McGavock-Gatewood-Webb House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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McGavock-Gatewood-Webb House
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The McGavock-Gatewood-Webb House in 2013
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| Location | 908 Meridian Street, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Built | c. 1840 |
| NRHP reference No. | 07000688 |
| Added to NRHP | July 11, 2007 |
The McGavock-Gatewood-Webb House, also called Blue Fountain, is a really old and important house in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. It was built a long time ago, around the 1840s. This house has seen many changes and different families live in it over the years. It's a great example of how buildings can change their style over time.
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Where is the McGavock-Gatewood-Webb House?
This historic house is located at 908 Meridian Street in Nashville. Nashville is the main city in Davidson County, Tennessee. The house is across the street from the Ray of Hope Community Church. It sits between Vaughn Street and Cleveland Street. You can find it in the Cleveland Park area, which is part of East Nashville. This area is East of Downtown Nashville and East of the Cumberland River.
The History of Blue Fountain House
The story of the McGavock-Gatewood-Webb House begins with the McGavock family.
Early Owners and the McGavock Family
In the mid-1700s, a man named James McGavock moved from Ireland to Philadelphia. Later, his son, David McGavock, bought a large piece of land in Nashville. This land was 640 acres, which is a lot of space! David didn't live on this land himself. His son, Randal McGavock, later became the Mayor of Nashville.
The large piece of land was split into two parts for David's sons, John and James. Each son received 320 acres.
Building the House: Fountain Blue
The house, which was first called Fountain Blue, was built around 1840. This was just before James McGavock passed away. It was designed in the Federal architectural style. This style was popular in the United States from the late 1700s to the early 1800s. After James McGavock died in 1841, his 320 acres were divided again among his four children.
His daughter, Lucinda, inherited the 94 acres that included the Fountain Blue house. Lucinda lived there with her husband, Jeremiah George Harris. Jeremiah was the editor of a newspaper called the Nashville Union. He was also a supporter of President James K. Polk. Their children, Joseph and Lucie, also lived in the house.
Around 1844, Jeremiah Harris made some changes to the house. He added Greek Revival features and fancy French wallpaper. The Greek Revival style was popular in the mid-1800s and often included columns and grand entrances. Lucinda passed away in 1847, but Jeremiah and the children continued to live in the house.
The House During the Civil War
During the American Civil War (1861-1865), the house was empty. Jeremiah Harris served in the Union Navy. His son, Joseph, fought for the Confederate States Army. His daughter, Lucie, was living in the Northern states.
After the war ended, in 1868, Lucie moved back into the house. She lived there with her husband, Professor Van Sinderen Lindsley. He was a professor at the University of Nashville. Around 1870, they updated the house again. This time, they used the Italianate architectural style. This style often features tall windows, wide eaves, and decorative brackets. A year later, in 1871, Meridian Street was created right in front of the house.
Later Owners and Changes
In 1891, Leslie Emmett Gatewood bought the house. He lived there until 1905. Then, he sold it to Alonzo C. Webb. Alonzo Webb rented the house to Professor J. J. Keys, who was in charge of Nashville's public schools.
By 1915, the Webb house was changed into apartments that could be rented out. After Alonzo Webb died in 1939, the house was sold several times. Eventually, it was owned by Webb's son, Hanor Webb, who also rented it out.
In 2003, the Ray of Hope Community Church bought the house. They used it to create the Better Tomorrows Adult Education Center.
Why is This House Important?
The McGavock-Gatewood-Webb House is important because of its history and architecture. It has been officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places since July 11, 2007. This means it is recognized as a special historic place that should be protected.
