Renraw Community Association

A Glimpse of Renraw History

May 27, 2006

Renraw
Community Association
Neighborhood History

Our neighborhood boasts a rich history including people, locations, and events that have added to the history of the city of Nashville and to our neighborhood. Here are just a few of the historical highlights from the Renraw Community Association and our neighborhood.

Renraw ?– The stately farm across the river far from Nashville was the home of James Cartwright Warner and later his son Percy Warner. J.C. Warner was born in 1861, The Warners in 1863 fled to escape the civil war the Warner family and moved from Chattanooga to Nashville to their farm on Gallatin Road. Jaames C. Warner would become a prominent civic leader and business man in Nashville and a leader in building the new South. His sons percy and Edwin donated and developed the park system in the city which is recognized now as one of the largest municipal park systems in the country. At this home in East Nashville, James C. Warner and his wife Mary Thomas Warner loved wildlife and gardens. Renraw boasted menagerie of exotic animals and beautiful gardens on the grounds of the Renraw Mansion. One particular favorite was a pet crane who was named Rufus, which is used as a symbol in the logo for the Renraw Community Association. Percy Warner lived for years at the Gallatin Road farm (Renraw is Warner spelled backwards) before moving to ?“Royal Oaks?” on Harding Road in the early ninetenn hundreds.

Trevecca Nazarene College- was founded in 1901 by the Reverend J.O. McClurkan as the Literary and Bible Training School for Christian Workers. In 1914 the College was moved from downtown Nashville to the site of the Warner Mansion in the Renraw Neighborhood area. The college is now located on Murfreesboro Road. The memory of the influence on the college and J.O. McClurkan remains in the neams of the streets surrounding the campus. The streets were named after holiness preachers of the time; Clarence B. Strouse and John Lakin Brasher. Trevecca is named after Trevecca College in England. The side streets Martha and Emmett were named after McClurkan's wife and his son.
 
Nashville Auto Diesel College ?– One of the leading technical schools is in the nation, NADC has a long history in the neighborhood. The school produces graduates that have achieved success in many area including numerous NASCAR support positions. Under new ownership, we are excited about the new opportunities for cooperative ventures that exist for the school and the neighborhood.

Hattie Cotton Elementary School- The Renraw Community local area neighborhood elementary school is the site of one of Metro Nashville?’s newest elementary schools ?– Hattie Cotton Elementary School. The original school building dated back to the late 1950?’s when it was again a new school building just opening during the height of the civil rights and school integration movement in Nashville. Late one evening after midnight on September 9, 1957, the neighborhood was rocked by an explosion at the school.

Tennessee Poet Laureate ?– Richard M. ?“Pek?” Gunn Our neighborhood was for many years home to Richard M. ?“Pek?” Gunn, local author, humorist and Tennessee Poet Laureate. His books of poems stories caught the humor and wit of Tennessee and were enjoyed for years. The Renraw Community Association is proud of ?“?”Pek?’s?” contribution to Tennessee.