The Eighth Avenue Reservoir was completed in 1889 by city engineer J.A. Jowett to hold water for Nashville. Jowett also had the help of Charles Hermany, an engineer from Louisville selected to survey potential reservoir locations. Before constructing the reservoir, Jowett and Hermany disputed the area of the site. Jowett contended that Kirkpatrick's Hill, the former site of Fort Casino, a Confederate fort used during the Civil War, was the ideal location. Hermany argued that neighboring Curry's Hill would prove a better fit. In the end, Jowett was victorious, and the structure was built on Kirkpatrick's Hill as a masonry reservoir. The next noteworthy event occurred in 1912 when 25 million gallons of water poured out of the reservoir wall's southeast quadrant and flooded many surrounding houses. Afterward, yearly inspections were instituted to ensure that the integrity of the reservoir was closely monitored. Today, the Eighth Avenue Reservoir is only used at half capacity. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Eighth Ave. Reservoir
36.139637, -86.782783
Description
The Eighth Avenue Reservoir was completed in 1889 by city engineer J.A. Jowett to hold water for Nashville. Jowett also had the help of Charles Hermany, an engineer from Louisville selected to survey potential reservoir locations. Before constructing the reservoir, Jowett and Hermany disputed the area of the site. Jowett contended that Kirkpatrick's Hill, the former site of Fort Casino, a Confederate fort used during the Civil War, was the ideal location. Hermany argued that neighboring Curry's Hill would prove a better fit. In the end, Jowett was victorious, and the structure was built on Kirkpatrick's Hill as a masonry reservoir. The next noteworthy event occurred in 1912 when 25 million gallons of water poured out of the reservoir wall's southeast quadrant and flooded many surrounding houses. Afterward, yearly inspections were instituted to ensure that the integrity of the reservoir was closely monitored. Today, the Eighth Avenue Reservoir is only used at half capacity. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.