appearance and in literal fact “Mount Repose”. The name aptly describes
the first impression of every visitor.
The house is situated on an elevation, surrounded by broad green acres.
Built in the early 1800’s, Mount Repose has been the scene of much that
is interesting in the story of Natchez. It is part of the original
estate of William Bisland, a Scotsman. From this family comes the author
Elizabeth Bisland who through close association with Lafcadio Hearn,
when both of them worked for the old New Orleans _Picayune_, was able to
write the interesting life of that genius. This book and many others by
Elizabeth Bisland, including _Candle of Understanding_ and _The Case of
John Smith_, can be found in public libraries today.
The present owners of Mount Repose, Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Baldwin of New
York, are direct descendants of the Bisland family. Its present
occupants, the J. D. Shields family are also descendants of the
Bislands. Mrs. Shields is a descendant of the renowned English beauty,
Margaret Watts, who married the Spanish Governor, Manuel Gayoso de
Lemos, who is prominently identified with Natchez’ earliest history.
The original furnishings of Mount Repose have gone out to Bisland heirs,
and yet valuable antiques and family portraits remain in the old house.
An interesting story is told of a wager expressive of the loyalty of
William Bisland to Henry Clay.
Mr. Bisland believed that Henry Clay should be, and would be, the next
president of the United States. He laid a wager in accordance with his
belief. He had just planted a formal line of sentinel trees along a
driveway to the main entrance of Mount Repose. He openly declared that
this driveway would be closed until Clay was elected. He then proceeded
with great preparations for its formal opening, but history tells why
today there grow two long lines of well-spaced trees from the big front
gate to the house—that gate unopened through the years! The entrance to
Mount Repose is through the side gate. Henry Clay was never elected
president.
_Melmont_
[Illustration: Melmont]
’Way back in 1839, when Henry Basil Shaw married Mary Elizabeth
Lattimore, profound consideration was given to naming the homes and
estates of Natchez. It is almost certain that the mistress of Melmont
pondered long and consulted her family before deciding the name. She
chose to use the three initials of Mary Elizabeth Lattimore to form the
first part of the name, “Mel”, and added “mont” because the mansion
stood mounted on a rolling acreage. Thus “Melmont” was coined.
Melmont is unlike other Natchez homes. The architecture is its own
peculiar type. A sturdy, well-built house, it has for almost a century
cared for Natchez’ foremost citizens and their illustrious guests.
Claiborne, the historian, Judge Samuel Brooks, and other prominent men
spent much time at Melmont.
The acreage around Melmont has been sold and modern homes have been
built on the land. Melmont is now a palatial town house, no longer a
country home.
Melmont was within the Federal lines during the War Between the States.
When Natchez was shelled from the river in 1862 shells fell in the yard
and gardens and destroyed giant oak trees and landscaping.
The interior decoration and furnishing are to a great extent from the
original family although many handsome pieces have been added by
subsequent owners. Mrs. John Ayres and her sister, Miss Corinne
Henderson, have occupied this home for many years. Mrs. Ayers especially
prizes a mahogany bureau which has chests on either side for storing
wigs.
[Illustration: MELMONT—Drawing Room]
A valuable Hepplewhite desk in the drawing room attracts much interest.
It belonged to the renowned John Henderson, and it was here he is
believed to have written an appeal to Congress in 1798 “for schools for
the education of children and provision for regular ministry of the
Gospel.”
Melmont is well preserved, exterior and interior, and holds great charm
for all who come within its portals.
[Illustration: Melrose]
[Illustration: Pond on Driveway to the House]
_Melrose_
[Illustration: The Drawing Room. The old-fashioned “courting set” had
a center seat for the chaperon, who was ever present during boy and
girl visits.]
Melrose, called “the perfect ante-bellum home”, is located about a mile
from Natchez city limits. This model mansion, built in the early 40’s,
owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. George M. D. Kelly, is, by courtesy
of the owners, opened for inspection during the annual Pilgrimage
celebration of the Natchez Garden Club. In an entire day one can only
glimpse Melrose and its treasures. Another full day could be well spent
in the surrounding woodlands and boxwood bordered gardens.
Built in 1845 by Judge Edward Turner for his daughter, Mrs. McMurran, it
was purchased immediately after the War Between the States by George
Malin Davis, grandfather of the present owner, George Malin Davis Kelly.
