Lost Nashville: Revisit the 1960s with these gone but not forgotten places and things

The property of Neely Harwell & Co., located March 30, 1962, on the southeast corner of the Public Square, would be taken for the proposed construction of the new Woodland Street Bridge.

Modern and bulging supermarkets like the Kroger store on Charlotte Ave. April 7, 1962, is revolutionize grocery shopping. This is typical of the new look in supermarkets of Kroger, where shoppers may browse through a vast array of fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, frozen foods, party snacks, and other groceries, or buy books, toys, small appliances or hardware. A delicatessen, bakery and custom candy shop are included for one-stop shopping.

In sharp contrast to the new supermarkets like Kroger, is the old country store. The Bell's Food Market on 8th Ave. N. Here April 7, 1962, is the last one in downtown Nashville. The owner T.D. Bell has refused to surrender the quaint informality of his store to the modern look.

J.V. Blevins, left, president of Blevins Popcorn Co., and Charles M. Wyman, vice president, inspect one of the company's new pop-in-a-pan-with-seasoning products as it rolls off a production line April 26, 1962. Development and construction of a remarkable $250,000 machine with all Nashville talent has enabled Blevins Popcorn Co. to enter the fast-growing disposable pop-in-a-package product field.

Getting cool, it's the dream of Nashvillians as temperatures climb past 90 for the ninth straight day. Thousands take advantage of an afternoon of rest to head for lakes, swimming pools, or just a place under a shade tree. Here a good number picked their cool spot at Cascade Plunge on May 19, 1962.

Pit toilets, ranged like cells behind the 1600 block of Patterson Street June 13, 1962, fit the name of the alley they line, Prison Alley. Within a few blocks of Nashville's center boasting St. Thomas and Baptist hospitals, some 20 families still use the outhouses.

With the modern trend in business toward convenience, George Rose, veteran shoe repairman, has taken to the road with his complete shoe shop on wheels. Ray Grinder, left, of Janie Ave., was one of his first customers July 25, 1962. Rose generates his own power to operate his machinery, and does any and all kinds of shoe repairing at the customer's door. He believes he is the first in Nashville with a mobile shoe shop.

David Ikeda makes last minute arrangements Sept. 6, 1962, of merchandise before opening his unusual oriental art-craft-gift shop in the Whitlev Building on 21st Ave. S. The House of Bamboo is said to be Middle Tennessee's only authentic oriental shop.

Genesco, the world's largest manufacturer-retailer of shoes and apparel, has embarked on a new type discount shoe retailing in Nashville. These customers are among the first to enter Factory to You Shoes Nov. 1, 1962, the store at 511 Main St. They will sell only discontinued models of the firm's shoes.

This is the first Nashville installation of the Red Barn Systems of Ohio, a drive-in restaurant franchise. It will open next week at 5511 Charlotte Ave. The franchise leased from the Ohio firm is by James O. Oatsvall Sr. of Nashville, shown here Nov. 8, 1962.

The story of the birth of Jesus, through almost 2,000 years ago, is ever new to those who hear it again and again. Many braved biting wind and chilly temperatures to visit the Nativity scene by Harvey's Department Store in Centennial Park Dec. 9, 1962.

Nelson "Nero" Griswold Jr., right, checks with his employee Jack Webster March 24, 1963, as he tends to the steaks at Nero's Cactus Canyon on Hillsboro Drive.

Peeking under every blade of grass, these children are searching for Easter eggs, 8,000 of them, hidden in a 20-acre field on Charlotte Pike April 13, 1963. The hunt, which attracted about 5,500 children, is sponsored annually by B.D. "Pew Wee" Johnson, West Nashville businessman, with prizes donated by merchants throughout the area.

The oldest park in organized baseball came alive when the Nashville Vols returned to Sulphur Dell to kickoff the home season with the Macon Peaches on April 22, 1963. With the largest opening crowd in 15 years at 8,348, the Vols lost to Macon 15-4.

