Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-09-23
THE MJIWELL HOUSE /!
An Accomplished Fact.
Open for the Reception
of Guests.
Colonel John Overton,
Owner.
nj. Kean and Company.
Managers.
" From Turret to Foun-
dation Stone"
Its Inception, Progress
and Completion
All uoilI All HnnAP "
Its Inception, Progress
and Completion
All Hail! All Honor ]!

The Maxwell House il an accomplished
fact. Ii was opened yesterday for the re-
ception Of guests. 1t is now the palatial
residence Of the regular boarder and the
luxurious resting place Of the weary trav-
eller. As one of the most important
events that has ever occurred in the
growth of Nashville, it deserves more than
passing notice. We desire to furnish
our renders a view of this grand es.
Enlistment with 8 brief history OF the
enterprise which conceived it and carried
il through iunumerable difficulties to
completion. None ether than a man of
very large means, iron nerve and indomi
table energy could have succeeded. For
tunately for Nashville such an one
was found in the person of one Of her
own citiZen5-Col. John OVerton. The Or
iginal purchase, many years ago, of the
ground upon which the hotel is situated,
by Judge Overton, the father of the pres
ent owner. was accidental and unintention-
al. Riding along to the courthouse on
horseback, he CHANGED TO pass in front Of
this property when the sheriff was crying
it Cor sale. The officer of the law called
to him, and told him that good bargain
was being offered. Judge OVerton without
checking up his horse bid "a dollar more"
and passed on to his court. 10 day or
two the sheriff brought him a deed for
| the land. Thus for email sum, about
thirty dollars, the future site of the Max
we'll House became the property Of Judge
| Ogerton, from whom Col. John Overton
inherited it. From that lime to this it has
occasionally been occupied by unpreten-
tious buildings, the last of which was
burned several years previous to The war
| NASHVILLE DEMANDS A HOTEL.
In 1859 Nashville had arrived at a point
of prosperity and enterprise that she had
never before attained. The agricultural
interests of Middle Tennessee and the ccm-
mercial and manufacturing interests Of
Nashville we're in hourishing condition.
The spirit of improvement in our midst
was thoroughly aroused, and manifested
itself in the many fine buildings that were
then erected, giving employment TO large
numbers of mechanics and laborers. Our
manufacturing interests attained a degree
of importance and prosperity which has
| not been reached since the war. During
the reign of peace and prosperity it was a
generally admitted fact that we needed as an
essential auxiliary in the promotion of our
growth, a first.class hotel. After several
abortive attempts 10 get up joint stock
company for this purpose, a proposition
was made 10 Col. Overton to build on the
eligible site owned by him, Of which We
have spoken. He finally agreed to under
take the great work, provided the citizens
wonld lend TO him 100000: he LITTLE
thinking then that his private FORTUNE
would be taxed more than half million
! of dollars additional to complete the under
taking. He at once proceeded to get III
} | plans and make contracts for the building
and the city authorities began the construc
ton of ample sewerage ducts from this sit
to the river.
ARCHITECTURAL
Isaiah RogerI, of Cincinnati, o: Ct lh
. most eminent Of American architects, es
pecially in 5,.atel architecture, prepared tn
plans for the building. In the spring AM
summer Of 1860 the principal contract
= were let. About this time the politics
excitement began which finally culmina
! ted in war. Mr.. Rogers sympathies vel
a violently antagonistic TO our people, an
o after the house was covered in he took hi
i departure for his former home. Will
our political views were not in consonanC
} with his, we cannot permit the opportunit
<. to pass of paying a complimentary iribut
/, we'll deserved, to the memory of the ma
whose genius conceived and who
n mind guided the construction of this gran
). architectural success. There ia not 6
= American building that haq been constru
!, ted so entirely and successfully with
V. view to convenience in the purpose {
Y. which it was designed; TO elegance al
symmetry of appearance, safety. streng
IS and durability, as the Maxwell House.
ls THE ORIGINAL CONTRACTORS.
I'd VIM. Hefisrnan, one of our most WORT
aS and reliable contractors, whose untime
" death WAS mourned by whole city, Blu
N the foundations in manner which max
o. them as enduring as the rock ribbed mou
hf tains He also did the finished rock wor
he including the rock columns and sillr, viii
A form alternately with iron columns t
H. first story on the two under fronts.
re- The contract for iron work, very lar
III item, was awarded to that energetic a
ng skilled descendant of Vulcan, T. NJ. Brc
1t. nan, whose large foundry and mach
or. shop is an honorito our city. Determin
oh to keep the work as much as possible
home, he took the contract at Cincinn
ill prices, adding freights. Being desire
yes that his fame should be as perpetual az
r;.,once IF the Maxwell House our frit