Mr. Kelly has with great pride of possession kept the Melrose home and
estate in its original perfection.
[Illustration: PUNKA OVER DINING ROOM TABLE]
The approach to Melrose is through acres of lawn as smooth as stretched
velvet. The house is an imposing brick building of the square Georgian
architectural design, with upper and lower porticos, and supporting
Ionic columns.
The front door is of attractive Colonial style with diamond shaped
sidelights. A broad sweep of steps lead to the wide portico.
A spacious hall runs through the lower floor. It is appropriately
furnished in rare old pieces; among these is an unusual table which is
set with semi-precious stones, and an ancient grandfather’s clock. The
lighting for this grand hallway is provided by numerous rows of candles,
held in dainty but substantial frames. The floor covering (which is the
original) attracts immediate attention by reason of its beauty, unique
design, and quality. It can be best described as a striking inlay of
unknown origin.
To the right of the hall is the front drawing room. The rosewood
furniture is Empire style, and is in as perfect condition today as on
the day of its purchase.
[Illustration: TYPICAL BEDROOM PIECES—MELROSE]
To the left is a dining room 20 feet square. Black marble mantels add
dignity to the room. A handsome mahogany punka swings over the dining
table. This bespeaks undeniable antiquity. Until quite recently the
owners of Melrose cared for several old slaves who pulled the punka to
create breezes for the comfort of the family during meals.
Melrose still uses its outside brick kitchen, reached by a broad brick
walk from the main house. Above the kitchen are quarters for the house
servants.
The upper floors of Melrose contain bedrooms, halls, and a sewing room.
Massive beds so high that occupants must climb in by a set of specially
made mahogany steps; heavy bureaus, armoirs, dressing tables, tilt top
tables, and day bed—all are heirlooms of the original owners and of the
present owners.
Mr. Davis (the grandfather of the present owner) came South from
Pennsylvania many years before the war of ’61, and was educated at
Sewanee College, Sewanee, Tennessee. His only daughter married Dr.
Stephen Kelly of New York, and that daughter became the mother of George
M. D. Kelly, the present owner of Melrose mansion.
George M. D. Kelly and his wife, who was Miss Ethel Moore, are members
of old New York families but have long since adopted the Southland as
their home.
_Monmouth_
[Illustration: Monmouth]
Near “Linden”, on a velvety lawn guarded by great oaks, stands a
Grecian-type mansion. This is Monmouth, now owned and maintained by Mrs.
Hubert Barnum. Mrs. Barnum, owner of “Arlington”, the adjoining estate,
is probably the only Natchezian who owns and operates two great
ante-bellum homes.
Historically Monmouth is known as the home of John A. Quitman and his
wife, Eliza. General Quitman, a hero of national renown, raised the
first American flag in Mexico. He purchased this mansion and fifteen
surrounding acres about the year 1826.
Edith Wyatt Moore in her story of Monmouth says: “John A. Quitman and
Eliza Turner drew a marriage contract prior to their wedding. He
relinquished all right of inheritance to her property in case of her
death without children. He gave her the right to handle slaves and
property or dispose of same without his consent.” General Quitman was a
native of New York.
A man of great popularity and military distinction, General Quitman’s
home became the scene of many gatherings of the notables of America.
Monmouth was classed among the most perfectly appointed homes of its
day.
General Quitman died in 1859 from what was suspected as the effect of
slow poison administered at a banquet given in honor of President
Buchanan.
For a period following General Quitman’s death his beloved Monmouth was
vacant. It became dilapidated from disuse, and after passing through
many hands was purchased by Mrs. Annie Gwynne, who is now Mrs. Barnum.
Every part has been repaired or renewed and the old mansion stands today
in majestic perfection.
Great square pillars support the upper portico, which is encircled by
attractive lattice grill work. The walls are of brick. The doors, with
fan transoms and side-lights, and the window frames are made of
hand-carved wood. Spacious halls, huge rooms with high ceilings, and a
pervading air of solid, substantial structure make Monmouth a monument
eternal to a man whose memory shall never die—a man of whom it was said,
“He is Mississippi’s best-loved citizen.”
The original furnishings of Monmouth are long since gone. These were
supplanted by rare antiques from the superb collection of Mrs. Barnum’s
family, the Greens, who founded Greensboro, North Carolina.
[Illustration: MILK HOUSE AND SERVANTS’ QUARTERS—MONMOUTH]
_Monteigne_
[Illustration: Monteigne]
“Monteigne” is a recently acquired possession of one of Natchez’ most
valued families, Mrs. Mary Worrell Kendall and Mr. and Mrs. William
Kendall. It was built in 1855 as the home of Gen. William T. Martin of
the Confederacy, whose features are carved on Stone Mountain as a
representative of the State of Mississippi. Hand-hewn timbers discovered
when excavating the foundation for “Monteigne” lead to the belief that
this was the site of a home destroyed during the Indian Massacre of
1729.
The place bears the French Huguenot name for Martin, “Monteigne”. It is
unlike any of the old homes around Natchez. Predominantly Georgian in
appearance, Monteigne stands out distinctively. A solid, two-story
structure, built of sturdiest timbers, this home has withstood the
ravages of time and the desecration of opposing forces during the War
Between the States.
It is said that horses were “stalled” in the parlors by Yankee soldiers,
rosewood furniture used for kindling fires, and valuable silver and
brass melted and lost.
[Illustration: MONTEIGNE—Patio]
Upon his return from the war, General Martin saw the destruction of the
beauty of his house and its grounds. With the undismayed courage of a
great man who knows how to overcome defeat, he began the restoration of
his home and its eleven acres of yard and gardens.
When Leslie Carpenter bought Monteigne in 1928 Natchez was assured
another perfect estate. Terraced lawns and rose gardens were brought to
life; driveways, trellises, shrubbery, and flagged walks were restored
to this classic home.
The interior of Monteigne is stately—formal and yet inviting—with the
black and white mosaic floor in its great entrance hall.
Monteigne recently passed from the Carpenters to the present owners,
Mrs. Mary Worrell Kendall, her son, William, and his wife and their two
little daughters.
[Illustration: MONTEIGNE—Rose Garden]
[Illustration: MONTEIGNE—Lily Pool]
_Myrtle Terrace_
[Illustration: Myrtle Terrace]
Substantial and compact, this Colonial cottage is one of the reclaimed
small ante-bellum homes of Natchez. Built in the 1830’s, it is more than
a century old.
In 1844 Myrtle Terrace was purchased by the late L. N. Carpenter, who,
in turn, sold it to the renowned Captain Thomas Leathers of steamboat
fame. The agreement to buy stipulated in minute detail that the property
must be put in “ship shape”, carefully specifying “hinges on the
windows, fastenings on the cellar door, latches on the gates, blinds on
all windows except the dormers, building a stable and a carriage house”.
Captain Leathers was identified with the famous _Natchez-Robert E. Lee_
steamboat race from New Orleans to St. Louis, on the Mississippi river,
in 1870. The prize was $20,000. The race has become an epic. So
thrilling is it in the history of river traffic it was dramatized in a
recent celebration on the Pacific Coast.
Captain Leathers of the _Natchez_ lost the race to Captain Cannon of the
_Robert E. Lee_ not because he had a slower boat but because of his
over-confidence. He traveled nonchalantly and made all his regular
stops. In the pinch he would not jeopardize the safely of his passengers
by pressing his boilers beyond the safety point.
Captain Leathers lived in Myrtle Terrace for many years, and the place
is still known as the “home of the Captain of the steamboat _Natchez_”.
It is now owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Dan Tucker, who have
reclaimed the old lines of the house and have added modern interior
improvements.
_Propinquity_
[Illustration: Propinquity]
In the long ago, when each Southern plantation was identified by a
specially chosen name, the naming of homes around Natchez was a great
event. When land was opened and a home built, a recorded name was given,
and neither time nor change of owner or occupant changed the name of
that plantation. Interesting indeed are the stories of the names
selected.
“Propinquity” was named in 1810 by its owner, Brigadier General Leonard
Covington, and was so named because its lands adjoined Fort Dearborn
where he was in command of a troop of Light Dragoons. Today Propinquity
is appropriate as “near to nature”.
The plantation belonged originally to one William Belk. The records
shows that in 1797 a committee met at this place for the purpose of
appointing a Public Safety organization, the first American political
assembly held in the Lower Mississippi Valley.
For several generations Propinquity has been owned by the descendants of
Jane Long, the famous “Mother of Texas”, who spent many happy days in
this quaint old home. It is still a reliquary for interesting
possessions of the Texas heroine.
Situated on a side road off the original “Natchez Trace”, this old house
is built on simple early American lines. A wide center hall with a deep
mahogany stairway runs the length of the two huge rooms on either side.
Green shuttered, small pane windows, a solid three-panel front door with
straight glass sidelights, and a small upper and lower portico complete
the simple picture of this old home.
The furnishings are of the original purchase. There is a tiny melodeon
in the parlor. Its quaint type indicates very early “vintage”—a rare
museum piece.
[Illustration: PROPINQUITY]
[Illustration: Spinet
Hand Made Wax Fruit Under a Glass Globe]
Bedrooms where rested the nobility of the land in earlier days are still
prim and precise with poster beds in their original draperies, mahogany
armoirs, bureaus with numerous side compartments and many mirrors to
please the fancy of milady of the early fifties.
In the dining room there is an exquisite set of china, and despite the
fact that it has been in daily use for more than one hundred years, only
two small pieces are missing from the set of 200 pieces. This gives an
idea of the order and system, and the appreciation for the valuable and
beautiful at Propinquity.
The house is occupied by Miss Rebecca Miller and Mrs. M. E. Fauntleroy,
who are descendants of the renowned Jane Long.
[Illustration: RAVENNA (_front_)]
[Illustration: Azaleas, Little Ravenna]
_Ravenna_
[Illustration: Ravenna]
At the end of Union street, on ten acres of ground which edges a great
ravine or bayou, stands Ravenna, the present home of Mrs. Richard I.
Metcalf.
Ravenna was built more than one hundred years ago by the Harris family.
It has stood the test of time and of the tornado of 1840. It stands
today in the superior dignity of perfection. The property was acquired
by the family of its present owner about eighty years ago.
Ravenna shows every evidence of an inherited love of flowers. This comes
from Andrew Brown of “Brown’s Gardens”, and Mrs. Metcalf, a direct
descendant, has expressed that inherited taste and talent in the
beautification of Ravenna.
The house is the large Colonial type. An outstanding feature of the
interior is an exquisite stairway and a great assembly of unusual,
massive antiques.
The charm of Ravenna is its setting. Facing a great ravine, the old home
is surrounded by flowers. A huge wisteria vine covers the front of the
house with purple blossoms. The side of the place toward the town is
enclosed by a high iron fence of massive design. The main entrance is
through heavy iron gates that lead along the winding tulip bordered
driveway to the front portico. Bordering this driveway are radiant
azalea bushes and japonicas, while at certain seasons of the year the
deep pink of flowering peach trees and almond trees give vivid color
splotches which intensify the beauty of these grounds.
A point of interesting antiquity at Ravenna is the name “Caroline
Harris” scratched with a diamond into a window pane. This proves
conclusively that the windows were there in 1840 when the Harrises owned
Ravenna.
[Illustration: (unlabelled)]
During the War Between the States the peace of Ravenna was greatly
disturbed by Federal soldiers who ordered the Metcalfs to leave this
home. Mrs. Metcalf was suspected of communicating with the Confederate
soldiers through the bayou.
Alter the war Ravenna was reclaimed and again occupied by the Metcalf
family.
[Illustration: (unlabelled)]
“Little Ravenna”, the cottage home of the late Mrs. Zulika Metcalf
Lawrence, stands on the Ravenna grounds, as does also a palatial
residence occupied by Mrs. Roan Fleming Byrnes, who is a leading spirit
in promoting the great Natchez Trace highway project.
This group of family homes, under the sheltering eaves of the parent
home, Ravenna, eloquently bespeaks that close and lovable family life of
the South as it has existed for generations.
[Illustration: (unlabelled)]
[Illustration: The lyre motif in mirror and table is unusual. Tester
bed is typical.]
[Illustration: Queen of a recent Confederate Ball, Miss Roane Adams,
poses beneath the portrait of her grandmother in the drawing room of
Ravenna.]
_Oakland_
Among the numerous ante-bellum homes of Natchez which are today owned
and occupied by lineal descendants of the original owners “Oakland”
stands preeminent. Built in 1838 for Catherine Chotard Eustis, the
granddaughter of Major Stephen Minor, this home remains in the
possession of the Minor family. The present owner is Mrs. Jeanne Minor
McDowell. Major Minor was the last Governor of the Natchez District
under Spanish rule.
Oakland is located in secluded grounds, and, as its name implies, stands
in a land of oaks.
The house is a substantial brick building with a wide front portico and
broad brick steps. The spacious center hallway opens with heavy mahogany
entrance doors into an old-fashioned parlor on the right and a large
dining room on the left. The walls are covered with the original paper.
Many pieces of the original furnishings remain. Several rare pieces were
brought to Oakland from “Concord”, which was the Governor’s official
mansion and was destroyed by fire.
The Minors were lovers of race horses, and valuable paintings of
beautiful horses owned by the family adorn the walls. Two especially
fine horse pictures are by Troye. Many silver trophies of racing
victories form an interesting part of Oakland possessions.
In this house is a bed of unique type, known as “a family bed”. It is a
huge four-poster with silken tester. As broad as it is long, there is
plenty of room for six persons to sleep comfortably!
Ante-bellum gardens wherein grow verbena, gardenia, and sweet olive,
with clipped boxwood borders, complete the handsome setting of Oakland.
[Illustration: (unlabelled)]
_Richmond_
Life at Richmond today seems a continuous house party. The present
owners (seven daughters, one son, and one granddaughter of the late
Shelby Marshall) are the fifth and sixth generations of the illustrious
Levin R. Marshall family to own and occupy this old and hospitable
mansion. It contains 41 rooms.
The architecture of Richmond shows three distinct styles. The original
center building, 153 years old, is of Spanish design; the front, 105
years old, is of Greek design; and 77 years ago the square English
portion of the house was built.
The Spanish part, constructed of sturdy hand-hewn timbers, brick, and
cement, is in an excellent state of preservation. It has stood without
reconstruction throughout the years. There is a cement patio on the
ground level, and cypress steps with artistic iron grill rails reach the
main floor from the outside. Here one can sound the door knocker, and
soon hear heavy wooden bars being lifted. This was the security against
Indians and other intruders of early days, and such protection remains
intact at Richmond.
In 1832 Richmond became the property of Levin R. Marshall,
great-great-grandfather of the present owners, and it was he who added
the lovely Greek portion. This addition contains six large rooms on the
main floor and four in the basement.
Twenty-eight years later, in order to accommodate a rapidly growing
family and numbers of guests, the red brick English addition was built
in the rear.
The main entrance has a front portion with classic Corinthian columns
supporting the roof. A broad hall, the length of two twenty-foot rooms,
runs through the center to a formal dining room. This formal room opens
with four tall folding doors into a smaller family dining room. There
are double drawing rooms on the left side of the great hall.
The massive old furniture remains today in Richmond, as does the family
silver, which is the most ornate and beautiful silver service in the
entire South.
The front drawing room harbors a greatly prized relic of the past—the
quaint concert grand piano which was used to accompany the famous
song-bird Jenny Lind when, under the management of that superb showman,
P. T. Barnum, she toured the South. A beautiful portrait of Jenny Lind
hangs near the old piano.
Richmond contains a rich treasure store of old laces, quaint costumes,
and queer candelabra. Quite recently there was discovered an assortment
of pans and plumber’s equipment. When assembled this “find” proved to be
a bathtub of probably the 1850 model. The fastidious bather stood in a
tin basin, pulled a curtain for privacy, while a slave by means of a
small hand pump pumped water from a two-gallon tank overhead; this water
ran over the bather, down into the basin, and was, in turn, pumped up
and the bather reshowered.
Fortunes have been made and lost by Richmond owners. The generosity of
Levin R. Marshall extended to the State of Texas and the town of
Marshall, in Texas, is named in honor of this family.
[Illustration: Three of the cultures that have contributed to the
charm of Natchez are represented in Richmond. Post-Colonial Neo-Greek
is shown at the left, Spanish in the center, and English Georgian on
the right.]
[Illustration: (unlabelled)]
[Illustration: FORT ROSALIE Built by the French in the early 18th
century, it was the scene of the Indian massacre of 1729.]
_Rosalie_
[Illustration: Rosalie]
In the Natchez country “Rosalie” is a magic name. It conjures up
memories of startling days that were, and stimulates the imagination to
see Indians and soldiers and people from foreign lands.
The home, “Rosalie”, bears the name and is situated near the site of
Fort Rosalie, which was built by the French in the early 1700’s.