4 minute read
HISTORIC HAYNES HAVEN
By Holly Dobbs
Drivers passing the General Motors Plant in Spring Hill must be curious about Haynes Haven, the big white Italianate-style home that sits across from Rippavilla Plantation on Hwy 31 (Old Nashville Highway). This Spring Hill mansion has a fascinating history that was written about many years ago in a publication long gone, but in these pages, it can be told again, some of which comes firsthand from former resident Mrs. Sisse Pressnell Pfeiffer.
Haynes Haven is situated on the site of a home named Woodland, which was built just after the Civil War. In its heritage as Woodland, the Polks were its first occupants. It is said that Lucius Polk lived at Woodland during his bachelor years.
In the mid-1930s, it was established by W.M. Tolley who used it as a breeding farm for trotters and pacers. Sadly, Woodland burned down in 1937 in an accident that occurred during its restoration. Colonel Jack Haynes purchased the property in 1938 and salvaged many of the architectural pieces from Woodland, which were used in the construction of Haynes Haven, most prominently the front doors.
Colonel Haynes was also the owner of Haynes Haven Stock Farms. He was particularly known for his prize-winning Tennessee Walking Horses, including the 1940 and 1941 Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horse of the World, Haynes Peacock. The Tennessee native lived at Haynes Haven through the mid-1940s. However, that was not the end of Haynes Haven's history with Tennessee Walking horses, as told to us by Mrs. Pfeiffer who had the pleasure of growing up there.
Mrs. Pfeiffer spent most of her childhood and youth at Haynes Haven when her father Harry Pressnell and his brother Wayne bought the property in 1957. She recalls spending her first night in their huge new home. The next morning she asked her mother, "Why are we spending the night at this hotel?"
Despite the size and (then) isolation of the property, Mrs. Pfeiffer had a lovely childhood, living there from second grade through high school. Some of her fondest memories are of the many parties her parents gave over the years and getting to brush the manes and tails of the numerous Tennessee Walking horses that were boarded and trained on the property.
Eventually, her father became taken with aviation and built a landing strip toward the south end of the house. She and her brothers were responsible for washing his Mooney airplane on a regular basis. Mr. Pressnell also built a pool on the property, which was the first in-ground pool in Maury County. Her mother, Mrs. Pfeiffer recalls fondly, had gorgeous flower gardens near the barn and taught her how to grow and care for flowers.
In 1970, Mrs. Pheiffer's senior year of high school, the Pressnells sold the property to Jesse Stallings who was the president of Capitol Airways. In the mid-1980s, General Motors (GM) purchased the farm when the automotive manufacturing giant made a large land acquisition to set up manufacturing for their new Saturn Plant. To date, the Maury County house and property are still owned and maintained by GM.
The barn that housed prize-winning Haynes Peacock still stands on the GM site and has been restored as the company's Visitors Center, while the main house serves as an occasional meeting space for GM.
With its fascinating history and elegant architecture, it is easy to understand why GM chose to preserve one of Maury County’s finest historical homes.
HOLLY DOBBS is a professional home photographer who resides in Columbia, Tennessee. She and her family also operate the Maple Roost Vacation Rental in between spending time together on their farm.
