Hitting the 3,0000 mile mark!

Two Days in Three Parts

Part I: Spring Hill Cemetery and The Nashville National Cemetery

April 26 and 27, 2023

Visiting gravesites may appear morbid but for some spending time at a person’s final resting place can give a sense of closeness to the person. In the case of our visit to Spring Hill Cemetery in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, Rob was looking to honor the memory of an influential songwriter and musician, John Hartford.

I remember when I first saw John Hartford perform. It was the year our son Jon was born. We were on a pilgrimage of sorts or maybe I should refer to the few months before Jon’s birth as a race to see how many shows we could see before we became parents. We would travel all over New England in search of live music. The evening we saw John Hartford perform; he was the warm up show for Nancy Griffith. I was mesmerized by the rhythm of his banjo playing; his storytelling was genuine and funny and he integrated his clog stepping while he played – just a delightful evening! So, after a few quiet moments of reflection, we left the gazebo with nostalgic reminders of the times we heard “Gentle on My Mind” on the radio and television.

More meandering through Spring Hill Cemetery – led us to a couple more discoveries and memories!

Across the street was Nashville National Cemetery, so we paid our respects and were amused by one story, or rather a rumor that circulated for years. They say that the remains of Union soldiers were entombed in the archway that serves as the entrance to the cemetery.

PART II: Elm Springs Mansion and Museum

Here between these two grave shots, I will make my segue to our next stop in Columbia – home of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Museum – and a big fat YES there’s a remarkable gravesite story here!

The Sons of Confederate Veterans Museum* in Columbia may be young in terms of its established date -founded in 2020. However, the headquarters has been located at historic Elm Springs, a Greek-Revival mansion built in 1837 and situated on almost 80 acres, since the early 1990’s. They have been acquiring properties and artifacts. The new gift shop and museum sit on property that survived the ravages of war. The mansion tour gives a true insider view of the property and a glimpse into the daily life of a southern farmer in the late 1830’s and 1840’s. However, their real claim to fame may be the recovery of two bodies interred beneath a Civil War monument that was slated for destruction in Memphis. In 2017, Memphis City Council passed an ordinance to remove Confederate statues from public parks. Little did anyone know, there were two bodies entombed beneath the foundation of this monument to a Confederate General – Nathan Bedford Forrest. Guess who they are… that’s right the General himself and his bride. His statue is a detailed depiction of him atop his steed, King Philip, with his sword at his side. This bronze statue is remarkable in its detail done by Charles Henry Neuhaus, a renown sculptor. Nevertheless, it needed a new home and in stepped the SCV.

*The Sons of Confederate Veterans or SCV website’s description of the museum makes a careful note that no government funding was used and not will it ever be used in the construction or operation of the museum. Also noted was this direct quoted rationale … “This means no politically-correct politician or justice warrior can dictate what can be displayed in the museum or how it shall be interpreted…Visitors …. will be given the true history of the War Between the States, not the re-magnified, watered down versions fabricated by modern ‘scholars’ end quote.

There’s more but you get the gist – History is history and I am not that naive to not understand that history is written by the victors – this notion was reinforced in Gettysburg by the National Park Ranger there- who gave an extraordinarily unbiased account of those bloody three days in July, 1863.

We joined the tour as it was just beginning – we did not tour through the museum first as most are encouraged to do – I can see why – we entered the Elm Spring tour as students of history and trusting tourists. However, after hearing the exalted presentation of the acceptance of the remains of General Forrest and his wife, I became more curious about this seemingly revered figure from history.

Further investigation of why General Forrest’s monument was chosen to be removed from a public park in Memphis revealed some of the facts our tour guide omitted – Good ole Nathan Bedford Forrest was a businessman of sorts and a SLAVE TRADER and, and, and, and, he was elected the first Grand Wizard of – you guessed it the KKK – Not to mention his ‘illustrious’ military career included a MASSACRE! Look it up -the Battle of Fort Pillow – do not be misled by the innocuous name of this battle. Good Grief – not sure the SCV are upholding their pledge for truth here folks. Just saying.

Part III: Lynnville and Greenhouse Envy

Welcome to Lynnville – along country roads and green pastures – we found our way to our next intended destination. Carmel and Heidi are renovating and putting personal touches on their rural “farm” house in picturesque Lynnville. Please note the custom shutters – planed by a local Amish craftsman.

We were welcomed with true southern hospitality and dog love to the home of one of Rob’s former colleague – former CEO of HILCO- Carmel Monti. He and his wife recently relocated to an area from Florida – they have discovered the serenity of rural living. With horses and acres to tend – not to mention a dreamy growing greenhouse – these two really have a slice of paradise just outside of Columbia and a short drive to Nashville.

After a delicious salmon dinner with the best roasted Brussels sprouts EVAH, we looked forward to seeing more of their property in the daylight hours.

Keeping the rubber side down, Julie and Rob