The
Coopers, 1859-1975
In 1859, the house was sold to William Frierson Cooper a member of
the influential Cooper family of Columbia. He changed the name to
Riverwood since it sat upon bluff's overlooking the river. A
respected lawyer and politician Cooper was a member of the committee
who wrote the Tennessee state codes. He later became chief justice
of the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Although he remained a bachelor
his entire life, he invited his brothers and their wives to share
the home with him since the family had become increasing involved in
the politics of the state and needed a home for conducting their
entertaining in Nashville.
In the late 1880-90's the house went though another extensive
remodeling at which time, plumbing and electricity was added. At
that time, the dining room was extended and the two houses were
joined, creating an additional room on the second floor directly
over the downstairs portion of the addition. From that time however,
no other major work was done on the interior or exterior of the
house, and it has remained virtually untouched.
Upon his death, William deeded the house to his brother Duncan
Cooper, an influential lawyer and politician who gained notoriety
during the Civil War as a cavalryman under Nathan Bedford Forrest.
He was known as the "Francis Marion of the Confederacy" and was an
affective guerrilla leader in Middle Tennessee until he was captured
in 1864. After the war, he returned to Nashville and engaged in a
number of pursuits: adventurer, businessman, railroad engineer,
newspaperman and politician. National notoriety came to him in 1908
as a personal dispute with Edward Carmack ended in the controversial
shooting and death of Carmack in the streets of Nashville.
Duncan Cooper and Family on the
steps of Riverwood Mansion
He
retired from public life in 1909 and on the death of his wife,
Duncan Cooper's daughter Sarah became mistress of Riverwood helping
raise her younger siblings. When he died, Miss Sadie inherited the
house and surrounding property. Sarah married Dr. Lucius Burch, a
renowned surgeon and dean of Vanderbilt University School of
Medicine and lived in the house until her death in 1975.
The Burches were famous for their once a year Christmas Dinner, as
all of the elite of Nashville vied for an invitation. Once given the
invitation was for life and hundreds of friends streamed to the
mansion throughout the day. Sarah and Dr. Burch opened their house
to many of the young students at Vanderbilt and Robert Penn Warren
spent a summer in one of their cottages during his stay at
Vanderbilt university.
Throughout the years, Riverwood was used extensively for
entertaining and for political gatherings for the Cooper-Frierson
clan and their friends and business acquaintances. The Cooper family
papers describe the many affairs with guest lists that include seven
presidents, numerous foreign dignitaries and many distinguished
visitors.
Riverwood has been referred to as one of Nashville's grandest homes.
It was lavishly decorated and filled with magnificent furnishings
and works of art. The home was recognized as a seat of Southern
hospitality for over a century and a half and throughout the years,
was the scene of lavish parties honoring many of the South's most
famous and prominent figures. Family records indicate that
presidents Jackson, Polk, Pierce, Johnson, Cleveland, Roosevelt, and
Taft and Vice President Adlai Stevenson were personal friends with
the Coopers and were entertained at Riverwood. And the poet Robert
Penn Warren spent a summer at Riverwood when he was a visiting
Professor at Vanderbilt.
Riverwood is a house where men and women of all walks of life have
been entertained. And since the house was used for entertaining
throughout most of its history it is only fitting that it be used
for entertaining now. As Nashville's first Historic Event House,
Riverwood Mansion now hosts events for its guests and once again is
the seat of Southern Hospitality in Nashville!
Article in the
Tennessean about Riverwood's History - 5-5-04
Transcribed and donated by Mary Bob McClain