A big crane of Burke Wrecking Co. bites away at the historic old Gerst Brewing Co. building at Sixth Avenue South and Mulberry Street May 16, 1963. A modern warehouse will replace the sprawling old brick building that housed the Gerst Brewing Co. here for 70 years.

The old Dixie Flyer from Nashville to Chattanooga won't be the same after June 30th because the Holland twins have reached the end of the line after a combined total of nearly 94 years of railroading. The 70-year-old twins, J.E. Holland, left, and E.M. Holland, here June 29, 1963, said their retirement is official.

Connie Simmons checks on the progress of barbecue in one of the firing pits at Charlie Nickens' Restaurant on Jefferson Street July 2, 1963. Most of Nickens barbecue is made of pork shoulders, currently about 600 a week, with some ribs of baby pork. A few years ago, the Saturday Evening Post featured the Nickens specialty in a survey of the noble Southern institution of barbecuing.

The Tennessean's Gene Wyatt examines, a 72-once steak July 9, 1963, which the management of the Porter House in Lebanon will offer to anyone willing to consume it within one hour, with all the trimmings, for free. The four and half pound Paul Bunyan Top Sirloin steak, the house specialty, is priced at $10.95. At this point, there has been no successful taker of this offer.

Stringbean, David Akeman, striped shirt, is performing with Lester Flatt and Earn Scruggs during a taping of the Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs Show by WSM-TV Sept. 11, 1963.

I.J. Murphy of Robertson County shows his prize-winning pen-of-five steers at the Hereford feeder calf show and sale at the Nashville Union Stockyards Oct. 4, 1963.

Dixie Flyers goalie Marv Edwards, center, shows his two star defensemen, Florent Pilote, left, and Lloyd Hinchberger a peek at his new custom-fitted facemask Oct. 22, 1963, which Edwards will wear in the next night battle at Municipal Auditorium against Philadelphia Ramblers.

Madison High Rams get set Dec. 20, 1963 for their big March of Dimes game against Father Ryan at Vanderbilt the next night. The starting team of Chuck Boyd, left, Ronnie Jackson, Bill Swain, Alex Beavers and Wayne Bailiff are making sure of getting a good grip on the ball.

Shoppers are heading into the new Giant K Discount Foods supermarket on Murfreesboro Road April 2, 1964 on opening day. The store, which occupies 25,000 square feet of floor space in a building designed by Nashville architect James W. Rich, will handle only national brand merchandise.

Bonnie Burns, a secretary at General Electric Co.'s Nashville office, adjusts the channel selector to Channel 83 on one of the new ultra high frequency (UHF) TV sets April 29, 1964. Under a federal law effective the next day, all TV sets sold to retailers must have a new tuning device to pick up UHF channels. However, Nashville doesn't have any UHF channels or stations in the area.

A nighttime view of Printers Alley in downtown Nashville June 4, 1964, is where liquor by the drink is served. Atlanta Mayor Ivan Allen gives Nashville a considerable share of the credit for their city passing a law to let their city serve liquor by the drinks in restaurants, hotels and cocktail lounges.

Robert B. Ray stands in front of his newly-purchased property, Central Rambler, Inc. at 1500 Broadway June 16, 1964. Central Rambler, established in February last year as Nashville's third Rambler dealership, was sold by Jess L. Sanders Jr., who now has opened Empire Motors, a used car business at 1619 Broadway.

Camille Harrison of American Airlines in Nashville displays a television set similar to the ones now being installed by the airline July 15, 1964. The set, which will have individual headphones for each passenger, will offer the latest movies on coast-to-coast flights. The nine-inch screen television sets are being installed in all Astrojet passenger planes and there will be one set for every two passengers.

A member of the Retail Clerks Union Local 1557 pickets the entrance to the Zayre store on Murfreesboro Road Sept. 7, 1964 because they were open on Labor Day. They also protested at the Giant K on Murfreesboro Road and Zayre store in Madison.

