To: Governor Bill Lee

Governor Haslam: Save the Historic Cordell Hull Building

Sign this petition to tell Governor Haslam that the Cordell Hull Building is a historic building that is a monument to a great United States statesman, belongs to the people of the state of Tennessee, and is far too valuable as part of Tennessee's and the nation's history to be destroyed or sold to a private concern.

Why is this important?

A historic state office building in Nashville, TN is at risk for being demolished. The Cordell Hull building, constructed in 1952-53, is named for a Tennessee statesman, Cordell Hull (1871-1955). Hull was the longest serving United States Secretary of State, serving for a total of 11 years from 1933 -1944 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1945, Hull received the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in establishing the United Nations. He was referred to by President Roosevelt as the “Father of the United Nations.”

The 59 year old Cordell Hull State Office Building at 425 5th Avenue North, Nashville, 37247 is one of several limestone buildings that frame the State Capitol, holding a distinctive presence on the Capitol grounds. According to Tim Walker, Executive Director of Metro Nashville Historical Commission, the Cordell Hull building is one of the best examples of mid-century modern architecture in the State. Several of its hallways along with restrooms are lined with marble, some of which is so rare that it can no longer be found in Tennessee. The are several statues on the Cordell grounds that honor many other Tennesseans. The building is eligible for listing in the National Registry of Historic Places. The building survived the 1998 F5 tornado in downtown Nashville.

The Cordell Hull building is in need of repairs as is any building its age. Governor Bill Haslam’s administration is recommending that the building be torn down. The destruction of this stately civic building would be a major architectural loss to Nashville, to the State and perhaps even to the United States. The administration’s rationale for removing the building along with rational for keeping the building is described in several articles:
Nina Cardona, July 15, 2013; Nashville Public Radio | Historic Nashville Art You've Probably Never Seen To Be Mothballed Amid Demolition

Gail Kerr, The Tennessean, July 3, 2013; Logic for tearing down Cordell Hull site is lame | The Tennessean | tennessean.com

Phil Williams, News Channel5.com, June 17, 2013, NC5 Investigates: Questionable Contracts; Administration's Claims About Cordell Hull Questioned - NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather & Sports

William Williams, The City Paper, January 28, 2013; Cordell Hull building faces closure, uncertain future | Nashville City Paper

Wikipedia describes Cordell Hull, his life and his accomplishments in great detail. The article can be found at Cordell Hull - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia