The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page X11

CYANMAGYELBLK TennesseanBroadsheet Master TennesseanBroadsheet Master 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 5 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 5 TennesseanBroadsheet Master TennesseanBroadsheet Master 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 5 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 11 ditlo www.tennessean.com THE TENNESSEAN Thursday, June 24, 2004 11 A special section Cokesbury Christian Bookstore 301 8th Ave. S. Nashville, TN 37203 615-749-6123 Hours: Mon-Fri: 9-6 Sat: 10-5 No further discount apply. VBS resources, BibleWorks, dated curriculum, UM, Disciples of Christ, and PC(USA) official resources, previously discounted merchandise, and advertised specials are excluded. Discount does not apply to books or items labeled as non-discountable.

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The Church of the Assumption, 1227 Seventh Ave. was dedicated in 1859. Father Bernard Niedergeses, pastor of that church for the past 34 years, said it was built as a German church. Near the end of the 1980s, it was being enlarged and improved. In 1867, the first Methodist congregation constructed a church on Eighth Avenue North, Connelly said.

That Methodist congregation moved in 1906 to its present location, the Monroe Street United Methodist Church, 200 Monroe St. But changes began to take place to this area at the start of the 20th century, changes that would have the area falling largely to neglect and decay. One of the most important things that happened was the development of refrigeration. That led to phasing out the small butchering businesses scattered among the residents. packing houses were formed, and they infringed upon the pleasant residential atmosphere of the neighborhood that had often been advertised in local newspapers as a growing and fashionable according to article.

Then World War I began, and the German heritage became unpopular. That dealt the final blow, causing the community to disperse and move outward. Large portions of the neighborhood became rental property. The once-fashionable community suffered; although many residents stayed and raised children, much of the area was destroyed. Connelly said for those families that remained, the construction of the interstate took out many of their homes.

Mostly the neighborhood just existed until the mid- 1970s, when two churches, the Church of the Assumption and the Monroe Street United Methodist Church, along with a few early such as Berdelle and Ernest Campbell, Mary Jo Price and Tennessean columnist George Zepp, began its revitalization. There are others. Names such as Barbara Whiteman and Bill Compton were there early on, Emerick said. Nancy Hardaway and her husband, James Hardaway, moved into the area in 1980. She is still there and plans to build a new home within boundaries.

Walker raised her two children within the confines and she said, children benefited so greatly growing up here. What they got here, they have gotten anywhere else. They learned they can make a They all made a difference. They created a community. Germantown continued from page 1 rapidly, in 1871 the Fisk Jubilee Singers set out on several successful tours throughout the United States and Europe, acquiring enough money to secure the future of the university.

The money was used to buy the Fort Gilliam site and then construct Jubilee Hall, the first permanent building in America for the education of blacks. 1863, it named Jefferson Street, but it was a wide path with horses and wagons that extended from the Hadley Plantation, where Hadley Park is now, down to the said Dr. Reavis L. Mitchell chairman of history department and associate history professor. 1872, Jubilee Hall was built, and you had more commerce with people traveling up and down Jefferson Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial State Normal School which later became Tennessee State University opened in 1912 on the western edge of Jefferson Street.

With the return of veterans from World War college enrollment was increasing as businesses began springing up in the area. The Glory Years of Jefferson Street In the early 1900s the cobblestone street became the heart of the black middle class, with streetcars running along the corridor. By the 1920s and with the emergence of beauty salons, restaurants, barber shops, churches, pharmacies, nightclubs, drug stores with old fashioned soda fountains, funeral parlors and hotels all in walking distance of one another, it became a thriving center for African Americans in the north Nashville area. As the area underwent an economic boom many prominent businesses opened, including: K. Funeral Home, Beauty Shop, William North Side Ice Cream Company, William Press, Jefferson Street Pharmacy, Menefee and Bauer Tire Battery Service.

the 1920s and the small businesses began serving the student population who were here attending Fisk, Meharry and Mitchell said. became the main business and shopping district for the black community during the and Aside from family owned businesses, department stores and eateries, the area was home to many of prominent black middle class families, Mitchell said. Some of oldest black church congregations took residence on Jefferson Street, including Mount Zion Baptist Church, Pleasant Green Baptist Church and the Jefferson Street Church of Christ, which has since relocated and became Schrader Lane Church of Christ. Engine Company No. 11, a fire hall located at the 12th Avenue and Jefferson Street, was an all-black fire company that also functioned as a gathering spot and an informal community center.

Longtime north Nashville resident John C. Streator a photographer since 1948, remembers the areawas flourishing with goods and services for African Americans. been around Jefferson Street for 50 years, and still around it because I live three blocks from the 74-year- old recently recalled. remember the No. 11 fire hall, which is now on D.B.