Jackie Bell, WLAC-TV Channel 5 exercise girl goes into one of her routine exercises Sept. 11, 1964, which she does Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. on the station "Trimmer Vue" program. WLAC-TV is celebrating it 10th anniversary in September of 1964.

Star Jimmy Dean, left, gets some tongue-in-cheek comment from his sidekick Rowlf, celebrated dog of the "Jimmy Dean Show" and Rowlf's "manager" (and voice) Jim Henson. They arrive at the Nashville Municipal Airport Oct. 26, 1964 for the taping of the show at the Ryman Auditorium.

At this time of the year, one of the busiest person in Nashville is the mailman. Here, H.D. Halliburton delivers mail from the East Station on McAlpine Avenue Dec. 18, 1964.

James Poulos, operator and part owner of Palace Hatters and Cleaners at 208 Fourth Ave., N., puts on his hat before closing its glass double doors for the last time after nearly 40 years Jan. 1, 1965. Poulos will answer the phone with "This is the Palace, the most beautiful place in the world," no more.

Mrs. Atha Galbraith, Royal Crown Bottling Co. private secretary, tastes a new type of soft drink called Kick at the company March 19, 1965. Nashville will be the first city to put the "blend-of-flavors" Kick out on the market March 22nd. The bottle with a white mule on it will be competing with others on the market like Hillybilly Dew, White Lightning, Mountain Dew, Kickappo Joy Juice.

Metro traffic officer Robert A. Rucker aids a pedestrian on Fourth Avenue, North, in front of the Arcade April 7, 1965. Rucker, 68, who has directed traffic in downtown Nashville from the days of streetcars to the present, will retire from the force the next day after 37 years.

More than 1,000 visitors, and many hospital employees, listen and watch as the new Memorial Hospital in Madison is being dedicated June 27, 1965.

Sherry Walls, a Nashville office worker, tries her hand at the experimental "wrist twist" steering control of Ford Motor Company's Mercury Park Lane July 15, 1965. This is one of four cars that have been test driven for a while now and some guess that it might hit the market within two or three years.

Jan's, a limited menu drive-in restaurant at 17th Avenue and Jefferson Street is open for business July 27, 1965. This is the first of a new chain of limited menu restaurants scheduled for Nashville and the state.

Enjoying "Skyliner," the new roller coaster at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, are Guy, Chrissie, Christopher and Marguerite McClure at the Fair Park Aug. 5, 1965.

The Loew's movie theater, with "The Cincinnati Kid" showing, is drawing the night crowd downtown Nashville Nov. 23, 1965.

Fred Harvey Jr. looks on as lights bring to life the nativity scene in Centennial Park Nov. 24, 1965. His father, the late Fred Harvey Sr., presented the nativity to the people of Nashville in 1952.

Business is continuing at Kroger's Farmers' Market Warehouse Sunday night Dec. 19, 1965 as General Sessions Judge Allen R. Cornelius refused to issue warrants for violations of the city's blue laws to Metro Police.

Kentucky head coach Adolph Rupp, left, found an old friend waiting as he got to the elevator to go to his room at the Noel Hotel in Nashville Feb. 1, 1966. Elevator operator Ernest Mathis, right, has been hauling the veteran Wildcat mentor for years.

The building occupy by Dailey's Clothing at 216 Fifth Ave. N. in downtown Nashville, here Feb. 18, 1966, has been purchased by local attorney Cecil Sims for a price reported to be about $125,000. Other stores on the street are Ellis Shoe Co., Hale's Drugs and Olshine's.

A well-known local billboard cow seems to be watching a painter doing touch up work on the Purity Milk sign in downtown Nashville June 3, 1966.

Mrs. Ray M. Webb, wife of the owner of a new chair shop, shows off a $10,000 mink-covered chair being displayed June 14, 1966 in connection with the opening of Contur Custom Chairs at 2720 West End Ave.

Nashville's second Red Barn Restaurant is getting ready to open as owners James O. Oatsvall Sr., left, and Wendell K. Harris looks on July 8, 1966. The investment of about $160,000 at 3737 Nolensville Road will seat 60, hire 20 and have picnic tables, playground and adequate parking. The first Red Barn was open by Oatsvall on Charlotte Road in 1962.

George E. Farrell, 29, owner and operator of Farrell's Phillips 66 station at 2721 Clarksville Highway, wipes the windshield of one of his many customers July 29, 1966. Farrell has been selected Davidson County's top service station operator in preliminary judging in the statewide "Service Station of the Year" contest.

This is the present YMCA building at Seventh Avenue and Union Street, here Sept. 28, 1966, that will be replaced by the future building at the site of the new purchased location.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, a $750,000 project, is still under construction Oct. 13, 1966 at the corner of 16th and Division Streets. A barn-shaped building with two spacious wings is expects to be completed about the first of the year.

Robert J. Cooper, left, president of Ragland Potter & Co., and Taylor Miller, general manager of Giant Foods of America, make final plans for the upcoming opening of the huge food store in Hundred Oaks Shopping Center Nov. 11, 1966.

J.S. Jordan, left, general manager of Woolco Department Store, and J.H. Calhoun of the New York executive, make last minute plans Nov. 14, 1966 for the store's upcoming opening at Hundred Oaks Shopping Center. The 140,000-square-foot store is the largest in its entire 50-store chain.

The formal launching of the all-new, half-million dollar Martin theater in the 100 Oaks Christmas Day brings smiles from Martin Theater chain's district manager Charles Kuertz Sr., left, and city manager Casey Jenkins Dec. 21, 1966.

Gerald Nelson, general manager of Genesco's Lion's Den chain, stands by one of the lion-headed mannequins, nicknamed Lucius Bebe, who inhabits the Lion's Den store March 9, 1967. The Nashville young men's shop just recently opened in Hillsboro Village.

It happens every year about this time as the end of March nears, longs lines at the Metro Courthouse for license tags, like here March 30, 1967. Officials said Davidson County motorists should plan to spend from 2 to 7 hours the last day tomorrow.

J.W. Gower, left, the president of the newly-established Nashville Musical Instrument Co., watches his father, F.D. Gower, make one of the "Gower" brand guitars at their plant April 13, 1967. They have start turning out "flat-top rhythm guitars" that sell in the $350 to $375 category. They hope to produce 100 guitars a month within six months.

Miss Blaz'r Steak, Sherry Smith, lights a giant torch April 20, 1967 in preparation for the opening April 26 of the Blaz'r Steaks Restaurant on White Bridge Road. The restaurant will seat 160.

Service Merchandising Co. vice president Raymond Zimmerman, left, and president Harry Zimmerman talk after the ribbon cutting of their third store in Middle Tennessee at 419 Gallatin Road S. in Madison Sept. 26, 1967.

Some golfers are playing at the new "Eller's 60 Par Golf and Driving Range" Oct. 19, 1967, Nashville's first lighted golf course. The course is located on some 60 acres alongside the Cumberland River in Old Hickory.

Technicians at Avco Corporation's Aerospace structures division are dwarfed by the first 60-by 13-foot outer wing section produced here Nov. 10, 1967 for the U.S. Air Force C5A Galaxy, the world's largest airplane. The section will be shipped to Lockheed Georgia Co. at Marietta where the first giant jet transport will roll out in February. Avco is the leading subcontractor on the plane with contracts totaling $58 million. At least 58 of the planes will be built with 57 more optioned.

Taking a break from their night Christmas shopping on Church Street Dec. 8, 1967, a crowd gathers in front of Cain-Sloan's windows to watch the holiday displays.

