Photos from Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector
Battle of Nashville Park located at corner of Granny White Pike and Battle Avenue.Located in: Nashville, TN
One of the best kept secrets and hidden jewels in Brentwood and Metro Davidson County is Vanderbilt’s Dyer Observatory. The Observatory is located in the southern part of the County just north of Old Hickory Blvd and Brentwood’s city limits. The entrance, at the corner of Granny White Pike and Oman Drive, is the approximate site where the Battle of the Barrels was fought during the Battle of Nashville, 16 December 1864. The Observatory is located on top of one of the highest peaks in the county, 1,131 feet above sea level. The breath taking views of the surrounding country side, and the peaceful setting is just a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. The Observatory is owned and operated by Vanderbilt University, and is the only facility not located on the main campus in downtown Nashville, TN.
The observatory was built in 1953, and is named in honor of Arthur J. Dyer who owned Nashville Bridge Works. Mr. Dyer built and installed the 5 ton dome which houses the 24 inch, one ton reflecting telescope. If you look carefully at metalwork, one can easily see the hammer marks where the flat steel was pounded in shape to form the protective dome.
The telescope is named in honor of Vanderbilt astronomy professor, Dr. Carl Seyfert. Dr. Seyfert is best known for his work on external galaxies which led to the discovery of what is known as the Seyfert Galaxies (in the vicinity of NGC 6027) while working at Mt. Wilson Observatory from 1940 – 1942. Dr. Seyfert joined the fledgling Vanderbilt astronomy program in 1946. Dr. Seyfert worked diligently with the private and business sectors of the community and was able to get the necessary funding to build this wonderful facility. Dr. Seyfert died in a automible accident on June 13, 1960. He was 49 years old. In 1970, a crater on the moon was named in his honor - Seyfert, 29.1N, 114.6E, 110 km diameter.
The park-like setting, and the 2,000 square foot “Exploration House” is a great place for weddings, corporate functions and educational and recreational retreats. The original 6” refracting telescope is housed in the Exploration House. This telescope was originally housed on top of the physics lab on the main Vanderbilt campus.
The Observatory has something to offer the entire family. The observatory offers monthly “exploration nights” for teens and adults, and a special night geared towards children 6 and under. Check their calendar for times. The Observatory is also open for private viewing. Check with the staff for more information.
Starting in May, their summer concert series, Music on the Mountain and Bluebird on the Mountain, start. Be sure to bring your lawn chairs, blankets, beverages and food. The Music on the Mountain concert series are FREE through the combined efforts of Vanderbilt University and the Blair School of Music. Every concert has a different theme. These concerts run through October. Tickets for Bluebird on the Mountain concerts are not free. These concerts are an extension of the Bluebird Café. Tickets for these concerts are available through Ticket Master.
Special thanks to Nancy Dwyer and the staff of Dyer Observatory for the pictures of the interior of the facility.
Contact Information:
Vanderbilt University Dyer Observatory
1000 Oman Drive
Brentwood, TN 37027
Phone 615.373.4897
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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It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words plus or minus a few. I am sure that this driver pulling this mobile home had a few choice words to say, and I would bet you a "milyun" that the words weren't, "Rut Ro!" or "I knew that I should have made that left at Albuquerque!" Well, at least we all know how much a house weighs. Maybe you can make up some of your own.
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.
Below are links to other sites or articles that I have written:
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.
12th 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.
Below are links to other sites or articles that I have written:
Tennessee has long been known as the Volunteer State. Most Tennesseans probably do not know the origin of the nickname; I know I didn’t, so I did some research. Here is what I was able to dig up.
Famous politician, hunter, and Indian fighter, Davy Crockett led a 12 man group known as the “Tennessee Mounted Volunteers” during the battle of the Alamo. However; this name did not really stick until the Mexican war of the Mid-1840’s. Heeding the call, “Remember the Alamo”, Sam Huston led an army of Tennessee volunteers to fight for Texas independence. Tennessee gained the nickname “Volunteer State” from its overwhelming response to this call.
