ZION PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CEMETERY-MAURY COUNTY TENNESSEE
Duncan Cooper and Family on the steps of
Riverwood Mansion
He retired from public life in 1909 and on the death of
his wife, Duncan Cooper's daughter Sarah became mistress of Riverwood helping
raise her younger siblings. When he died, Miss Sadie inherited the house and
surrounding property. Sarah married Dr. Lucius Burch, a renowned surgeon and
dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and lived in the house until
her death in 1975.
The Burches were famous for their once a year Christmas Dinner, as all of the
elite of Nashville vied for an invitation. Once given the invitation was for
life and hundreds of friends streamed to the mansion throughout the day. Sarah
and Dr. Burch opened their house to many of the young students at Vanderbilt
and Robert Penn Warren spent a summer in one of their cottages during his stay
at Vanderbilt university.
Throughout the years, Riverwood was used extensively for entertaining and for
political gatherings for the Cooper-Frierson clan and their friends and
business acquaintances. The Cooper family papers describe the many affairs with
guest lists that include seven presidents, numerous foreign dignitaries and
many distinguished visitors.
Riverwood has been referred to as one of Nashville's grandest homes. It was
lavishly decorated and filled with magnificent furnishings and works of art.
The home was recognized as a seat of Southern hospitality for over a century
and a half and throughout the years, was the scene of lavish parties honoring
many of the South's most famous and prominent figures. Family records indicate
that presidents Jackson, Polk, Pierce, Johnson, Cleveland, Roosevelt, and Taft
and Vice President Adlai Stevenson were personal friends with the Coopers and
were entertained at Riverwood. And the poet Robert Penn Warren spent a
summer at Riverwood when he was a visiting Professor at Vanderbilt.
Riverwood is a house where men and women of all walks of life have been
entertained. And since the house was used for entertaining throughout most of
its history it is only fitting that it be used for entertaining now. As
Nashville's first Historic Event House, Riverwood Mansion now hosts events for
its guests and once again is the seat of Southern Hospitality in Nashville!
Riverwood mansion shown here 1975 is on a bluff above the Cumberland River. The site,
now is basically between Stratford High School and Cornelia Fort Airport, and was
originally a 2,500-acre plantation. For more detail see
Historical Article on Riverwood, Tennessean Newspaper 5/5/2004 editor/writer
George Zepp.
Information and links submitted by Mary Bob McClain Richardson. 8/22/2007