Sarah Estell

Sarah Estell, a contemporary of Sally Thomas, was another African-American woman who had a thriving business in Nashville. Records show she was born in North Carolina, but we do not know the circumstances of her family, freedom, and what led her to Nashville. As a free black woman, Estell operated an “eatery” out of her log cabin home next to the McKendree Methodist Church. Today, a historic marker honors her life, located at 217 Fifth Avenue North, near Woolworths on 5th. Estell’s secret was mostly a custard-based ice cream made with dairy, eggs, and sugar slightly cooked before chilling. Her ice cream and confections became quite popular around Nashville, with one enthusiastic observer who noted that her sweet treats disappeared “like the dew before the sun.”

Jane Thomas, a white woman who wrote about her memories of Nashville before the Civil War, recalled that during a revival at McKendree Methodist Church, one young man grew restless during the church service. He led the other boys to Estell’s establishment between the song and a prayer. The group returned to church for more singing and praying—full of ice cream. Sarah Estell’s name and business appeared in the 1855 Nashville City Directory, and again, in the 1860 federal census, but no other records about her life exist. It is assumed that Estell, like so many African Americans living in Nashville at this time, was buried in the Nashville City Cemetery, but no records of her death have been discovered. 

From the marker, continue walking down Fifth Avenue North. Turn LEFT onto Church Street. Your next stop, Downtown Presbyterian Church is across the street. You can view it from here or cross the street for a closer look at the historical marker and timeline on the building.