The transition from livery stables to garages in downtown Nashville

In 1917, Dr. Boots Brown had a livery station down the hill from the public square in downtown Nashville on First Avenue North. Each work day, Horton Early would ride to work in his carriage and horse from his home, Ponotoc, in East Nashville. He customarily crossed the river on the Woodland Street Bridge and proceeded to Dr. Brown’s livery station on First Ave. North near Broadway, where he left his horse, The Emperor, and buggy before walking up the hill to his harness and horse goods store Early-Cain at 715 Second Avenue North. He continued doing this well into the 1920s when modern paving hurt The Emperor’s hooves and forced Early to use an automobile.