Status as of 23 April 2023

The Metro Historical Commission Foundation found it was unable to manage the growing list of historical cemeteries signing up for their maintenance services. As a result I received the remaining funds, $6,550.00 for Philips Sylvan Hall Cemetery maintenance from the Foundation dated 2/22/23 and deposited them into a savings account.

It has taken until now to locate someone who would mow the cemetery and properly take care of it. I have arranged for the person who mows our front yard to mow the cemetery four times a year, including picking up limbs and keeping vines from growing in the rock fence for $100 per visit. I tried to engage the company the Metro Historical Society Foundation was using, but they did not have any interest. Jeff will send me photos every time he mows the cemetery and I will pay him using the maintenance funds.

I have revised the donation form below to provide for sending it to me without the donor receiving a tax-free donation.

Microsoft Word Link to fill on computer

Adobe Acrobat pdf file link to fill by hand

REQUEST TO BE ADDED TO MAILING LIST OR IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT Email Larry Feldhaus

Below is how we managed the cemetery maintenance from 2019 to 2023. This is no longer available to us.

April 2023 - Early in 2019 the Metro Nashville Historical Commission Foundation agreed to take on a project to manage the maintenance of certain historical cemeteries located in Davidson County, the funding of which would come from friends and descendants of those buried in the cemeteries. The Gower Cemetery located in West Nashville off River Road was the first cemetery in this program. The Philips Sylvan Hall Cemetery was the second cemetery included in the program. A maintenance agreement was signed early in July between Tim Walker, Executive Director of the Historical Commission, myself representing the friends and family of those buried in the cemetery, and Dan Allen who had did most of the 2013 restoration of the cemetery and who now has agreed to provide regular maintenance. Those who participated in the 2013 restoration know that since that time I have been personally maintaining the cemetery. At 82 years of age, I had reached an age where it was difficult for me to continue. We counted on the generosity of the many friends and relatives of those buried in the cemetery to continue to maintain this final resting place of our ancestors for the next 200 plus years. We used the form similar to the form on the right to make donations to the Metro Historical Commission Foundation for the Sylvan Hall Cemetery Maintenance Fund and you mailed your check and completed form to: Larry Feldhaus 102 Doral Ln Hendersonville, TN 37075. I acknowledged receipt of the donations, keep track of the donations, and forwarded them on to the Metro Historical Commission Foundation where they were placed in the Philips Sylvan Hall Cemetery Account and used solely for maintenance of that cemetery with my approval. The Foundation mailed receipts to each of the donors as proof of their tax exempt donation to this 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Foundation provided me in January of each year a report detailing all receipts and disbursements for this account.  I posted the report on this web site.

Sunnyside Mansion is the home of the Nashville Metro Historical Society and their Foundation. It's located in Sevier Park near Belmont University. Links to web sites for the organizations mentioned on this page: Metro HIstorical Commission Metro HIstorical Commision Foundation Gower Cemetery Fund