Minnie Pearl, left, helps packing some of her chicken with Director of Operation Phil Braksdale at the Minnie Pearl's Fried Chicken headquarters on Franklin Road March 13, 1968.

Minnie Pearl's Roast Beef Co. Inc. officials Don Wells, left, and Jack A. Pirrie, right, hold an impromptu "investors" meeting in front of their new roast beef sandwich franchise located at 2014 West End Ave. July 13, 1968. Young "investors" in attendance are John Jay Hooker Buchtel, left, Timothy Ingram Hooker, Lisa Hooker and Kevin Ingram Hart.

Mrs. Sherry Bullion, a customer of the Seven Eleven market at 1000 Gallatin Road, tries a new "moonshine" Icee July 17, 1968, while inspecting what the manager, Frank A. Lynch, said is a "real moonshine still," used in this case to dramatize the new Icee flavor.

One of the uptown mixing bars, here Sept. 22, 1968, is deserted and locked tight as a police crackdown signaled an end to Nashville's "brown-bagging" era. Mixing bars, the pulse of Nashville's night life for nearly 30 years, has faded into history since liquor by the drink law was approved a year ago.

L.E. Tant shows off his Harding Place Esso station at Nolensville Road and Harding Place Oct. 10, 1968 that was an award winner in Metro Beautiful Commission's annual service station competition.

Famed New Orleans trumpeter Al Hirt, left, and Charles H. Watkins Jr., president of the company, toast each other with beer schooners in the new upstairs room of Nashville's Al Hirt Sandwich Saloon at Second Avenue and Broadway Nov. 27, 1968.

Despite the snow blanketing Nashville Jan. 27, 1969, Paul Shockley, left, executive vice president, and W.G. "Bill" Webber, president, check on their Little Jimmy Dickens Fast Foods, Inc.'s just-opened pilot store, Little Jimmy Dickens Smokehouse at 2030 Richard Jones Road.

Construction work is finishing up on Nashville newest restaurant, Arby's, located here March 7, 1969 on Gallatin Road adjacent to Montague Theater in Madison. It is owned by Leon May and Robert D. Blum, who said it is the 260th unit of the nation's oldest roast beef franchised chain that started in 1965.

Rehearsal for the first drive-in worship service in the city is being held May 29, 1969 by the Rev. Wayne Bell, center, minister of the Vine Street Christian Church, his assistant minister, the Rev. Danny Mosley, right, and David Booth, a layman, at the Warner Park Drive-In Theater at Highway 100 and Vaughn's Gap Road. Motorists have been invited to "come as you are."

Joe Driscoll, left, of the Chickasaw Motor Lines, gets help from Mrs. Gypsy Cheek and Mrs. Carol Waffird for some parts June 25, 1969 at the Madam Mopar, Inc., an all-girl operated automobile part company at 1130 Polk Ave.

During the "Christmas in July" grand opening of Nashville's first Question Mart drive-in food market at 105 Oak Valley Drive off Dickerson Road July 26, 1969, Santa Claus, left, delivers his first gift of the day to Lou Corson of Morristown, Tenn., a franchise prospect; William B. Slate, Question Mart president; and Maurice Pilsk, president of Furniture Sales Service and a Question Mart Corp. director.

The bosses' "bosses," Mrs. Casey Jenkins, left, and Mrs. Hank Williams Jr., are the first to be served by John Freeman, right, store supervisor, during a press preview of the first Hank Williams Jr.'s Barbecue Pit at 990 Murfreesboro Road July 30, 1969, the day before the official opening. Waiting their turn are Jenkins, back left, president of the restaurant, and country music star Hank Williams Jr., the company chairman.

Martin Theaters City Manager Casey Jenkins, left, goes over the plans with two other officials as they check on the progress of the new Madison Theater located in the Madison Square Shopping Center Aug. 7, 1969. The movie theater will open Aug. 14th with actor Jack Lemmon's latest film, "The April Fools."