This year marks the 35th anniversary of one of the most controversial demolitions in Nashvilles history. In June 1979, a developer demolished the old Governors Mansion at 2118 West End and replaced it with a Popeyes Chicken fast food restaurant. Longtime residents still talk it about decades later. Built in 1910 for C.T. Cheek, the grand home served as the Governors Mansion from 1921-1949 and housed Alf Taylor, Austin Peay, Henry Horton, Hill McAlister, Gordon Browning, Prentice Cooper, and Jim McCord. Check out this human interest story by Huell Howser (1945-2013) about the controversy, which aired on Nashvilles WSM-TV (now WSMV) with news anchor Dan Miller (1941-2009). A native of Gallatin with a B.A. in history from UT-Knoxville, Howser moved to NYC soon after this episode aired and then to LA in 1981 where he became a famous television personality, actor, and voice artist best known for hosting travel show Californias Gold. Many thanks to Dean Balding Baxter for bringing this video to our attention.
Posted on: Sat, 17 Jan 2015 00:25:31 +0000