The Valleyist Papers
A COLLECTION OF
ESSAYS
WRITTEN IN FAVOUR OF
THE IMPROVEMENT OF STEPHENS VALLEY
Author – William Ray
Edition 2. Issue 5.
Cheekwood is Practically Our Own Place
What if we were getting our own botanical
gardens/art exhibits/music venue as a part of the Stephens Valley Town Square
we are promised? Would that be cool, or what? Well, the likelihood of that is
quite remote. But we already have that just about seven miles east on Highway
100 – Cheekwood. Cheekwood is all of that, and more.
The story of Cheekwood began when Teddy Roosevelt
famously requested a second cup of coffee while dining at Nashville’s
fashionable Maxwell House Hotel and commenting that it was “good to the last
drop.” This quip was seized upon by two southern Kentucky natives – Joel Owsley
Cheek (from Burkesville, Kentucky) and Christopher Tompkins Cheek (from my
hometown, Glasgow, Kentucky). They had just turned their family grocery firm
into a business focusing on their blend of coffee which later became known as
Maxwell House Coffee, after the hotel where TR made his coffee proclamation.
The Kentucky cousins had given the prestigious
hostelry 20 pounds of their prepared coffee to try in the dining room. In time
the supply of coffee was exhausted, and regular diners noticed the change back
to the old brand and complained. As a result, the hotel began using the Cheek’s
coffee exclusively.
In turn, the Cheeks acquired the use of the
hotel’s name to market their coffee and began using the famous “good to the
last drop” comment as their timeless slogan. At one point, Maxwell House Coffee
had gained one-third of the American coffee market. In 1928, the company was
sold to Postum for $42 million that was shared by extended Cheek family members
who had invested in the company. The Postum company eventually sold to General
Foods which was later sold to Kraft Foods. That $42 million allowed the Cheeks
to become philanthropists.
Christopher T. Cheek married Ann Valeria
Leslie, daughter of Gov. Preston H. Leslie also of Glasgow (thank you very
much!). Their son, Glasgow native Leslie Cheek Sr., became an investor in the
family business and in time, was president of the company.
While on a train traveling from New York to
Nashville with a stop in Guthrie, Kentucky, Leslie Cheek noticed a beautiful
young lady. He bribed the porter with a box of cigars to obtain her name, a
ploy that failed. However, with a bit of maneuvering, Cheek found John Clemens,
a friend of the young woman, who offered to introduce him, but he refused.
Instead, Cheek insisted he wished to meet her at her home and a few days later
the gentlemen arrived in Clarksville, Tennessee to call on Mabel Wood.
According to family oral history, Mabel
watched from an upstairs window as Cheek and Clemens approached and found she
was pleased with Cheek’s handsome and youthful appearance. Clemens explained
Cheek’s interest and of his special trip from Nashville to meet her. Apparently
agreeable, they all went to church together. Pretty soon, they also went to the
altar together! Eventually
they built their home – Cheekwood, a name combining Leslie and Mabel’s respective surnames. After three
years of construction, the Cheeks moved into their country estate at
Thanksgiving 1932. Leslie died at age 60 only two years later and the estate
passed to his daughter, Huldah Cheek Sharp, who lived at Cheekwood with her
husband Walter until the 1950s when they offered it as a site for a botanical
garden and art museum in
west Nashville. Today this is on a 55-acre site (adjacent to the Warner Parks
described in an earlier issue by Libbey Hagewood) just 7 miles up Highway 100
toward Nashville from Stephens Valley, making it kind of our own place.
Cheekwood is home to a variety of gardens,
including a rose garden, a perennial garden, and a Japanese garden. The garden
also features a number of sculptures, including works by Henry Moore and
Alexander Calder.
In addition to its gardens, Cheekwood also
houses a museum that features a collection of American art, including
paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts. The museum also has a number of
educational programs, including art classes, lectures, and tours.
Cheekwood is a popular destination for both
locals and tourists, and it is particularly popular with the residents of
Stephens Valley (although it should be even more popular). The garden is open
year-round, and the museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is
charged for both the garden and the museum.
If you want to experience the burgeoning
Nashville music scene in a serene no-stress environment, Cheekwood is the
place. They host a variety of music events throughout the year. These events
include concerts, recitals, and other performances. The music events are held
in a variety of venues, including the garden, the museum, and the Cheekwood
Mansion. The events feature a variety of musical genres, including classical,
jazz, rock, blues, and country. The events are also a great opportunity to
enjoy the beauty of the Cheekwood gardens, especially during their Thursday
Night Out events during the peaceful evenings from May through October. Make
sure to check at www.cheekwood.org often to see what is coming up there.
Here are some of the upcoming music events at
Cheekwood:
- Under the Stars Concert Series:
These events cover three
separate nights and feature local songwriters, bluegrass, and jazz artists.
https://cheekwood.org/calendar-events/under-the-stars-concert-series/
- Thursday Night Out: As the name implies, these events are relaxing opportunities
for SV residents to grab a blanket and your neighbors and experience the
music and beauty of Nashville. The first TNO for the year is on May 4, and
the music will be by our own Les Sabler! Food Trucks are always there! https://cheekwood.org/calendar-events/thursday-night-out-230504/
- Christmas at Cheekwood: This holiday event features a variety of musical
performances, as well as other activities such as carriage rides and a
visit from Santa Claus. The event is held from late November to early
December.
For more information about the music events at
Cheekwood, please visit the Cheekwood website. www.cheekwood.org
Portions of this article were borrowed, with permission,
from The Kentucky Roots of Maxwell House Coffee, written by Sam Terry of
Glasgow, Kentucky.
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