Michael's View: Granny White - The Fact Behind the Fiction . . .

There were many battles fought along Granny White Pike during the Battle of Nashville. One of these The Battle of the Barrels took place between Taggertwood Drive where the Richland Country Club is located and Oman Drive where Vanderbilt’s Dyer Observatory is located. This main thoroughfare runs through southern Davidson and Northern Williamson Counties. Being a local history buff, I have long wondered what the history behind the name was. After doing much research and listening to local lore and wives tales about “Granny” White hiding Confederate soldiers from the Northern Army, I was able to come up with this post about the origins of Granny White Pike.

Like many early roads in this area, what was to be known as Granny White Pike started off as a pathway, probably carved in the rugged hillsides by deer and the indigenous peoples of the area. As settlers moved into the area, these paths became wider to accommodate mule and ox carts. It was on one of these winding dirt roads that Lucinda “Granny” White Granny White settled with her husband Zachariah’s two children around 1803. Zechariah had been killed about 16 years earlier in a battle in North Carolina where they lived.

Lucy was about 60 years old when she arrived in Nashville with her two orphaned sons Thomas and Willis. Being good at baking, this enterprising woman set up a ginger cake stand where she sold her baking goods. She soon made enough on this business to purchase 50 acres in what is now the Inns of Granny White subdivision. The original settlement and subdivision is located at what is now Travelers Ridge Drive at the base of the Overton Hills section of Davidson County. This hilly section of land surrounds the Radnor Lake Wildlife Preserve about a mile and a half to the south.

Granny White’s tavern was opened for business around 1812 was best known for its fine food, comfortable beds, hospitality, and her home brewed whiskey. Her tavern and were sure to soothe the weary travelers coming to Nashville from the Natchez Trace located about 4 miles west of here. The tag “Granny” was given to her by her children. The tag stuck and she was known as Granny by her patrons and visitors. The dates of Granny White’s death seem to vary but most local historians seem to agree on 1816. She was 73. The grave site was restored by the General James Robertson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

12^th Avenue South which leads out of downtown Nashville becomes Granny White Pike in the vicinity of Kirkwood Avenue where Sevier Park is located. The road was named in honor of this person whose pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit can be a message and inspiration to us all.

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton of Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing home inspections for Brentwood, Nashville, Davidson and Williamson Counties of Middle Tennessee. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of Michael Thornton and those who comment.  This post is a contribution to the ActiveRain Real Estate Network.

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