Broadway then & now

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 13 Nov 2008 5:25 am

I found this picture circa the Civil War in the Nashville library of the building on Lower Broad that now houses the ET Record Shop, the Wheel, etc. The address at the time was 77 Broad Street. George Barnard (not Mathew Brady) was the photographer.

Pete Finney · Post by **Pete Finney** » 13 Nov 2008 6:17 am

That's really a nice slice of history; thanks for posting this, Cal. Do you suppose there was somebody in one of those storefronts playing the fiddle or banjo for tips?

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 13 Nov 2008 6:37 am

OMG, Pete, there is somebody there!

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 13 Nov 2008 8:09 am

That's really cool, Cal. I love history and this kind of juxtaposition.

Mike Sweeney · Post by **Mike Sweeney** » 13 Nov 2008 8:34 am

During the Civil War, That building was a union army hospital.

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 13 Nov 2008 10:37 am

I work downtown and drive past these historic buildings everyday. In Cal Sharp's 2nd photo, you can see that a plaque was added to the top story of the section just to the right of ET's. It reads:

THE TOBY CARR BLDG
1865-1904

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 13 Nov 2008 11:52 am

Yeah, hanging out in front of Robert's I've noticed that plaque and wondered who Toby Carr might be.

Pause

OK, I Googled him. He owned a store next to Tootsie's some years ago, plus some other buildings on B'way, and leased the old Friedman's to Robert Moore in 2000. But I'm still wondering about the dates on the plaque.

Tony Farr · Post by **Tony Farr** » 13 Nov 2008 1:39 pm

Toby Carr ued to play piano and sing. I had the band at the Glynview Inn for some years and Toby would play while we were on breaks, then later played and sang with the band. This was in the late 70's an early 80's. From there I really don't know what happned to him.

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 14 Nov 2008 3:19 pm

How cool is that!!

Dave Grothusen · Post by **Dave Grothusen** » 14 Nov 2008 6:09 pm

Cal that is cool. You are The Man. I love you web site........all the stories and pictures. Thanks so much.

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 14 Nov 2008 7:36 pm

Thanks, Dave.

I happened to be down on Broadway this afternoon playing a gig at Layla's Bluegrass Inn and got a better picture of that plaque.

According to the gentleman pictured below, whom we'll call, oh, Cecil, and who's been down there awhile, Toby Carr is alive and well and living in California. He still owns several buildings on the block and had the plaque put up in 1994. The building was erected (heh, heh, heh, he said "erected") in 1855, so it was almost new in the picture atop this thread.

i thought I might try to hawk some of my wife's newest steel guitar covers

www.sharpcoversnashville.com
while I was down there, but the only steel player on the block besides me was the incomparable Mike Sweeney, and he's already got one.

So anyway, ya'll visit Broadway when you're in town, and you locals don't forget the Big Bob Martin Appreciation Day at Post 88 this Sunday.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 15 Nov 2008 6:02 am

Bugs me, the way some people think they can improve architecture....

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 15 Nov 2008 6:38 am

Check out the graffiti, signage and the trash can...

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 15 Nov 2008 7:11 am

Early 70's, when I worked for Little Roy Wiggins, his music store was next to a bicycle shop and I think that is where the Full Moon Saloon is now. Just to the north (right) of the Full Moon is where his Music Store was. The building was much taller and had the Grammer Guitar emblem on it, but the Tornados that hit downtown Nashville took some of the building down.

What really bugs me is "what did I do?". I left in mid 72 and when I was there in 99 the guy that owns the Merchant's remembered me.

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 16 Nov 2008 12:39 pm

I went across the river today to take a photo of the Glynview Inn. I think the building's been replaced by a drive-in market. In the vicinity is the site of Mom Upchurch's boarding house. Also nearby is Aubrey Mayhew's studio. Here they are:

Pete Finney · Post by **Pete Finney** » 16 Nov 2008 2:03 pm

So, Robert, you made it over to the cool side of town, did you?

Having said that I should be ashamed to ask, but what's the address of the Little Darlin' studio? I can't place it but would love to do a "drive-by"

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 16 Nov 2008 3:32 pm

Cool side of town - good food - good music.

e-mailed directions