Woodland Presbyterian Church, Nashville, TN. March 4, 2013.
Built in 1918, a year before the Carnegie Library, the Woodland Presbyterian church was constructed after the original First Presbyterian Church of Edgefield at 5th and Woodland Street was destroyed by fire. The congregation voted to move to the current locate at 11th and Gartland in order to be near the edge of the city — which it was, at the time!
Hattie B’s, Nashville, TN. March 7, 2013.
Nashville-style hot chicken being served at Hattie B’s. I love the expression on the woman’s face. If you haven’t given Hattie B’s a try (whether or not you’re a hot chicken fanatic), you owe yourself a visit.
Carnegie Library – East Branch, Nashville, TN. April 1, 2013.
Seen here on a recent foggy morning, the East Branch of our library system was built in 1919 as part of Andrew Carnegie’s library endeavor. These libraries were funded by rich guy philanthropist Andrew Carnegie as part of a project that eventually yielded 1689 libraries throughout the country. The other remaining Carnegie library (there were originally four) in Nashville (now the North Branch) is located in North Nashville off of Jefferson Street. Both are still in active use.
Smokestack at Rolling Mill Hill, Nashville, TN. February 22, 2013.
All that remains of the powerhouse at Rolling Mill Hill is this smokestack — the powerhouse itself having collapsed during an attempt at rehabilitation.
The Parthenon, Centennial Park, Nashville, TN. January 20, 2013.
… as seen from the scenic shores of Lake Wautaga. When I have a time machine, the first thing I’m doing is going back to the 1897 Centennial exposition, so I can see this firsthand (and also maybe denounce Edison for being a heartless, traitorous fraud).
Bruton Snuff Sign (U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company), Nashville, TN . January 31, 2013.
And I got a good job in Nashville
No way they can pay me enough
For grindin’ up tobacco leaves
Making Bruton snuff
The Bruton Snuff sign is a well-known Nashville landmark. Bruton, a brand of Snuff still produced by the US Smokeless Tobacco Company, dates to 1898 — a scotch (smoked) snuff produced by the Bruton Brothers. Although it’s frequently misquoted as “brut and snuff”, Johnny Cash’s “Southern Comfort” was written about working at Bruton Snuff. (I don’t know if Cash ever worked at Bruton Snuff himself, but it seems unlikely.)
The mill for years was also home to the “Museum of Tobacco Art”, which (surprisingly) was taking in over 15,000 visitors a year at its peak. The museum was closed to make way for office space in 1998.
Bob’s Parking is a lesser known Nashville landmark. Presumably owned and operated by Bob, it offers relatively cheap parking. It has yet to be commemorated for eternity in a country song.
Steps of the John Sevier State office building, with St Mary’s in the background. Nashville, TN. January 30, 2013.
The Recording Angel at the Schermerhorn, Nashville, TN. January 29, 2013.
CSX Cumberland Swing Bridge, Nashville, TN. January 28, 2013.
In 1864, at the height of General Hood’s assault on Nashville during the Civil War, the original railroad bridge across the Cumberland (pictured here) served as a strategic point of entry, and was burned by Confederate soldiers. Only the stone piles and piers remained, and the current camelback-truss swing superstructure replaced the old wooden bridge in 1916. The bridge’s center truss can swing 90 degrees to allow taller ships to pass. The bridge is still in functional and operation today, as seen here.
The bridge has since survived flood and catastrophe — in September 1906, the L&N No. 102, loaded with passengers, plowed full speed ahead towards the bridge, unaware that the bridge was open and impassible. The train stopped, but not before the locomotive, a tender, a mail car and a baggage car plunged into the Cumberland, killing two crewmen.
UPDATE: I am wondering if the concrete reinforcement on the foremost pier (pictured above) was added after the accident in 1906. The train was headed north, so it would have plunged off the bridge right at that pier, so I wonder if it was damaged on the way down.
A one-off shot from around the house while I was sick, but I like how it turned out.
A referee looks on as the Nashville Roller Girls scrimmage with the new rules for the year. January 16, 2013.
Capitol hill as viewed from the Bicentennial Mall, Nashville, TN. January 15, 2013.
Church Street, Nashville, TN. January 6, 2013.
One of the initial attractions to playing with older lenses is that among the unique optical characteristics, you might get a look that is “soft” but in a flattering or palatable way. Sadly, the reality you quickly recognize is that more often than not this softness more closely resembles “out of focus”. Nonetheless, I think it almost kinda works in this photo.
JJ’s Market. Nashville, TN. January 10, 2013.
A lot of very smart people hang out here regularly.
Motorcycle on 2nd Avenue. Nashville, TN. January 9, 2013.
I feel similarly towards motorcycles as I do firearms: I don’t necessarily want to own one, but I find them to be very aesthetically pleasing works of engineering.
