Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-08-14
THE CITY.
NOW AND THEN.
A Remfniscence of the MAXWELL
FF0rrse.---zs

4
| House,
In looking over our files yesterday, we
were attracted by fhel following, which we
reproduce from the recorded local events
OF the UNION AND ASEERIcAN of August the
18th, 1850. Almost ten years, decade re-
plete with change and big with events, has
passed by since then. Few persons on that
bright morning of the event recorded below,
ever dreamed that they would witness the
bloody scenes of the intervening ten years.
The paragraph says: s-o 4IAD
There. isa very large force, about one
hundred hands, at work on the new hotel
IN course Of erection By John Oyerton,
ESD, on the corner opposite the. UNION
AND AMERICAN Office, and the walls are go
ing up with considerable rapidify. The
OLureh Street trOat already presents quite
handsome appearance. a few weeks
more VIII give the beholder some idea of
the appearance this immense structure will
present when complete Thursday after
noon the corner stone on the corner of
Church and Cherry streets, was placed in
position and contained the following arti-
cies: A copy of each paper Of the city, and
magazine; specifications Of the. building
and form of bids; current coins, GOLD and
silver, from five dollar piece. to one cent;
an eighth yard Of lace, price SJ9 per yard,
from r. O. MeNairy & Co.; g list Of names
of the original subscribers of stock in the
enterprise; resolutions adopted by the City
Council in regard to the building; newspa-
per articles, etc; a copy Of the Holy Bible;
Bylaws of Phoenix Lodge No. 131, MasOns.
The plate covering the stone containing
these articles bears the following inscrip-
ton: = .7--- ..-. -
This building was designed for a hotel to be
MAXWELL HOUSE. ~
The corner stone was laid on the I'D Of Aug
ust A; D., 1s6e, and the s5th year ofthe Ameri-
Tsham G. Harrfs
10 C-F being Governor Of Tennessee
S. n. HOilingswcrth @
s..| z Mayer Of the city of Nashville.
Population OF Nashville about 5000
Population Of Tennessee, lib, 500.
This building is owned and was built BY John
.t-H .r-.- OYertOn, ESQ
Architect and Superintendent
----+- -..- Isaiah Rogers.
Assistant Architect, 21r1
---.r. William NJ. Woodbridge.
TT was expected when the hoteIwas COM
menced that it would be completed in time
for the opening of the Legislature on the
first Monday in October, 1861, and every
effort, we understand, win be made to ac-
complish that object"
From the above we learn that it was in
scribed on the corner stone Of the building
that the population of the city then was
about 1000. According to the census re-
turns it is not so much nowl
We also observe that il was hoped that
the building would be completed by the
assemblage of the Legislature in October,
1861. No one then knew Of the mighty
changes, racking continent, and shaking
systems and governments, that were to
take place before that OctOber's coming.
Lincoln was elected President; the death
shot had ratified against the ramparts Of
Sumter; Manassas plains had been dyed
with the blood of victor and vanquished,
while the whole land trembled to the tramp
of armed soldiers, and war surged all
around our borders. The walls of the
Maxwell House went up, but that was all.
The Legislature of 1861 met, amid the
blaze and glitter of battle-target red Mill
Spring was fought, and lost. The Maxwell
had been a hospital for the sick, the
the wounded of our armies. Don
elson fell. Nashville was evacuated.
Through all the jarring and iery elements
of war, the walls upon that foundation stone
remained, solid and mistaken. Not till
after Sherman, with his burning banner,
had swept down to the sea, and Lee had
sheathed his immortal sword at AppOmat-
tox, was the Maxwell finished. Now, on
this tranquil August morning, We look with
pride upon its magnificent front, its tower
ing cornices, pilastered walls and futed
cOlrmns. resting upon that corner stone
laid ten years ago. Already its name and
fame have gone abroad in the land; and We
sincerely hope that long career Of unin-
terrupted prosperity may be in store for
the noble Maxwell House, and its prineely