The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 75

Jy. Rokeby TOKEBY. on Grand Avenue between 19th and 20th IA Avenues, South, was built early in the 19th Century by Judge John Childress and was inherited by his daughter, Matilda, who married Justice John Catron of the United States Supreme Court. It was rater purchased by Oliver Bliss Hayes, and with him as its master. Rokeby became a center of great entertainments in antebellum Nashville.

At that time the house was graced by a winding stairway and scenic wallpaper similar to that found in the Hermitage. Some of the fine woodwork may still be seen in a few of the rooms, but mantels and a staircase of a much later period have replaced the originals. The distinguished two-story entrance porch has been removed. Today other residences stand nearby and streets criss-cross the grounds that were open fields and woodland pastures when Oliver Hayes lived there. Near Rokeby were three other great houses, Belmont.

Ensworth and Hillside, each occupied by a child of Oliver Bliss Hayes. One legend has it that Rokeby, which ir now used for offices, inspired the description of the house in O. Henry's Nashville short story. "A Municipal Report." Lynnlawn LYNNLAWN. on Gallatin Road near East Nashville High School, is the home of Mrs.

Edgar M. Foster. It stands today at stately and elegant as when it was built in 1845 by Thomas E. Stratton. The house, in the Italian Renaissance school of architecture, is ornamented by iron grille balconies.

Still surrounding the house are magnificent lawns and gardens. Old-fashioned brick walks bordered by old-fashioned flovers lend charm to its lilac-bordered garden. Lynnlawn, which had a tank under the roof to supply running water, is believed to have had the first bathroom in Nashville, but the whole thing was looked on as a bit unsanitary by most of Nashville a century ago. During the War Between the States. Lynnlawn was commandeered for the use of Prince Felix Salm-Salm and his young wife.

The son of a Prussian prince, Salm-Salm had the rank of Brigadier General in the Northern army. i infancy. Sunnyside SUNNYSIOE. Granny White Pike and Caldwell Lane, on property being converted into a city park, was built in 1840 by Jesse Benton. Before its settlement by the white man.

Middle Tennessee was used as a hunting ground by tribes of Chickasaw. Choctaw and Cherokee Indians. To gain their fur trade, the French traders established a post at French Lick, but because the Chick-asaws and Choctaws refused to trade at the same post with the Cherokecs. the French established an outpost on the banks of a little stream which divided the hunting grounds of the tribes. On a hill above that little stream Benton built the frame house which he called Sunnyside.

While it was under construction, the Bentons lived in a log house, the rooms of which were so comfortable that Mrs. Benton had it Incorporated in main dwelling. Plans for the structure were drawn by Jesse Benton's brother. Thomas Hart Benton, later senator from Missouri. Following a quarrel with Gen.

Andrew Jackson. Jesse Benton left Sunnyside and moved to Louisiana. After the Battle of Nashville, which ranged around the place. 42 minie balls were found in the columns and front door of Sunnyside. Wings, later additions to the house, have not been included in the water color sketch.

CO' 1 sirs center -1 patent i t- V. t. i I Cur" hr l-tsr I r. in i to 1 Hillside HILLSIDE. 12th Avenue.

South, south of Caldwell Avenue, screened by a dense tangle of trees and underbrush, is now the property of Ward-Belmont. Built by William Bigelow Lawrence for his bride, Corinne Hayes. Hillside adjoined Belmont, the estate of Co-rinne's sister, Adelicia Acklen. Both with magnificent gardens, these homes presided over by two charming sisters provided a setting for many brilliant social affairs before the War Between the States. This life came to an end with the war: the' Federal breastworks extended almost to Hillside's doors.

Fences, trees, even some of its furnishings were chopped up for fuel by the Yankees. During the Battle of Nashville. General Beaty and his staff occupied Hillside because of its view of the surrounding country. During the war Mrs. Lawrence nursed Confederate soldiers and gave what she could salvage from her house to the hospitals.

4 yj -S Ccrer P. Ceck Sunday, THE NASH VILLI TENNCSSEAN MACAZINI. UNI 22. 147 15.