The North Shore neighborhood is where people flock to visit a few art galleries, shop at unique boutiques and eat at all the great restaurants. But there is also a lot of history tied to this area going all the way back to the Civil War and even before that to the Native Americans who lived on the land.
This neighborhood covers a large area north of the Tennessee River. So, I will be breaking it down into small sections. Today people flock to Renaissance and Coolidge Park to enjoy being outdoors in an area with lush green grass, walking paths and expansive riverfront views.
Recently I met local historian and author Jennifer Crutchfield. She wrote a book titled, “Chattanooga Landmarks”, and when we sat down for a cup of coffee at Stone Cup Coffee, she told me that Renaissance and Coolidge Park were once the site where escaped or newly freed slaves lived in what was called Camp Contraband.
According to her book the November 1865 census calculated the camp’s population at nearly 3,500 people. Renaissance Park is where the Union Army constructed the first wooden bridge to cross the river in 1864. Coolidge Park was once a Naval and Marine Reserve Station…