ROBERTSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — From creaky floorboards to grand staircases, Robertson County's historic homes are windows into the past.

"Robertson County is home to lots of historical mansions," President and Board Chair of the Robertson County Historical Society, Danny Atchley, said.

The oldest, Woodard Hall, was built in 1792, and it still houses descendants of the original family.

"We had a distillery on our farm from the very earliest times, and we are not alone. There were many of them in Robertson County, and it was famous became famous for its distilleries," owner of Woodard Hall, Kay Gaston said.

The farm also grew tobacco, remaining in agricultural production for at least 200 years. While tobacco and liquor from distilleries are no longer in production at Woodard Hall, the buildings still standing tell the story of a different time.

"You'll see a little brick house called the brick kitchen, and then there's a full basement down there, which they would eat in during the summer," Josie Larson, who lives on Woodard Hall property, said. "...We have a granary, which would hold the grain, and then we have the smokehouse, where they would hang the smoked ham."

The family told News 2 that Woodard Hall will continue passing from generation to generation.

In 1892, Springfield dentist Dr. A.G. White bought 10 acres, creating the city's first subdivision.

"It's a snapshot of a fairly nice middle-class home from that era, from the 1890s," Atchley said. "You can see the tall ceilings."

The home now known as the Maybelle stands restored and ready for new memories as a wedding venue.

"From Dr. White on up to Jessica Davis, the people that have lived here have meticulously kept the home looking like a museum itself," Atchley said. "The decorations, the wallpaper, the well-kept hardwood floors."

Just down the street is another landmark: the McMurry House. Built in 1896, it was owned by a once prominent tobacco businessman William McMurry. In 1911, it was renovated into a Greek revival style. Today, its pink exterior is hard to miss.

"I didn't want to have a house that was just pink. I wanted it to be a historically-accurate 1896 pink," current owner of McMurry House, Lisa Arnold, said.

Inside, the owners are still uncovering pieces of history.

"We found the original doorknob to the home just underneath a piece of flooring," Arnold said. "We are constantly finding these incredible little hints of history."

They say some history still lingers, specifically that of William's daughter, Helen, who still haunts the house today.

"Helen believes that we are guests in this home 100%," Arnold said. "She is very excited and happy to host us — until we change something."

Whether it's the charm of Woodard Hall, the elegance of the Maybelle, or the quirks of the now pink McMurry House, Robertson County's homes show us history isn't one size fits all.

"Anyone who owns a historic home will tell you that you don't own the home; you are simply shepherding it to its next owner. It has been here before us, and it will be here after us," Arnold said.

"I think people should realize that they probably have similar stories in their own families," the owner of Woodard Hall, Kay Gaston, said. "They may not still have the house, but it is kind of an evolution that everyone went through when they came into a new country."

In Robertson County, those stories live on.

"North of Nashville is really becoming a booming economy, but more importantly, we're so focused on also preserving the history," Arnold said.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/on-tour-middle-tn/robertson-co-historic-homes/