Community members in the Edgehill area of Nashville have formed a coalition to save a historic site from future development.
A historical marker is the only indication to folks visiting the property that they are standing on a historic site. It's the former home of William Edmondson - a world renowned black sculptor who got his start right here, at his home in Nashville.
Gloria McKissack's family was one of the founding families of the Edgehill community.
"There's still McKissacks who live in this neighborhood. In other words we have lived here over a hundred years," she said with a smile.
During that time, in the 1930's just down the road from where McKissack lives now, the son of a slave, William Edmondson, taught himself how to sculpt. What began as headstone sculptures turned into so much more.
"So much African American history has been lost, stolen and forgotten and I think Edmondson falls in that category," said McKissack.
Edmondson was the first black sculptor to have his work showcased at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Despite that, he died in poverty and has no known grave marker. "His grave site is lost, the only physical connection that we have to William, is this space that we're standing in right now," said Mark Schlicher.
Schlicher has learned the property could soon be taken away.
"To learn that its in immanent danger of being sold out from under the community for development, it hurts my heart," he said.
Nothing is set in stone yet. For now, the property still belongs to Metro Schools. However, with budget issues on the school and metro government level some fear the land will be sold to the highest bidder. MDHA already has plans to tear down the neighboring housing project to build a mixed use development next door.
"But we don't have to sacrifice our history and our heritage for that," McKissack added.
