Why is a World War I Monument a Part of the Allée?
In 1917, 10 years before the establishment of the Warner Parks, a World War I training camp was in operation at the present location of the Percy Warner Golf Course. “Camp Andrew Jackson” was the name of this facility where soldiers of the First Tennessee Infantry prepared for war before shipping out to France.
In 1936, the monument was constructed to overlook the former camp by the Works Progress Administration under the direction of Col. Harry S. Berry. It includes a 10 foot high granite monument with large bronze plaques on front and back, a small viewing plaza with stone benches, and a walkway with limestone walls, curbing, and steps that connect to the rest of the Allee.
The Allée restoration portion of the It’s My Nature Campaign includes restoration and improvements to this historical monument – cleaning, repair, and stone replacement for the limestone structures, and the chipping out and re-grouting of the plaza surface – for Warner Parks is our nature, Nashville, and our history too, and we’re honored to preserve, steward, and protect such! The job also includes installation of Pennsylvania Bluestone pavers in the walkway, an improvement that will replace the previous grass surface that was not only unsightly but also negatively impacted by long term compaction and erosion issues. The new Bluestone pavers were selected to match the original stonework of the plaza, utilizing the “ashlar” pattern of squared corners, mixed sizes, and a random finished appearance.
Finally, improvements to surface and underground storm water runoff in the vicinity of the monument will protect the structure and ensure sustainable maintenance for the future, aligning with our unwavering commitment to return our park to its natural state, meet the demands of increased usage to date, and ensure the park is here for all, forever.
