Blog no. 43

Walter Stancel Robertson was born on October 24, 1897, in Bessemer, Jefferson County, Alabama, to Abner Joseph Robertson and Czarina Missouri McClain. He had 5 siblings, and their names were Ramie Gertrude (Robertson) O’Connor, Dora (Robertson) Howard, Hamilton Manoah Robertson, and Edward Eastland Robertson. Walter’s father was highly involved with phosphate mines in Hickman and Giles counties for many years, which meant the family had moved a lot when Walter was a child. For 18 years, he was the superintendent of the American Agricultural Chemical’s phosphate mines in Spring Hill, TN. Walter would eventually follow his father’s footsteps for about 15 years and become a part of the Phosphate Mine industry. 

On September 6, 1917, during World War I, Walter enlisted into the Veterinary Corps. He was stationed in the Veterinary Corps Camp in Greenleaf, Georgia as a 2nd Lieutenant until his discharge on January 28, 1919. During his time in the war, he had his future wife waiting for him in Tennessee, who he married a month and two days before his discharge. 

On December 26, 1918, in Davidson County, TN, Walter married Laura Evins Haynes. While Walter and Laura never had children together, they adopted Walter Stancel “Stan” Robertson Jr. and raised him as if he were their own child. Walter and his family had owned and lived on the property that Laura Lake is on, in Spring Hill, TN. Laura Lake was named for Walter’s wife and was the place practically everyone in Spring Hill fished. The property the family lived on is sadly now covered in homes, but the lake is still used for fishing as it has been for many years.

Around 15 years after returning from the war, since Walter already had experience in this field, he became a veterinarian. His office was at 907 South Main Street, in Columbia, Maury County, TN, where I believe he had once lived during his time there. He was the main veterinarian of Columbia and the surrounding areas, like Spring Hill. 

Due to his talent and expertise in veterinary care, a road located off of Beechcroft Road was named Dr. Robertson Road in his honor. The road name has not changed ever since and is one of the more known road names in Spring Hill, TN. 

Sadly, on March 15, 1971, in TN, Walter died. He was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, in Columbia, Maury County, TN. Walter will never be forgotten for what he did for the people of Spring Hill, Columbia, and the surrounding areas.