Our City Seal and Its Story

Many of you have likely noticed the beautifully repainted water tower proudly displaying our city seal. To help us better appreciate its rich symbolism and historical significance, we invited its creator, Mr. John Winstead, to share the story behind the design. Below is Mr. Winstead’s reflection in his own words:

“I would be happy to tell the story. It was a 20-year project that began shortly after my father was elected mayor. I just felt that McEwen needed an official seal. It became an on-again, off-again endeavor that went through many versions over the years.

I created it in my spare time using the CAD program at work, often after hours or when I wasn’t in the field. I started with the interwoven knot, inspired by the Celtic and Saxon art of antiquity. Because McEwen began as an Irish town, the Irish harp and shamrock were essential elements.

During the Civil War, Irish farmers in the area sold dippers of buttermilk to Union troops who patrolled the railroad. That’s where the image of the milk stand and dipper came from—Union troops nicknamed McEwen ‘Buttermilk Station.’

McEwen sits at the 57-mile marker from Nashville on what was once the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad, which originally ran from Nashville to Johnsonville and later extended to Paducah, Kentucky. At that time, the railroad operated six locomotives—four of which were 4-4-0 Thomas Rogers freight engines—these are the engines depicted on the seal.

As for the name ‘McEwen,’ it honors Robert Houston McEwen of Nashville, a Unionist who opposed secession. He flew a Union flag at his home until Governor Isham Harris threatened to send the state militia to remove it. That part of history was largely forgotten or omitted over time, with many instead claiming the town was named for a ‘beloved civil engineer.’ I uncovered a reference to the true story in an 1888 history of Humphreys County.

I also found an 1864 railroad map that identified McEwen by name—earlier maps only marked the area as Irish shanty towns and noted the Catholic church along the future railroad route. Newspaper articles from the period also described train rides from Nashville to Johnsonville, confirming the areas historical role.

When I found that 1864 reference, I knew the seal was complete. I was deeply honored and humbled when the city board adopted my design in 2014, just in time for McEwen’s 150th anniversary.”

We thank John Winstead for his time, effort, and unwavering dedication to preserving McEwen’s heritage. His work ensures that the story of our city—and the people who shaped it—will be remembered for generations to come.