History of Our Location
The story of our building, Square Pillars, has a history all its own
1881: Dr. J.W. Allen builds the house where it was originally located between the Methodist Church and the present-day community center.
1886: After the death of Dr. Allen, R.D. Compton purchases the house.
1890: Professors William Anderson and T.E. Allen buy the house and adjoining lot and build Hillsboro High School, a private 1-12 grade academy. The house is used as a residence for the professor's family and dormitory for boarding students.
1894: The school and house are purchased by Professor Z.A. McConnico.
1898: McConnico sells both properties to Professor Ernest Sparkman, who maintains the private school.
1904: Sparkman sells the school to Williamson County for use as a public school and the house to W.J. James.
1930: A fire burns down the Hillsboro School, and the James House is used for high school classes during the rebuilding.
1931: R.B. Burdette purchases the James House from the county school board and moves the back wing to its present location. On this lot, another fire had recently claimed the Redford House, along with the Andrews House on the north and the Sweeney House on the south.
1942: Ollie and Margaret Lunn and their 9 children make the house their home.
1949: The front of the house is changed greatly when Mr. Lunn acquires the four square columns from the Petway House located on West Main Street in Lynnhurst. While removing the wooden columns from the Petway House, the signature of John Haffner is discovered. Haffner, a local carpenter from Germany, was apparently the builder for the original owner, Tilmon. F. Atkinson.
Square Pillars is later the home of Willis Gatlin and the Haywood family.
1998: Laura Hill bravely takes on the difficult project of remodeling the stately village landmark. After a short residency, Laura sells the place to Crye-Leike Realtors.
Today: The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is home to Yeoman's in the Fork.
Special thanks to Rick Warwick for this fabulous history on the house.
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