Thursday, August 15, 2013
RITTER-MORTON HOUSE
The Ritter-Morton House is a very beautiful cottage-type house located at in Spring Hill at the corner of School Street and Mclemons Ave. Its architectural type is officially listed as "Carpenter Gothic". It is also known as "The Kissing House". It is a couple of block north of the Kentucky Home for Christen. It was built in the 1870's. I have looked for more information but have been unable to locate anything.
MERCER HALL
Mercer Hall is located on 902 Mercer Ct off of Trotwood Ave, Columbia, TN (35º36.778N 87º3.011W). It is not a hard house to find but it is a hard house to photograph because of all the close vegetation.
The center portion of this building was raised prior to 1820. In 1829 it was owned by future President of the USA, James K. Polk. He owned it of 7 years when he transferred ownership to his sister Ophelia Polk Hayes.
In 1848, Rev. James Hervey Otey, the First Episcopal Bishop of Tennessee made it his home. Soon, he turned it into a boy's school and named it Mercer Hall after it benefactor Dr. William Mercer.
During the Civil War, Mercer Hall served as headquarters for Union General Jacob Cox. Soldiers also used it to hide. They kept their horses in the basement.
Mercer Hall is an example of Greek Revival Architecture. The current owners have done a lot of work restoring both its outside and inside into what it looked like in the 1800's.
The center portion of this building was raised prior to 1820. In 1829 it was owned by future President of the USA, James K. Polk. He owned it of 7 years when he transferred ownership to his sister Ophelia Polk Hayes.
In 1848, Rev. James Hervey Otey, the First Episcopal Bishop of Tennessee made it his home. Soon, he turned it into a boy's school and named it Mercer Hall after it benefactor Dr. William Mercer.
During the Civil War, Mercer Hall served as headquarters for Union General Jacob Cox. Soldiers also used it to hide. They kept their horses in the basement.
Mercer Hall is an example of Greek Revival Architecture. The current owners have done a lot of work restoring both its outside and inside into what it looked like in the 1800's.
305 WEST 6th ST - MAYES-FRIERSON-FUSTON HOUSE
The Mayes-Frierson-Fuston House is located at 305 W 6th Ave, Columbia, TN (35º37.002N, 87º2.340W). It was built in 1833 by Patrick Maguire as a wedding gift for his daughter Eleanore (Ellen) and her husband Roger Bradley Mayer. The bricks are the original slaves made bricks. Because they were so soft, they had to be painted sometime early last century.
In 1880, Ellen Mayer deeded the home to her granddaughter who deeded it to her granddaughter thus it was owned by the Mayer-Frierson women until it was sold in the 1970's to the present owners. The Fuston family has done a wonderful job in preserving the home and its history.
The current owner is Kathie Hicks Fuston.
The current owner is Kathie Hicks Fuston.
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