On Saturday, June 29 at 10:00 a.m., Mayor Freddie O'Connell will join Metro Parks Director Monique Odom, Metro Historical Commission (MHC) Chair Linda Wynn, MHC Executive Director Tim Walker, and Council Members Tom Cash and Terry Vo to celebrate the completion of a multi-year renovation and improvement project at Sunnyside in Sevier Park. After the ceremony, Sunnyside, the offices of the Metro Historical Commission, will be open to the public for tours until 1:00 p.m. Friends of Sevier Park and the 12th South Neighborhood Association will be set up in the late 19th century carriage house and provide refreshments to attendees during the event.
“The renovation and restoration at Sunnyside has been a long time coming,” says MHC Executive Director Tim Walker. “We are thankful to Metro Parks, former Mayor John Cooper, and Mayor Freddie O’Connell for making this a priority in their Capital Spending Plans and making sure this important preservation project was done correctly. Not only was the main building updated and restored, but we now have additional park amenities for visitors to enjoy like improved parking, public restrooms, and a café space in the reconstructed carriage house. We are proud to be stewards of the rich history here at Sunnyside and will continue to investigate and learn more about the people who once called this land home.”
Built in 1852 for Mary Childress Benton, Sunnyside also contains two early 19th century log buildings that were incorporated into the back wing, or rear ell, of the structure. A dendrochronology study by Dr. Maegen Rochner (University of Louisville) showed that one of the log buildings dates to 1823-24. The log buildings are visible through view windows on the outside of the house, which also show bullet and cannon holes from the Battle of Nashville on December 16, 1864. Following the death of the last private owner Col. Granville Sevier (a descendant of Mary Benton) in 1945, the 20.5 acre site was sold to the city of Nashville as a public park. The house was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and designated as a local historic landmark district through the Metro Historic Zoning Commission in 2004.
“Since 2018, approximately $6 million has gone into the revitalization of this property making it a useful, functional, and historic footnote in the city’s rich history. I believe that through much research and hard work, we have created a beautiful and updated version of Sunnyside Mansion that is a visual reminder of what can be accomplished with a little hope, perseverance, and hard work,” said Metro Parks Director Monique Horton Odom.
Sunnyside in Sevier Park has been home to the Metro Historical Commission (MHC) and Metro Historic Zoning Commission (MHZC) since 2004. After years of deferred maintenance and with a rapidly growing staff, the office was in dire need of renovation. The Metro Parks Department’s capital spending plan funded the improvements in 2020. In addition to repairs and restorations to the main structure and rear ell, a modern glass connector now welcomes visitors from the new northern entrance. Archaeological investigations during the renovations led to a greater understanding of the site, including the lives of people enslaved here between 1820-1865. Archaeologist Dr. Adam Fracchia will present his findings during the office tours on June 29. Tim Finch of Finch Finishes will present on restoring the original woodwork, and Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) officers Belcher and Jones will explain the ballistic analysis conducted by MNPD to study the damage done to the structure during the Battle of Nashville.
Program:
- Welcome by MHC chair, Linda T. Wynn
- Metro Parks Director Monique Odom
- District 17 Council Member, Terry Vo
- District 18 Council Member, Tom Cash
- MHC Executive Director Tim Walker
- Mayor O'Connell
- Tour of house and refreshments to follow.
It is the mission of Metro Parks and Recreation to, sustainably and equitably, provide everyone in Nashville with an inviting network of parks and greenways that offer health, wellness, and quality of life through recreation, conservation, and community. The department oversees over 15,000 acres of open space, including 178 parks, 100 miles of greenway, 4 nature centers, 27 community centers, 7 historical sites, 10 dog parks, 190 sports fields, 7 golf courses, after school programs, fitness classes, cultural programs, ice hockey, a program for those with disabilities, and more!
Created in 1966, the Metropolitan Historical Commission works to document history, save and reuse buildings, and make the public more aware of the necessity and advantages of preservation in Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee.