Current 414 Bowling Ave. Nashville, TN
Circa 1900. 3-story white frame wood home with wraparound porch
Bellwood was built on then Golf Club Lane by Elizabeth Josephine “Josie” / “Johanna” Cole Edwards (1852-1936). The estate was built just southeast of the newly-developed Nashville Golf and Country Club. Johanna was the daughter of E.W. and Anna Russell Cole of Colemere and the widow of S. (Samuel) Walker Edwards (1846-1895). They wed in 1871.
Five years after Walker’s death, Elizabeth built the mansion for her daughter, Anna Walker Bell (1873-?), and her husband, John Arnold Bell (1872-1942), and she resided with them. They wed in 1900. In the early 1900s, Elizabeth was involved progressive women’s groups locally. She was President of the Housekeeper’s Club in 1906 which shared ideas of science and economics to enable a better household and society. She also donated her city home on Eighth Ave. North to the club about that time as well. Walker Edwards had been stepson to Col. A.W. Putnam of Waverly. He had been a general agent for 13 years in Nashville for East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Air Line Railroad. Bell founded a general practice law firm Bell and Hibbetts.
Twenty years later, In 1920, Mrs. Edwards and the Bells built a new house at Belle Meade Boulevard and Deer Park Dr. (likely 231 Deer Park Dr.) and moved from Bellwood as that was a new, more fashionable area of town. [The new home was built of pink stucco and, for years, called the Pink Palace. The Bell's daughter and husband, Louise Bell and Zack A. Coles, inherited the home. Then, it was purchased by Gene and Reva Heller. He developed the outerwear company Weather Tamer used by Walt Disney Co., armed forces outposts and many specialty stores. The company had a factory in Columbia, TN, and the family had a farm down there as well.]
A large northern portion of the estate was developed for residences. Later, a large apartment house was built on the Bellwood property. At some point, a street was built and named Bellwood Ave. in front of the property. The house was named Bellwood for John and Anna Bell. See also Colemere, Waverly
Sources:
Nashville Pikes Vol. 3 150 Years Along Harding Pike, p. 120
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