The polar bear might not be native to Southern cities, but it is what we like to call a “Nashville unicorn.” The statues you see around town first appeared in the 1930s, and by 2016, the animal had become a symbol for the Edgehill neighborhood.
Bear with us
The statues have a storied past — a lot can happen in ~100 years — and it starts with Polar Bear Frozen Custard. There were two locations in Nashville (2609 West End Ave. + 425 Gallatin Rd.), and according to Metro Archives’ Sarah Arntz, the statues were crafted locally by Mattei Plaster Relief Ornamental Company. On theme, the building had a unique architecture style of its own with “icicles hanging from the eves.”
Polar Bear Frozen Custard only remained open for a few years, but the iconic bears made moves for years to come.
From a funeral home to Polar Bear Plaza
Rev. Zema Hill purchased the statues, placing them in front of his Edgehill residence and the funeral home he owned down the street. After the funeral home was sold in the early ‘50s, two of the bears went missing for a bit. Today, one half of the collection resides in Germantown on 6th Avenue North, while the other was purchased by MDHA and unveiled at Polar Bear Plaza (1200 12th Ave. S.) in August 2005.
A look at the logo
That brings us back to the signs that welcome Edgehill visitors. As development increased, the Edgehill Village Neighborhood Association wanted to make neighborhood boundaries a bit clearer. Outside of Edgehill being a key player in the polar bear’s local history, a survey further confirmed the symbol should appear on the signs.
Fun fact: Polar Bear Plaza is the final stop on Nashville Sites’ Edgehill walking tour.
