Events center eyed for Maybelle Carter's Madison home

• The events center to be called The Maybelle could eventually include a new 10,000-square-foot theater.
• The 1925-built home on the property is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
• Johnny, June Carter Cash and other Carter family members once lived at the home where Maybelle Carter died in 1978.

The owner of the former home of deceased country musician Maybelle Carter wants to create an events center on the Madison property for hosting weddings and small gatherings.

Joseph T. Mayo, executive producer of the Bluegrass Underground musical event and television show, and the Music City Roots variety show, is seeking a neighborhood landmark overlay district for the nearly 13-acre property at 1020 Gibson Drive to allow for such gatherings.

The Metro Planning Commission will consider the request on Aug. 11. The events center, to be called The Maybelle, could eventually include a new 10,000-square-foot theater, according to a site layout that civil engineering firm Dale & Associates submitted along with the application.

Maybelle Carter, the mother of June Carter Cash and Carter family matriarch, lived at the 1925-built, two-story, four-bedroom farmhouse on the Madison property until her death in 1978. Both the Metro Historical Commission and the Tennessee Historical Commission have determined the home to be eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

In addition to Carter family members, June’s husband and country music icon Johnny Cash was among onetime residents of the home. Patsy Cline, Elvis Presley and Marty Stuart were among the frequent visitors that stayed there.

Folk musician and entertainer John McEuen, a founding member of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band who wrote the song "Friday Night at Maybelle's," has recalled a music room at that home where people including well-known names would come after the Grand Ole Opry to play a solo and grab a cup of coffee.

Mayo, who couldn't be reached for comment, paid $525,000 for the Madison property just over a year ago, according to the Davidson County Assessor of Property.

"It's absolutely wonderful to see someone so passionate about the musical heritage of this area be the new owner of the Maybelle Carter home, said Nancy VanReece, the area's Metro Councilwoman. Mayo's family will continue to live at the home.

VanReece has scheduled a community meeting for 11 a.m., Saturday, July 9, at Nossi College of Art where neighbors can hear from Mayo about his plans in advance of August's planning commission meeting.

She said the property, which includes a barn, is part of a larger tract the Carter family once owned that includes the Maybelle Carter Senior Living retirement community location on West Due West Avenue. family will continue to live in the home and it will remain a private residence.

Tim Walker, executive director of the Metro Historical Commission, said that agency has been working with Mayo with assistance from MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation to list the building on the National Register.

"And we’ve discussed designating the property as a Historic Landmark through the Metro Historic Zoning Commission," he said.

Reach Getahn Ward at 615-726-5968 and on Twitter @getahn.