Former Middle Franklin Pike (current Granny White PK) Nashville, TN
Circa early 1850s.
Noelton, likely built in the early 1850s on Granny White Pike, was bought by Oscar Fitzallen Noel (1821-1914) and Sarah “Sallie” Catharine Gardner Noel (1828-1884) by 1871. They married in 1847.
The Noels started an estate off the Middle Franklin Pike (Granny White Pike), and by the start of the Civil War, it had grown to 1,500 acres - stretching from current Belmont Park Terrace to Granny White Pike and north to Glen Echo St. A good part of the Battle of Nashville was fought on their property. They moved from downtown on North Summer Street. In 1880, they bought the 190 acre property across the street owned by the Gale family. Evidently, for many years, the Noel family estates were the southern border of the city of Nashville.
Noel was in the flour and grain business and built the first grain elevator south of the Ohio River. He opened the Cumberland Milling Co. In 1880, he was a founder and officer of the Fourth and First National Bank and helped organize the Union Stockyards. In 1883, he became president and general manager of Cumberland Telephone and Telegraph Company with neighbor and friend, James E. Caldwell. Noel's grandsons, "Hoss" and John H. were partners in the downtown Noel Hotel on Fourth Ave. and Church St. They built the hotel and adjoining garage. The family also built a private, semi-private nine hole Noelton Golf Club along Granny White Pike. He started and opened Glendale Park and ran a small railroad line to access it and served it as president and owner.
After Sarah died, Noel wed his second wife, Mary Ella Stokes Noel (1851-1895) in 1894. After Mary Ella passed, Noel married his third wife, Sally Tenison Noel (1853-1925) in 1903. Son, Dr. Edwin Thomas Noel (1848-1902), and Mary S. "May" French Noel (1857-1937) resided next.
After Noel died, his grandsons became executors of the estate. In 1930, grandson Oscar French “Hoss” Noel (1884-1945) and Jeanette Tillotson Acklen Noel (1891-1984) lived at Noelton. Hoss’ parents were Edwin T. Noel (1848-1902) and Mary “May” Smith French Noel (1857-1937). Jeannette was the daughter of J.H. and Jeannette C. Acklen of Acklen Park and part of the Acklen clan. He was a surgeon.
By 1939, one of Oscar’s brothers, John Hopkins Noel, Sr. (1888-1939) had died, and his wife Frances Boensh Noel (1896-1982) married a member of the Craig family and bought Noelton from the estate. When Oscar’s grandson, John Noel, Jr., returned to Nashville from military service, he declined to buy Noelton, but did co-own the Noel Hotel at 200 Fourth Ave. North (built in 1929).
Frances sold Noelton with its remaining 6 acres to J.E. Crain, a developer, in 1949. Frances moved to 605 Belle Meade BL. The house was demolished for the Stephen Foster apartment development at 3401 Granny White Pike. Oscar and Sarah named their home Noelton. Noelton Ave. is a reminder of the property.
Sources:
Nashville Pikes, Vol 1, pp. 292-295
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