(August 10, 2015) – This nearly 100-year old stone house at 620 Boscobel Street in East Nashville’s Edgefield neighborhood served as Mom Upchurch’s Boardinghouse from the mid-1940s through the late 1960s?
A widow, Delia “Mom” Upchurch (1891-1976) only rented to struggling male country music singers, songwriters, and musicians. “They don’t mix too good with people in other livelihoods,” explained Mom. “And I just like good ole hillbilly music.”
Known as “Hillbilly Heaven,” the house became famous as the first home of hundreds of struggling hillbilly musicians. Over the years, it is estimated that over 2,000 men in the country music industry roomed here. The list is a virtual who’s who and includes Pee Wee King and his Golden West Cowboys, Carl Smith, Faron Young, Webb Pierce, Stringbean, Stonewall Jackson, Lloyd Green, Buddy Spicher, Hank Cochran, Grandpa Jones, Roger Miller, Okie Jones, Buck Trent, Howard White, Benny Williams, Stan Hitchcock, Butterball Paige, and the Carter family.
Mom would take in 6-14 boarders at a time in her 5-bedroom, 1-bath home, and only charged $7-8 per week. She took good care of her “boys,” cooked for them, cleaned their socks, and took messages while they were on the road. The boys would rehearse in the house and in the yard during the summertime.
A native of Gainsboro, Tennessee, the “Den Mother to the Stars” died in 1976. Her home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and protected by a historic preservation overlay.
Mom Upchurch’s Boarding House is located directly across the street from the stone Bungalow that serves as Deacon’s home on the “Nashville” TV show.
Photo and text courtesy Robbie D. Jones.
