305 W 6TH STREET - MAYER-FRIERSON-JUSTON HOUSE

MAYER-FRIERSON-JUSTON HOUSE

212 WEST 6TH STREET - HALCYON HALL

Halcyon Hall was built in 1845 by Joseph Walker. He married Adaline Nelson. Her parents lived at 207 West 6th Street... the Looney-Jackson Home.  A story centered on this house is that the couple only lived there for six weeks as the young bride was homesick and they moved back to her father's home. At one point the house was used as a girls' school.

205 W 6TH STREET - FLEMING HOUSE

 FLEMING HOUSE

The Fleming House is located at 205 W 6th Street (35.61638N 87.03609W). It was built ca 1890. The house is a 2 story, red brick, late Victorian style house. I do not know anything about its history. I do have personal memories of it. In 1970 when I lived in Columbia for six months, this house was next door to a Dairy Queen. Every time we went to the DQ I noticed it. At the time, the house looked like it was used as an antique furniture store. At least the porch  ringing around three sides of the house was cluttered with old furniture. 

202 W 6TH STREET - GAMBLE HOUSE

The Gamble House located at 202 W 6th Street (35.61649N 87.03576W). "ca. 1920 , well preserved Bungalow style house, 1½ story stucco/brick/frame construction, painted white. Featuring hip roof, dormers, arched semi-enclosed porch and raised foundation wall for a full basement" (source: National Registry of Historic Places Inventory -- Nomination Form).

207 W 6TH STREET - DAVID LOONEY-JACKSON HOUSE

The David Looney-Jackson House was built in 1835. Located at 207 W 6th Street (35.61643N  87.03632W), it is on the south side of the street. The is a "two-story brick originally a Federal style townhouse with a gable roof, featuring Flemish bond brickwork, fanlight transom, side light panels and paneled triple windows in the front. The ornate porches were added when the house was enlarged in 1839 by Nathan Vaught." (Source: National Register of Historical Places Inventory -- Nomination Form). 

The Looney-Jackson Home was built in 1835 for David Looney. There is a long scar on the floor in the front hall. It was left there by a soldier on a horse during the Civil War. Later the house belonged to W. S. Fleming.  He was the county historian and a jurist. It also belonged to Pleasant Nelson.

From the National Register of Historic Places: "As Columbia's LOONEY HOUSE looks back over the shoulder of the past, ti can see a Yankee trooper galloping through its hallway and has the scars to prove it.  With a flair for Gothic columns and a handsomely transomed entrance, this fine old Federal townhouse has seen more than its share of ___________ Tennessee.

Though the whims of future owners would furnish additions and alterations, the earliest portion of this old place was built by David Looney, a rising young attorney about the time of his marriage in 1835 to Miss Mary Ann McGuire.

Although his sister, Ellen, would reign for more than a half century as the grande dame of the MAYES-FRIERSON PLACE, just a block up the street, Mary Ann Looney was not meant to walk this earth.  As early as 1839, in deep despair over his young wife's untimely death, David Looney sold their home to Pleasant Nelson, another prominent Columbian. That same year say Mr Nelson engage master builder, Nathan Vaught to erect a four-room brick addition accompanied by a rather spacious veranda looking east toward Garden Street. Mr Nelson's daughter Adeline and her husband, Joseph Walker built the Halcyon Hall.

In 1854 the LOONEY HOUSE, once found to be unoccupied, was taken over by Union invaders as an officer's quarters. Traces of blood-stains found in more recent times indicate that this old place may also have seen service as a Yankee hospital during the many skirmishes in and around Columbia.

Still another memento of these turbulent times is a long, ugly scar on the ashen floor of the LOONEY HOUSE entrance hall, lingering legend insists it was gouged out by a riotous "Blue Belly" who rode his horse up the front steps and into the house during the occupation.

Insult was added to injury when the Flemings country home suddenly burned to the ground in the throes of these bitter days and left them no choice but to return to town and throw themselves on the mercy of the Federal authorities. Since Union officers were still cooling their heels in the LOONEY HOUSE, the Flemings were granted permission to tack onto its west side a humble three-room addition in which to sit and listen for the final echo of rattling sabres (sic), ___ drums and marching men."

DUCK RIVER BRIDGE

COULUMBIA DUCK RIVER BRIDGE

The Columbia Duck River Bridge was the first bridge over the Duck River in Columbia. It is located at the foot of East 6th Street (35.61740N -87.02945W). The only portion that can be see is on the north shore of the River and cannot be accessed because it is own county land with a fence around it. However, the remaining abutment can be seen for the south side at the Riverside County Park.

During the Civil War the bridge was use by Union General Don Buell's Army of The Ohio crossed on its way to reinforce Gen Grant at the Battle of Shiloh.

Edward B. Littlefield, Peter R. Booker, and David Craighead were contracted to build it in August 1820. It was finished at least by 1823. It was burned in 1862 during the Civil War. All that remained were the pillars and abutments. Re-build it was completed in 1870. It remained in use until near the end of the 1800's.

In 1859, a sign was placed on the bridge with the following warning:
       

"$10 fine (half to the informer) for going through this bridge faster than a walk or driving through it more than 10 head of horses, mules, or cattle or more than 50 head of hogs, or driving through it more than one six-horse team at one time."

At that time, $10 would have a purchasing power of $294 (in 2014 dollar). So that was quite a fine!

307 W 6TH STREET - MOORE-HENDLEY-CHURCH HOUSE

MOORE-HENDLEY-CHURCH HOUSE

Located at 307 W 6th Street  (35.61634N  -87.038505W) if a beautiful little 2 and one-half story house. It  has some very interesting features: nice poach, arch room, ionic tops on 8 columns and a driveway fenestration. It was built in 1920-21.