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The building of Ferguson Hall was begun 1852 and completed in 1853. Martin Cheairs contracted with Daniel McColpin to build this great old home and his brother, Nathaniel Cheairs, was responsible for the building of Rippavilla, the sister house a mile and a half south on Hwy. 31. Both Greek Revival homes have white-columned entrances that face north and west. The ceilings are 12 to 14 feet high. A suspended circular stairway, made of cherry wood is a prominent feature of the main entrance.

Martin Cheairs died in 1891. In 1905 his home and about 57 acres were sold for $10,000 to Spring Hill Male College , which later became Branham and Hughes Academy . Additions were made to the house and other buildings erected to accommodate the student body of about 300 boarding students. It was at this time the Cheairs home became known as Ferguson Hall, a name that still is in use. In 1936 the Tennessee Orphan's Home bought the academy and moved the orphanage from Columbia to Spring Hill. Today the Tennessee Children's Home has its main office on the grounds. The beautiful old antebellum home is being opened to the public for the first time in its history. The mansion is on the National Register of Historic Homes.

Picture below- The grounds are well kept and the stately trees show their fall colors.

In 1934 the Church of Christ Tennessee Orphan Home bought the academy, and the next year the orphanage was moved to Spring Hill from Columbia . Additional dormitories and facilities were built for the Orphan Home. Today, Ferguson Hall is owned and managed by the Tennessee Children's Home. Work continues to fully restore it to its original splendor. Complete with four round Corinthian columns on the front and four square Corinthian columns on the north entrance the house commands one's attention. The house is also unusual in that there are no windows on the south wall.  The spiral staircase is a unique and freestanding design. The only such staircase remaining in antebellum homes in this area.

Picture to right- Suspended circular stairway

Ferguson Hall is most noted for an incident that transpired there in 1863. After the Battle of Murfreesboro, Confederate General Bragg's troops drew back to occupy more secure bases to the South. Gen. Earl Van Dorn, a native of Mississippi , was commander of Bragg's cavalry. He brought his troops to Spring Hill, and chose Ferguson Hall (called the Chairs Home at the time) as his headquarters. Whether his reputation as a "womanizer" was true or not has been the subject of much discussion over the years but one of his affairs brought about his death. It was rumored that he was carrying on an affair with Jesse McKissack Peters, the wife of Dr. George B. Peters, local physician, and it was commented that Mrs. Peters could be seen coming and going from the Cheairs house at odd hours. Dr. Peters became aware of these rumors and on the morning of 7 May 1863 was waiting at the house when Gen. Van Dorn arrived. Details of the events of that day are few but at the conclusion of it all, Van Dorn lay dead on the floor and Dr. Peters had fled the area. Evidence collected by army investigators seemed to point to justifiable murder and the doctor was never brought to trial.
Picture to left- General Earl Van Dorn  

 Picture above- Dr. George and  Mrs. Jesse McKissack Peters

Picture above- Pistol found in upstairs bedroom wall while remodeling.

 While obviously not likely to be the pistol that Dr. Peters used to shoot Van Dorn, this pistol was found in an upstairs bedroom wall during remodeling.  It is authenticated as being made prior to the Civil War years.

Ferguson Hall is available for weddings, family reunions and special events. Tours are also available by appointment.

For more information please contact:

Picture above- Laura Edmunds and Esheron McKay

Contact Information - Laura Edmunds, Manager

 ledmunds@tennesseechildrenshome.org

931-486-2274 ext 227