According to legend, Dead Negro Hollow was so named in the 1870s when a black laborer was found murdered there after he had learned the location of a silver mine. Although this may have been appropriate and or acceptable name at the time this is an offensive name.

Instead of this derogatory name it is suggested to rename Dead Negro Hollow to Elias Polk Hollow. Elias Polk was a slave to President James Polk while in the White House. Once emancipated Elias became an activist and served as the president of the Independent Colored Conservative National Club. He returned to Washington, DC, where he worked as a laborer on the United States Capitol from 1876 to 1882. He died three days after meeting President Grover Cleveland in 1886 and is buried in Nashville.