Above: Watching the note burn are, left to right, Wes Shofner, Jim Kay, and J.T. Thompson

The Battle of Nashville Preservation Society’s mortgage on Shy’s Hill property was burned amid cheers at the top of the historic summit on Saturday morning, April 15, 2006.

Above: The burning of the mortgage by Jim Kay, with J.T. Thompson

The ceremony marked the successful raising of $55,000 in funds over a 150-day period to retire the debt on the property, which lies on the east side of the hill.

Above: Speaking at ceremonies atop Shy’s Hill were, left to right, City Councilwoman Lynn Williams, BONPS Vice-President Jim Kay, Metro Vice-Mayor Howard Gentry, BONPS co-founder Wes Shofner, and BONPS President J.T. Thompson

BONPS co-founder Wes Shofner had originally purchased the property in order to protect it from development. Property at the top of the hill had been owned by the Tennessee Historical Commission since 1954.

The hill-top ceremony was attended by participants BONPS President J.T. Thompson, BONPS Vice-President James Kay, BONPS Historian Ross Massey, Metro Nashville Vice-Mayor Howard Gentry, and Metro Councilwoman Lynn Williams. Vice-Mayor Gentry proclaimed the day “Shy’s Hill Day.”

Above: Nashville Vice-Mayor Howard Gentry proclaims April 15, 2006 as “Shy’s Hill Day” as City Councilwoman Lynn Williams and J.T. Thompson look on

In 2005, BONPS blazed an access trail up the East slope of Shy’s Hill which incorporates several switchbacks and makes the steep climb much less strenuous. Trenches quickly dug by Confederate defenders in the darkness before the December 16, 1864 battle, which run up the side of the hill ,are now much more visible to visitors.

The hill was called Compton’s Hill when it was attached by a huge Union force late in the afternoon of December 16, resulting in a rout of the entire Confederate Army of Tennessee. It was re-named after Confederate Col. William M. Shy, who was killed at the summit during the hand-to-hand fighting there.

Confederate honor guard among the reenactors attending mortgage ceremony

The retirement of the BONPS debt was due to the generosity of BONPS members and friends. BONPS gave special thanks to those donating $1,000 or more:

Dan B. Andrews
Dr. James B. Atkinson
William B. Billips
Robert W. Bogen
David Broemel
Homer Brown
Robert D. Brown
Jean Byassee
John Eddie Cain
William G. Coke, Jr. Charitable Lead Trust
Paul E. Cook
Fred Crown
David Graves
William H. Hawkins
Doug Jones
James D. Kay, Jr.
Bill Leader
Fowler H. Low
Sidney McAlister
Joanne W. McCall
Michael B. McKee
Leroy Norton
Richard Norvell
Milton P. Rice
Louis Rieke
Wes Shofner
Jim Summerville
Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association
J.T. Thompson
Mr. and Mrs. Clark Tidwell