Pianoforte Lecture

Nashville Globe
1 Mar 1907

Recital at Blind School by Miss Elizabeth S. Wells – The visitors, teachers and students of the Tennessee School for the Blind were highly entertained by a pianoforte lecture-recital given by Miss Elizabeth S. Wells in the chapel of that Institution last Wednesday afternoon at five o’clock. Miss Wells, who is so successfully teaching vocal and instrumental music at the school, is student of Fisk University. She possesses the characteristics of the Fisk musicians in that she delivers her numbers with skill and precision. She carefully explained each number of her program, making it even more interesting to the students as well as the . Misses Grass and Hukill, of Fisk, were present.

The programs were written upon cards the corners of which were draped with royal gold and blue and read as follows:

Polish Dance - Op. 3, No. 1……X. Scharwonka
Octave Study….A. Kullak
Nocturne in F-sharp, Op. 15, No. 2….. F. Chopin
Sonato No. 11… J. Hayden

Dangerous Car Conductor

Nashville Globe
1 Mar 1907

A week or so ago the attention of the public was called to an impatient conductor on the West Nashville line by a Globe reporter who witnessed the proceedings. That this car line is becoming notorious was plainly apparent last Sunday afternoon when a conductor by the name of Mann shot Mr. George Marshall through the arm on on Church street near Fifteenth avenue. Fortunately his injuries were slight. The ball entered his left arm, passing through the shoulder and lodging in his back. Dr. Coles, whose office is near the scene of the affray, attended to the wounded man, who, with his brother, was subsequently arrested, the charge being disorderly conduct. Both made bond. Mann was arrested at the transfer station on a charge of carrying a pistol with intent to commit murder.

Mr. Marshall states that he and his brother had some words with the conductor, who drew his pistol and ordered them from the car. After they got off the conductor shot at them. Mann says the brothers threatened him and he shot in self-defense. The trial was set for last Monday, but owing to Mr. Marshall’s condition it was continued until Wednesday, whom Mann was bound over to the criminal court.

Davidson County Teachers

Nashville Globe
1 Mar 1907

The Davidson County teachers held quite an interesting session February 9, 1907. The subject of Hodge’s Nature studies was discussed by Prof. W.R. Davis. A solo was sung by Miss Helene Lowe, daughter of Prof. C.B. Lowe. Many visitors were present, Prof. Wright of Buena Vista School gave a valuable talk to the teachers.

Fatal Accident

Nashville Globe
1 Mar 1907

Last Monday morning Carrie Cleveland, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland of Salem and Albion streets, was playing near a stove when the dress of the little child caught fire and before the flumes could be extinguished she was so badly burned that there were no hopes of saving her lift.  The little sufferer lingered until just after last nightfall when death put an end to her aflictions.  The funeral services were solemnized Tuesday and a large number of friends were present.

Negroes Purchase Land in New Fisk University Place

From the Nashville Globe
1 Mar 1907

Over Forty-Two Thousand Dollars Worth of Real Estate Changes Hands - Record-Breaking of Beautiful Home Sites - Company Looking For Other Tracts — One of the greatest real estate sales recorded in the history of Nashville took place last Friday between 12 and 1 o’clock and what is known as the Fisk University Place, a new and beautiful tract of land opened by thrown upon the market by the Abraham Lincoln Land Company, whose office is 71 Arcade, upstairs.  It was the intention of the movers of the new suburb addition to Nashville, to open a strictly first-class colored sub-division.  Not however, with any intent at discrimination, or jim crowism, but for the purchase of giving every Negro in Nashville an opportunity to become a property owner at prices within reach and on such terms as would not embarras their financial condition regardless of how small their salary is.  The $1.00 cash payment enable the most humble of the race to secure a home.  Every one should have a place called home.  Grant efforts had been put forth advertising this sale through different papers and ere the dial on the clock pointed to 12, fully 3,000 people had gathered on the grounds, which lie west of Fisk University, occupying one of the most beautiful sites about Nashville.

This sale was not to begin until one o’clock, but the crown had grown so large and impatient until the management decided that it would be best to open the sale one hour earlier.  It was almost like opening public lands in the far West.  Each group of people could be seen here and there selecting their future homes.  Truly, the Negroes have decided to get some of this world’s goods, and judging from the hundreds of youn, able-bodied, well-thinking members of the race who invested on Washington’s birthday, it will not be long before the tax list in Nashville will show that every male member of the race who has attained his majority will appear thereon.  It is learned that fully $42,000 worth of real estate changed from the Abraham Lincoln Land Company to individual owners on this day.  Not more than two lots were sold to any one person.  The lots rage in prices from $175 to $300.  Thus, it can be seen that a large number of lots was disposed of.  It is already learned that some of the purchasers will begin the erection of their homes in the near future and will stop rent as soon as possible.  The demand has been so great that this same Company has decided to purchase additional lands in the same vicinity, as ther is another desireable tract of land just adjoining Fisk University Place, which would increase the size.  Rumors are wild already that the Nashville Street Hallway Company will extend Jefferson street car line, allowing it to pass Fisk University Place, making a loop and coming back into Jefferson street.  If this is done, it will bring the place within ten minute’s ride of the Square.  This seems to be the only rival of West Nashville ever opened, and with the wide alloys to the property and excellent streets that will be out, there will be nothing left to make this now sub-division all that is expected of it.

Only about seventy or one hundred lots remain unsold, it is learned that applications for there are homes made almost daily.  The Company has already opened offices on the grounds and will answer in person, inquiries made at the place or by phone or otherwise inquiries made in the Arcade office down town.

