Daily News Journal, Susan Harber, March 1, 2015
Cherry Shade personifies an era of both grandeur and personal suffering. The stately home on 308 acres was built in 1833 by John Hill with a land grant from his father, Thomas Hill.
Photo from ‘Hearthstones’, by Mary B. Hughes, 1942. Please click here to read the story from her book.
John’s grandfather Green Hill of North Carolina was a former member of the Continental Congress. John was wed to Margaret, daughter of Francois Roulhac, namesake for La-Vergne. John was a sawmill operator, planter and stock breeder. He had a bagging factory in Lebanon. He also laid out the streets for LaVergne in 1833.
The elegant home was onestory, U-shaped with wide-covered porches around an oblong courtyard. The walls were poplar, and the home retained cedar sawdust insulation that was a first for a home in Middle Tennessee.
To understand the history of the home, one must fully consider the life of a single man, James Richard Park, who was born November 16, 1836, in Little Rock, Arkansas. Park was Scotch-Irish, and the son of Rebecca Hubbard and Dr. John Park, who was a graduate of Louisville Medical College. His grandparents were Richard and Martha Hubbard.
James grew up in Seguin, Texas, in a small town of Germans and spoke this language fluently. He taught English in Durango, Mexico, to young lawyers and was a man on the move.
With the Civil War coming near, James enlisted with his father, John, and three brothers in the 4 th Texas under General. John Hood. John served as surgeon for the company. Tragically, James’ brother, Thomas Park (18), died in 1862 in the Battle of Gaines Mill, and his brother, John (20), died in 1863 as an Arkansas prisoner. James portrayed great bravery in the Battle of Blair’s Landing and was awarded the title of sergeant in Company B, 32 nd Texas Cavalry for the Confederacy. James fought in every battle his company was engaged and completed his duty in May 1865 in Richmond, Texas.
In this same time frame, John Birdwell, an employee of John Hill, lived in Cherry Shade that witnessed high action during the Civil War. Original proprietor John and Margaret Hill moved to safer ground in Lebanon, and Birdwell remained as overseer.
The house was located in a strategic position by the railroad and in immediate danger with nearby skirmishes and all out fighting. Wagons poured into the courtyard with full bedlam at hand. Cherry Shade was utilized as a hospital; and a Union soldier Cpl. Leopold Spetnagel from Ohio died at the home in January 1863. He was buried in the front yard. The permanent damage to the house was a large hole in the lower right front side wall inflicted by a cannon ball.
After the Civil War, James Park of Texas moved to Normandy, Tennessee, in 1866 and worked for the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad Co. He courted Mary Catherine Scott of Normandy. She was the daughter of John Scott, a doctor in the Civil War and stockholder in N&C Railroad. Mary’s mother, Virginia Ewell, was the daughter of Lt. Gen. Richard Ewell, a commanding officer in the Confederacy.
James pursued Mary intently; yet, her parents attached conditions to their nuptials. James and Mary were wed in 1867 only after James promised to convert to the family religion.
The couple soon transferred to La Vergne where James was employed as station agent with the railroad. He was an expert telegrapher and worked closely with Morse code. La Vergne’s Depot was his workplace and measured 30 x 80 feet and was constructed for $3,100.
James rented and then purchased Cherry Shade as proprietor of the home along with 11 acres on December 13, 1878. He was now residing in a beloved home he cherished for 34 years.
James and Mary had eight children with five perishing in infancy from disease. The survivors were Mary, John, and Clara. With sorrow simmering at Cherry Shade, the Park family leaned on inner strength to press on and build a warm and inviting home. Cherry Shade was a gathering place for friends and relatives. James and Mary were known for their friendliness and charm in the La Vergne community, as well as an open door. They tended a lavish flower garden at their home. Moreover, James planted a beautiful garden at the railroad depot.
The family donated acreage for La Vergne Church of Christ as a gift to the community. The Parks promoted high morals and helped build Cumberland Presbyterian Church in La Vergne.
James was a sensation in his role at the depot.
Yet, he was also a brilliant inventor. He designed a small double mirror, so he could see trains coming on tracks from two directions. This invention became standard for all stations.
Further, he developed a cylinder and speaker as a sound machine. His grandchildren would speak into the machine and hear voices. His ingenuity never held a copyright. Thomas Edison would follow and perfect the ingenuity of James Park.
After many years with the railroad, James received a gold Elgin pocket watch and was soon retired to Cherry Shade with his beautiful daughter, Mary Virginia.
William E. Ward and wife, Eliza Hudson Ward opened Ward Seminary for Young Ladies in Nashville in 1865. Ward Seminary and Belmont College for Young Women merged in 1913 to form Ward-Belmont.
Mary was born in the home on June 2, 1876, and attended Ward’s Seminary. In 1904, she wed James Buchanan Payne, who was a descendant of Major John Buchanan and an engineer with the railroad. Mary lived in La Vergne with her three daughters: Mary Agnes, Martha and Dorothy.
When her mother and husband died, she remained devoted to her father James, who was inflicted with a heart ailment.
In 1916, Parks moved to 16 th Avenue South in Nashville and sold Cherry Shade to W.W. Dillon. With intense emotion, he departed the home, and a new chapter was forthcoming.
The home was sold to Walter Cartwright; and in 1960, Nashville developer Forrest May owned the property.
In later years, Tennessee Farmers Co-op built a large fertilizer and feed plant adjoining the Cherry Shade property and the estate was strongly affected by fumes. This disastrous final blow left the home vacant for thieves to break windows and smash doors. On June 25, 1971, vandals set fire to the home and all was physically gone forever. The sawdust insulation smoldered for days.
Nonetheless, Cherry Shade lives on in the hearts and minds of the La Vergne community as a magnificent home reflecting great love and sorrow.
The home was a landmark in La Vergne that continues to encompass great historical significance for Rutherford County.
Further reading concerning ‘Cherry Shade’ can be found by visiting: ‘Cherry Shade was a Hospital’ by Mary B. Hughes, 1942′. and ‘A Story of Cherry Shade, LaVergne, Tennessee‘.