’s Curve Train Wreck | Elmer Hinton’s Humor Album | July 2018 Issue

The deadliest train wreck in U.S. history occurred at Dutchman's Curve in West Nashville. Host Allen Forkum (editor of The Nashville Retrospect newspaper) interviews historian Betsy Thorpe about the July 9, 1918, tragedy. Thorpe discusses why there was a disproportionately high number of African-Americans killed, who was ultimately blamed for the accident, and how she became interested enough to write a book, The Day the Whistles Cried. (Segment begins at 03:40)

Two Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis passenger trains collided in West Nashville on July 9, 1918, killing 101 people. Crowds can be seen gathering in the surrounding cornfields. A wreck train can be seen in the background. This photo was taken from a bridge over the track that is today part of the Richland Creek Greenway, near White Bridge Road and Harding Road. (Image: Betsy Thorpe, H.C. Hill III Collection, photo by H.C. Hill)

In this photo of the wreck, rescuers work to remove survivors from some of the telescoped cars. Spectators can be seen standing on what later became known as White Bridge Road and is today part of Richland Creek Greenway, near today's Belle Meade. A newspaper reported that 50,000 flocked to the scene of the accident. (Image: Betsy Thorpe, H.C. Hill III Collection, photo by H.C. Hill)

Also in Episode 04, hear excerpts from the album “Down to Earth, with Elmer Hinton.” Hinton was a popular columnist for The Nashville Tennessean for nearly 30 years. Known for his folksy humor and nostalgia for country life, Hinton recorded an album in 1968 that also featured music by Gary and Randy Scruggs and the Rudy Sisters, among others. (Segment begins at 28:00)

The front cover of Elmer Hinton’s 1968 album.

And finally, Allen Forkum reviews some of the stories in the July 2018 issue of The Nashville Retrospect, including: the dedication of Hadley Park, the county’s first municipal park for African-Americans (1912); the early 1800s settlement in Mexican Texas called Nashville-on-the-Brazos; the discovery of a comet by local astronomer E.E. Barnard (1884), and an army baseball tournament held in Nashville for the entertainment of soldiers stationed there during WWII (1943). (Segment begins at 01:35)

SHOW NOTES

A list of articles relating to this episode contained in archive issues of The Nashville Retrospect (archive issues can be ordered by clicking here or on the issue links below):

• “Passenger Trains Collide at Dutchman’s Curve,” Nashville Tennessean, July 10, 1918 (The Nashville Retrospect, July 2010)

• “Massive Walls of City Reservoir Crumble Without Warning,” Nashville Banner, Nov. 5, 1912 (The Nashville Retrospect, November 2009)

• “Avalanche of Flames in East Nashville,” Nashville Banner, March 22, 1916 (The Nashville Retrospect, March 2016)

• “Flu Cases Exceeded 100,000 in Tennessee,” Nashville Tennessean and Nashville American, Nov. 1, 1918 (The Nashville Retrospect, November 2014)

• “1918 Flu Epidemic ‘Horrible,’” Nashville Banner, March 26, 1976 (The Nashville Retrospect, March 2018)

• See the July 2018 issue of The Nashville Retrospect for other stories referenced on this episode, such as Hadley Park.

Next Episode

06 | Glenn School Integration | 1957 Desegregation Hearings | Brown v. Board of Education | September 2018 Issue

Violent protests by white supremacists, a school bombing, and courage in the face of racial hatred all helped define 1957, the year Nashville's public schools began desegregation. Host Allen Forkum (editor of The Nashville Retrospect newspaper) talks to Dr. Bobby Lovett about the significance of the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision and its effect on the civil rights movement in Nashville.

Lajuanda Street Harley, a Glenn School student who was one of the first black first-graders to be integrated, recalls the tumultuous times, along with her 90-year-old mother, Sorena Street. The two also discuss downtown shopping, white vs. black schools, and dealing with racism. Debie Oeser Cox, a first-grader in 1958, recalls her time at Glenn School, as well as race relations and life in North East Nashville.

Former police officer Joe Casey and former news reporter Larry Brinton remember events relating to pro-segregationist protesters and the Hattie Cotton School bombing.

Also hear audio excerpts from the January 1957 hearings before the Tennessee State Legislature on the merits of Governor Frank Clement’s “moderate” segregation plan. (All of the above is part of one segment, which begins at 03:50)

Lajuanda Street (back turned) and Jackie Griffith (right) meet white fellow students on registration day at Glenn School, on Aug. 28, 1957. It was the first day blacks were allowed to register for white schools in Nashville. (Image: Nashville Public Library, Nashville Room, photo by Bob Ray)

Original caption from the Sept. 10, 1957, Nashville Banner: “A large rock is hurled at the windshield of a car carrying two Negroes during an unruly demonstration Monday night against desegregation at Fehr School. Arrows show the rock and a soft drink bottle, cocked in the hand of a young boy and ready to be tossed at the vehicle. Five hundred adults, as well as youngsters, many not yet in their teens, tossed debris at passing cars which contained Negroes. Police finally broke up the crowd. No injuries were reported.” (Image: Nashville Public Library, Nashville Room, photo by Dale Ernsberger)

On Sept. 9, 1957, large groups of jeering whites gathered outside of Glenn School and other elementary schools to protest black first-graders being integrated into the previously all-white schools. At the far right, Harold Street escorts his daughter Lajuanda (not seen), who thought the crowd was part of a first-day-of-school parade. In front of him, Mary Griffith holds the hands of her daughter, Jacquelyn Faye, and son, Stevie; Mary Griffith had been fired from her job at Pet Milk Company for participating in integration. (Image: Nashville Public Library, Nashville Room)

Segregationist and white supremacist John Kasper, of Camden, N.J., speaks to protesters at Glenn School. The Nashville Tennessean reported he called upon his supporters "to boycott the schools, warning them of violence if desegregation continues, urging them to attend his rally last night on the steps of War Memorial auditorium.” At that rally, Kasper would urge the picketing of Hattie Cotton School, which was bombed later that same night. (Image: Nashville Public Library, Nashville Room)

Lajuanda Street (left) begins her first day of school at Glenn with an unidentified fellow student. Lajuanda Street Harley’s recollections of that day are featured in this podcast. (Image: Nashville Public Library, Nashville Room)

Original caption from the Sept. 10, 1957, Nashville Banner: “East wall of Hattie Cotton School is left in shambles from an early morning dynamite blast. The school, located at 1010 West Greenwood Ave., enrolled one Negro student Monday.” (Image: Nashville Public Library, Nashville Room, photo by Rob Ray)

And finally, Allen Forkum briefly reviews some of the contents of the September 2018 issue of The Nashville Retrospect, including: the 1978 robbery of the Country Music Hall of Fame; the 1941 fire at Woolworth downtown; 1868 articles about Market Street drunkenness and velocipedes; and a 1970 advertisement for the famous Nashville stripper Heaven Lee. (Segment begins at 01:25)

SHOW NOTES

A list of articles relating to this episode contained in archive issues of The Nashville Retrospect (archive issues can be ordered by clicking here or on the issue links below):

• “18 Negroes Play On City [Golf] Courses,” Nashville Tennessean, Feb. 14, 1956 (The Nashville Retrospect, February 2010)

• “Parents Corner Supt. Bass At Glenn School As Negro, White Pupils Talk,” ...