History of the Mansion

    The original mansion on this estate was built by the late Colonel E.W. Cole, in 1893, shortly after his retirement as President of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway.   The house was designed by Colonel W. C. Smith, the architect of the Nashville Parthenon, and was of the classic Colonial type of architecture (pictured above).   The gardens and grounds were considered models of unusual beauty and symmetry.   The Colemere was noted for the distinguished guests who were entertained within its hospitable walls and was the scene of many of the outstanding social events of this area until it was destroyed by fire in October 1929.

    Colonel Cole's youngest daughter and her husband Mr. Dempsey Weaver had the mansion rebuilt in 1930-31.  The "new" mansion (pictured on the home page) was a Southern Colonial design by architect Russell Hart who was inspired by the Arlington mansion at Natchez, Mississippi.  The library in the new mansion contained one of the best collections in the state, with many first editions more than one hundred years old.

    In 1940, the city of Nashville purchased the estate from the Weaver family as part of the enlargement program of the municipal airport.  From 1948 to 1973 the mansion was leased to the Colemere Club, a private club noted for its gracious hospitality.

    In 1977, Iona Senecal leased the mansion for a restaurant concept she developed with her husband in Louisville, the "Seafood Feast".   She was later joined by her family, and together they own and manage the New Orleans Manor restaurant.  Their success is due in great part from their dedication to quality and traditional hospitality.