Todd. I used to go up there as a young man, and I was kind of a fire buff and I would go up there a lot. a kid, I used to walk Jefferson Street, visiting people in their homes. Grocery Store was a big nice community store, like a real small Kroger store, and they had Musical and entertainment heyday The 1930s also brought along the emergence of the entertainment industry on Jefferson Street, and later expanded to include Chicago-style speakeasies, fancy nightclubs, supper clubs, dance halls and jazzy nightspots. From the 1940s through the early 1960s, the Jefferson Street area was one of best-known districts for blues, jazz and rhythm blues.

Members of the old Negro Baseball League, along with famous African American recording artists like Little Richard, Jimi Hendrix, Ray Charles and Fats Domino visited the area and performed in many clubs. then, Jefferson Street was like a little said blues guitarist Johnny Jones. was working with a group at the New Era Club on Charlotte in early 1962, and we would play in Clarksville. One night I came down for intermission, and this kid came up to me and wanted to know about my guitar. That was Jimi Hendrix.

I let him hold my guitar and he played during the whole intermission. Few months later, he ended up at Del Morocco nightclub, and how he got to Jefferson Street. Street was the black culture scene for gospel, blues and jazz. Jefferson Street was considered the place to be and was known as the mecca. When black people came to the city, they were coming to the hottest spot in the community.

The only time people got off Jefferson Street to be entertained was when they went to the New Era Club on Throughout the height of segregation, the Ritz Theater gave blacks a front row seat of first-release motion pictures, while the elegant and upscale hotels like Hotel and Dinner Club provided accommodations for visiting African Americans. lived at the Ritz Streator said. movies were 10 cents, and I went about once a Education also flourished, as many took pride in attending one of the top black colleges Fisk, Meharry and TSU. Interstate brings change During the 1950s and the Jefferson Street area erupted into social unrest at the height of the Civil Rights Movement with several marches and protests. By the 1960s, the once vibrant renaissance area took another mortal blow as Interstate 40, followed by urban renewal, bisected the street.

The heavily trafficked business district was replaced with empty lots, abandoned homes and eerie reminders of what was once a mecca for African Americans in the city. The Ritz Theater closed and the Del Morocco nightclub was torn down because the interstate ran through the site. Interstate construction caused many families to move away from Jefferson Street into areas such as Bordeaux. The change ultimately caused an estimated 126 Jefferson area businesses to fail. Today, a historical maker commemorating the Jefferson Street Music District is by the site of the Del Morocco, near the Interstate 40 overpass.

As integration settled throughout the South, African Americans began to shop and eat at other businesses in Nashville, which caused many businesses on Jefferson Street to lose their once-loyal clientele. biggest change was when the interstate came. It tore the whole place said 92-year -old Ella Thompson of the businesses were completely done away with, while others moved further up on Jefferson. We all had to move and go other places, and many of us moved to Enchanted Hills in Bordeaux. Street was We had a business called Buddies Cleaners near Tea Room on 18th and Jefferson.

It was a thriving corner. The whole atmosphere (of the street) has changed. When Phillips 66 brought that corner, it put Tea Room out of business, and the interstate made a big difference in the atmosphere. It was just no longer the Jefferson Street as many people knew Sources: The Tennessean Newspaper archives; Leaders of Afro-American Nashville by Dr. Reavis Mitchell a publication of the 1999 Nashville Conference on Afro-American Culture and History; Special Collections Department at the Fisk University Franklin Library.

Jefferson Street continued from page 1 Architectural details on a house in Germantown on 7th Ave. N. Through jazz festival, promotions, group aims to jump-start Jefferson Street By EVAN MAYOR For The Tennessean Jefferson Street has transformed into a thriving artery for predominantly African-American businesses in Nashville, but there is still work to be done, area merchants said. Metro officials and members of the community have been working for years to revitalize the street, which historically has been known as the main thoroughfare through black community. lot of money has been invested in this area, but not a lot of money has been invested in said Sharon Hurt, executive director of the Jefferson Street United Merchants Partnership (JUMP).

And promoting the area is exactly what JUMP is trying to do, she said. think there is such an incredible history here on Jefferson Hurt said. have so many things to offer; the city of Nashville just needs to come over here and see JUMP promotes the street through an annual jazz festival and a drive in April, where JUMP distributes fliers asking Nashvillians to come to Jefferson Street and spend $10. Since founding in 1994, area merchants said they have noticed a difference. question, we have had some major said Nathaniel Harris, owner of Woodcuts Gallery and Framing.

think JUMP has been getting the word out about the different merchants, and with a limited budget, I think they are doing a great But even with 111 member businesses and business partners, the organization is still pressed for cash, JUMP officials said. of the events we have are not for fund Hurt said. does happen is those special events provide us with a platform where people can know more about us, more Hurt said the possible relocations to Jefferson Street of an African American museum, the Nashville School of Arts and the Tennessee State Museum will bring in more business for area merchants. think the opportunity is tremendous, but we need to do she said. want to be a catalyst for tourism and commerce in this For more information, visit www.jumptojefferson.com.