Tennessee has always heeded the call to military service to our country. With the coming of the War Between the States, the volunteer tradition continued on both sides of the conflict. The partisanship that the country experienced also split the residents of the state. As the second most populous Confederate state, Tennessee contributed the second highest number of Southern soldiers behind only Virginia. Tennessee also sent more soldiers to the Union armies than all the other Southern states combined. Most of the troops that fought for the Union Army came from East Tennessee and Williamson County area.
As a side note, Sam Huston was the only man who was the governor of 2 states. He was the 7th governor of Tennessee and the first governor of the newly formed Republic of Texas. The city of Huston was named in his honor.
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Ah, duct tape! That marvelous, metallic, multi-use material that become so much a part of our everyday lives. Where would any house hold be without it? If the inventors of had only known of its many uses in and around the home and constructions site, they they might have given it a different name like Wonder Tape! I wonder where we would be with out it? It is great for holding the wheels on cars, the wings on airplanes, the babies sagging diapers up, plumbing repairs and in the hands of a REAL PROFESSIONAL - electrical splices for the water heater.
This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton an ASHI Certified inspector with Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing home inspections for Nashville and Davidson county. We also provide home inspections for Brentwood and Williamson County. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of Michael Thornton and those who comment. This post is part of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network, which is a social network highlighting the best of Web 2.0. Information and is provided with the intent of educating and assisting home owners, home sellers, home buyers and real estate investors with information they can use to make better real estate decisions.
Below are links to other sites or articles that I have written:
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I have several areas of interests, and I enjoy writing about several topics. Below are some links to some articles that I have written as well as other links of interest or organizations.
I have long been a history buff. Williamson, Davidson, and the Middle Tennessee area is rich in history and culture. Click HERE to the left to read some posts that I have written about areas of interest here in the Middle Tennessee area. Feel free to comment as this is an open forum.
Photo of the day is a series of posts on some of the things that I find while doing home inspections. Many of these are the things that either unhandy home owners or paid contractor do in order to save a dollar or two.
blogs.chiblogs is one of my websites where I post articles about home inspections, the Standards of Practice for the industry, explain why home inspectors do what they do, and other articles. Feel free to browse around and make comments. This is an open forum.
Click on this hyperlink to take you to the ASHI website. You can use this site to find an ASHI certified home inspector for your area.
The ASHI Standards of Practice and the Code of Ethics can be found on the ASHI website by clicking the button the the left. These can also be downloaded as a PDF file.
The Indoor Air Quality Association is a site designed for the exchange of information concerning the indoor air quality of your home. I have been a member of IAQA member for several years.
Mold - The attached link will take you to the Governments EPA website. There you can hyperlink to several sites to learn about mold and how it affects you, your house and your environment. Many home inspectors will not test for mold. We offer this as an ancillary service to our business.
Radon is another ancillary service that we offer our customers. Radon is second only to cigarettes as the leading cause of cancer in the United States. Properties found in the high range will have a 1 out of 3 chances for a high reading. Middle Tennessee is in the high range for Radon.
The Consumer Products Safety Commission keeps an eye on products in or around your home that may pose a potential safety hazard to you or someone you love. Currently, there are over 15,000 items under the agency's jurisdiction. Check here often as recalled products change from time to time.
This link to the Consumer Products Safety Commission gives a complete listing of product recalls by category. Here you can search for a product type or manufacturing company. Once again, a helpful tool. Check here often as products keep being added to the list.
Real Estate Partners
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Larry Brewer Real EstateI am a Broker, Realtor, with Keller Williams Realty and specialize in working with clients seeking homes in the Brentwood, Tennessee area. I am a former Brentwood educator.
Elizabeth Payne Real EstateSuzette Johnson has been serving Williamson County Tn as a local Realtor for 20+ years. She and her husband work selling Real Estate in the Franklin /Cool Springs and Brentwood area. 615-351-1202.
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