St. Paul AME Church and Hatch Show Print

On the corner of Fourth Avenue and Korean Veterans Blvd. you will see the original building for the St. Paul’s African Methodist Episcopal, or AME, Church. St. Paul’s was one of the first downtown churches built with free black labor after the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment—abolishing slavery. Completed in 1874 during the Reconstruction and New South Era, St. Paul’s AME and is one of the last surviving structures of the Black Bottom neighborhood, where many of Nashville’s African Americans and immigrants settled after the Civil War.

Black Bottom was a neighborhood south of Broadway that ran from First to Fifth Avenue South. This low-lying area, near the Cumberland River, was prone to frequent flooding in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The floods left black muddy residue on its streets—hence its name Black Bottom. Halfway between the river port and the railroad station, Black Bottom was a lively area known for saloons, pawn shops, and brothels. St. Paul’s AME served as a spiritual haven and refuge in this working-class neighborhood.

After WWII, much of Black Bottom was demolished and razed. The church vacated the property in the 1960s. Everton Oglesby Architects purchased the building in the mid-1990s and renovated it for their offices. In 2012, musician Brett James purchased the property and partnered with Infinity Hospitality Group to create a premier event venue. After a two-year renovation, The Bell Tower opened in 2014. Original interior features include the ceiling beams, downstairs stonework, and sub-flooring. 

From the corner of Fourth Avenue and Korean Veterans Blvd., cross Korean Veterans. There are two options from here. To stay outside, turn LEFT on Korean Veterans and then RIGHT on Fifth Avenue South. Enter Hatch Show Print under the sign on your right. To walk inside, enter the Omni Hotel Lobby. Follow the hallway to your left, which connects the hotel to the Country Music Hall of Fame. On your right, at the end of the hall, you will see Hatch Show Print. Once you reach Hatch Show Print resume the narration.

Hatch Show Print is another business that helped to expand industry in the New South Era. In 1879, brothers Charles and Herbert established a print shop that specialized in advertisements—each was hand designed and letter pressed manually. Its original location was not far from here—on Fourth Avenue. Check out Hatch Show Print’s shop, which is fully visible through floor to ceiling glass walls. Talk about a New South business success—Hatch is one of the oldest letterpress print shops in the United States. Tours are available. Exit the door next to the Haley Gallery, turn RIGHT onto Fifth Avenue and follow the directions below.

With the Music City Center in front of you, turn RIGHT onto Fifth Avenue. Stay on Fifth and cross over Demonbreun. Your next stop is across from Bridgestone and may be best viewed from across the street in front of Bridgestone. This historic home, located at 104 Fifth Ave., is currently occupied by Pancho & Lefty’s Cantina.