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."
