Ferguson Hall History
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
Ferguson Hall is most noted for an incident that transpired there in 1863. After the Battle of Murfrees-boro, 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 Buren 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.
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.
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.
It is available for weddings, family reunions and special events. Tours are also available by appointment.
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