Head to the neighborhood situated between Lakehurst Drive, Ordway Place, and Bushnell Street in East Nashville if you want to feel a little starstruck — and no, we’re not talking about celebrity encounters.
Allow us to explain. While researching our five-part Metro Old House Series, we came across another architectural mention in the Revival styles catalog that deserved a spotlight of its own. Enter: Little Hollywood.
We know how the handful of “Spanish Eclectic” homes came to be, but the why still remains a bit of a mystery, though there are some theories.
Behind the build
For $4,500 in 1925, Church and Nora Sexton purchased “Richardson Place,” an underdeveloped portion of the Lockeland Springs area. Over a couple of decades, Sexton and his family built and sold homes on the 10-acre patch and surrounding neighborhood.
As mentioned, it’s not entirely clear why the Sextons chose to build mostly Spanish Eclectic homes on the land. Perhaps it was inspiration from surrounding buildings at the time. Other theories exist too, including the idea that Nora was particularly fond of American Southwest architecture.
It’s also thought that cost played a role. Construction involved stucco or concrete blocks, which were cheaper and a logical choice around the Great Depression.
Spot that style
Sometimes referred to as Spanish Colonial, Spanish Revival, or Mission Style, Spanish Eclectic is the most all-encompassing term to describe the homes you’ll find in Little Hollywood. Defining characteristics include stucco exteriors, asymmetrical facades, arched openings, and low-pitched or flat roofs usually in red clay tiles.
Before you go
We mentioned this article wasn’t about star-studded sightings, but that’s not to say the Nashville gem didn’t attract a fair share of musicians on its own. Marty Robbins may have lived in a home that inspired “El Paso.” Other celebrities placed in the neighborhood include Jimmy Buffett during his early career, Larry Hanson of Alabama and the Righteous Brothers, and The Everly Brothers.