“I Wonder” by Cecil Gant

Back in January, I posted about an R&B artist that lived in Nashville named Cecil Gant. After being contacted by someone who was researching him, I did some searching and provided some information about him to the person that inquired. During the course of my research, I learned that Cecil had a number one hit titled “I Wonder”. Today, someone anonymously provided a URL to the mp3 file of the song on the Internet Archive. I have just listened to it about 5 times - it’s a beautiful song! If you’re in the mood for some old school blues, check it out. Thanks to whomever provided the link!

I added an entry for him on FindAGrave.

Famous Firsts

InfoPlease has a list of Famous Firsts by African-Americans. No one from Tennessee on the list but it is short list. There are so many firsts here! Tennessee’s own Wilma Rudolph for one - but not only was she the first black woman to win three medals during track & field at a singe Olympics, but she as the first woman from the United States to do so. Go Wilma!

In case you didn’t know, Wilma’s mother sought care for Wilma’s childhood polio here at Meharry Medical College.

Trip to Greenwood Cemetery

This past weekend I took a trip to Greenwood Cemetery - a black cemetery here in town. I went looking for the grave sites of the Napier family whom I’ve been researching. I knew there to be at least 12 members of the family there so I wanted to go take pictures of their graves as only three of them were previously on FindAGrave. In tow with me were both Kalonji & Kaleya. Kaleya pretty much has no choice but I’m pleasantly surprised whenever Kalonji says he wants to go - i mean really, how many people really like to go hang out in cemeteries!

It was quite an experience. By walking around looking for the Napiers, it was like a who’s who in black Nashville history. The first noticeable grave when you drive into the cemetery is that of Rev. Preston Taylor, the founder of the cemetery who had a big funeral business and was accomplished in many other things as well. I saw the headstone of others I’ve come across in my study of Nashville as well - Bishop Evans Tyree and his wife, Dr. Charles Spurgeon, Dr. Arthur Townsend, Arna Bontemps, both of the Boyds and their families. I also found others that I’ve not yet gotten very familiar with, but make good candidates for the future.

I did not take a lot of pictures, but most of the ones I did take I have added to Find A Grave - here is a link to the listing there. Adding to FindAGrave is wonderful way to contribute to the genealogy online community. I highly encourage others to do it. I am planning to go back out there in a few more weeks to take more pictures.

But, back to the reason I went there - the Napiers. I found everyone I was expecting to find. James Carroll Napier (who I call JC), his wife, Nettie and their adoptive daughter/biological niece Carye were there and already in FindAGrave. This week, I’ve added the most of the rest of their family buried in the family plot-I am realizing now I missed at least one person. The links will take to each person’s FindAGrave page.

• Elias Watkins Napier - JC’s brother. The picture I took was not that clear, so I may have to re-take it.
• Dr. James Alonzo Napier - JC’s nephew, son of his brother Elias
• William Carrol Napier - JC’s father
• Jane Elizabeth Watkins Napier - JC’s mother
• Henry Alonzo Napier - JC’s brother
• Arthur D. Langston - JC’s brother-in-law, husband of his sister Ida. He was the son of John Mercer Langston.
• Ida M. Napier Langston - JC’s sister
• John Mercer Langston - JC’s nephew, son of his sister Ida. Grandson of John Mercer Langston
• Lt. Carroll Napier Langston Jr. - JC’s great-nephew, grandson of his sister Ida. Lt. Napier I’ve blogged about before - he was killed over in Italy and I know he was initially buried over in Italy. I wonder if his actual remains are here.
• Minnie Vivian Cashin Langston -wife of JC’s nephew and mother to Lt. Langston above.
• Carroll Napier Langston Jr. - JC’s nephew, son of his sister Ida

Wordless Wednesday - May 28, 2008 Folow-up

The picture that I included in my first Wordless Wednesday post for this blog is that of Dr. Robert Fulton Boyd (1855-1912). The photo comes from the December 9, 1899 issue of the black newspaper, The Colored American.

Along with the picture is a short article informing readers that Nashville has two Dr. Boyds. “…R.F. Boyd, a doctor of medicine, who is a professor of gynecology or something like that, in Meharry Medical College. This Dr. Boyd has a singular hobby - buying property, farms and things and building great big office buildings right in among the white folks. This fellow has just finished a building, a pressed brick structure, with something like 50 rooms in it and sandwiched it right in between a Cathedral and the leading hotel in the city. Then he had the irrepressible nerve to hire a Negro stone-mason to chisel his black name “Boyd” on a big piece of marble and to put it way up high, between the fifth and sixth stories, so everybody could see it. Now, what do you think of this chap?”

That’s great! I am pretty sure I’ve seen a picture of this building, but will have to dig it back out. Maybe not. I wonder if the black stone-mason was McKissack (whom I have blogged about before.)? I have previously added a picture of Dr. R.F. Boyd’s headstone to FindAGrave and I have just added this picture. Should be of interest to anyone who has him in their family tree.

The other Dr. Boyd mentioned in the article is Richard Henry Boyd (1843-1922). From the article “…this Boyd runs a publishing house and employs seven five Negroes and pays his proof readers and big dogs in his house $20 and $25 a week. This Boyd has a hobby - buying fine printing material. The other day he put in a big Babcock press worth $4000. He now has four big presses running constantly, and the only complete bindery for the product of big books owned by Negroes. The publishing business is conducted in two magnificent buildings, and the property, which the Board owns, and the plant, is valued at $80,000.”

Interestingly enough, this weekend as I was adding burial listings to the Greenwood Cemetery, I added the grave of Sadie B. Wilson who “served under three generation of Boyds at the National Baptist Publishing Board.” Richard Henry Boyd is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, but I have not yet found him. I will be going back to do more pictures this weekend, so maybe I’ll find him soon.

Wordless Wednesday - May 28, 2008