Nashville, Part Two: the Athens of the South gets a university, a murder trial, and a full-scale Greek temple. First, the surprising truth about Vanderbilt University: Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt never set foot on campus, and the story of how his name ended up on the gates involves his wife, Frank, a Southern Methodist bishop, and one very large check. Then, a whodunit. Big Bill Powell, a former Commodores football star, is indicted for the murder of Haynie Gourley, and the trial that follows has everything: shaky evidence, courtroom theatrics, a defense that rewrites the story, and a verdict that left Nashville talking for years. Along the way, we find out how the American flag got the nickname “Old Glory” (a Tennessee connection), and why Nashville is home to a full-size replica of the Parthenon. Pour something strong and settle in for Part Two.Key Topics Thornton Kennedy and James Ottley explain how Bishop Holland McTyeire helped secure Cornelius Vanderbilt’s endowment for a struggling Methodist university, despite the Commodore never visiting Nashville or its campus.Cornelius Vanderbilt’s rise from a Staten Island ferry business included borrowing $100 at age 16 after earning his mother’s backing by clearing and planting an eight-acre field.The hosts trace the 1968 killing of Chevrolet dealer Haney Gurley, the suspicious details in Big Bill Powell’s account, and Powell’s acquittal after a dramatic, evidence-shifting trial.A late-arriving Smith & Wesson and testimony linking it to Powell complicated the prosecution’s case, but the murder remains officially unsolved and no other suspect has been arrested.William Driver’s flag, named Old Glory, was reportedly hidden inside a quilt during the Civil War and later flown over Nashville’s state capitol after Union forces captured the city.Nashville’s full-scale Parthenon began as a centerpiece of the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition and was later rebuilt in concrete; its Athena statue holds a spear made from a reused McDonald’s flagpole.The episode opens with a Dirt Road Martini inspired by Dolly Parton’s cookbook, and closes with a recap of Nashville trivia from French Lick to the Grand Ole Opry.Takeaways The Commodore never set foot on the campus.The future Commodore started working on his father's ferry and quit school at the age of 11.He borrowed $100 from his mother and purchased a small two masted sailboat.Classes began in 1875.The girlie murder has never been officially closed.All twelve jurors come back and say no.Driver's flag is so important to this.Nashville has a ton of nicknames, but it's also known as the Athens of the South.The city spent a million dollars restoring this thing.there's a full size Parthenon in Tennessee because nobody could stand to take down the party decorations.Sound Bites "The Commodore never set foot on the campus.""All twelve jurors come back and say no.""There's a full size Parthenon in Tennessee."Chapters 00:00 Part two: Nashville’s people, places, and cocktail-party history 02:02 The Dirt Road Martini and today’s Nashville stories 03:29 Vanderbilt’s real origins and the $24 billion economic anchor 05:26 Cornelius Vanderbilt’s unlikely road from ferry operator to tycoon 07:24 How Bishop Holland McTyeire secured the university endowment 08:50 The Vanderbilt family’s other legacy: Biltmore 10:41 Why Vanderbilt is dropping the bishop’s name from a campus building 11:09 Big Bill Powell and the killing of Haney Gurley 15:17 A business dispute, a car ride, and a shooting 18:21 The suspect who couldn’t have committed the robbery 20:08 Why investigators began doubting Big Bill’s story 24:31 A murder trial turns on a disputed crime-lab expert 31:06 A recovered Smith & Wesson and testimony about the gun 34:04 Powell is acquitted, but the murder remains unsolved 36:15 How William Driver’s flag became Old Glory 39:45 Nashville’s Parthenon and its recycled McDonald’s flagpole 43:24 The cocktail-party recap and final recommendations Partner: If you enjoy drinks history told with the facts intact, you should check out Distillate: The Hidden History of Cocktails, Spirits, and Drink Culture. Host Shawn Spitaleri follows one drink or ingredient through the centuries, exploring the history, science, and human connection. This season covers topics that include Oktoberfest and the Bavarian brewing calendar, the women who built brewing, Japanese whisky, and the Dry Martini and the 1950s cocktail party, and more. New episodes arrive every Tuesday. Find Distillate wherever you listen, or at thealchemistsbar.com/distillate. Host/Creator, Distillate Podcast https://thealchemistsbar.com/distillate/ Founder/Alchemist, The Alchemist's Bar https://thealchemistsbar.com/about/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
