The stately Southern mansion known as the Alexander Ewing House, also called Woodlon Hall, is located about six miles north of Nashville along the west bank of Whites Creek on Buena Vista Pike. The home, built in the early 1820’s, shows proof of the master architects and skilled craftsmen that existed in the early days especially the doorway with broad side lights and fan transom and the wide hallway containing a spiralled staircase.
The home is a fine example of early Federal style plantations, constructed of brick with a stone foundation. The interior features two rooms on each side of the central hallway. The first story contains a music room (originally the gentlemen’s parlor), a study (originally the ladies’ parlor), dining room and kitchen. The second floor oroginally contained four rooms, an additional room resulted when a remodeling enclosed the front part of the hallway.
Alexander Ewing built this house shortly before his death in April 1822. A native of Maryland, he served as Second Lieutenant in the Continental Army from 1777 to 1782 when we was promoted to Captain. Captain Ewing was given 2,666 acres in Davidson County as thanks for his Revolutionary War Service. He moved to Nashville in 1786 and in 1792 started adding to his land, buying acreage in Middle and West Tennessee. The Davidson County Tax Roll for 1798 listed Ewing as owning 13 slaves.
There are several legends connected with the Ewing House. One concerns a large mural (10’6″ wide by 5’9″ tall) of a galloping horse in one of the bedrooms. It is thought that a great-grandson of Alexander Ewing painted it while confined to his room as punishment. Another legend is connected to a path of bloodstains that lay at the bottom of the staircase on the first story continuing to the back door. They are believed to be that of a confederate soldier, who was shot in the house.
