Cleese’s Ferry (or Clee’s, or Cleece’s … it’s complicated) across the Cumberland River from Annex Avenue to Old Hickory Boulevard’s abrupt end on Bells Bend was the last ferry service in Nashville, with the Judge Hickman shuttling cars to and fro until 1990. Now getting from West Nashville to the Bend requires a circuitous route over the river via Briley Parkway and then a jaunt down Ashland City Highway. For 30 years, a sign on Annex warned commuters “Cleese’s Ferry Closed,” just in case they hadn’t heard the news. But now the sign is gone. Why? It’s not like it required any upkeep, and it was a budget victim. Did Metro finally decide people were aware the ferry was gone? Did someone simply steal the sign? Or is the ferry coming back?! Write your councilmember.
Best Road-Sign Mystery
