Jones says her new title is one she holds . Violence against blacks and other disenfranchised groups have occurred across our nation's landscape, many in popular and well-trod locales, North and South, East and West. Some visitors say that the building . Visiting here is an opportunity to explore one of the few 1850s era homes still standing in Nashville while learning about the place and the people -- both free and enslaved -- who make this site worth understanding. ?????? No haunted tours for me. Whats good for the goose is good for the gander, and one would have to be a clinical narcissist to think future generations wont find us at fault for any number of things. According to census records, Mitchell enslaved 115 people at the cotton plantation. "While the holidays brought a brief respite from work, many enslaved people took the opportunity to escape the bondage of the plantation," the letter said. The answer will always be a mystery. Ken is a graphic designer, web developer and co-founder of One True Paranormal, a para-group in southwest Missouri. Went back into the cellar a coupple more times, but never had that akward feeling again. In a letter sent to multiple Alabama Historical Commission officials Tuesday night, the coalition demanded an apology as well as a promise to no longer hold events supporting tours and events that "deny the brutality of the past." Do not use all capital letters. By the following year, in 1890, all the houses occupied by enslaved Blacks on the estate had been destroyed, leaving no physical presence for interpretation. Constructed between 1849 and 1860, Belmont Mansion was the home of Adelicia and Joseph Acklen. Then he didnt snap back and unadded me and my Freinds girlfriend said a woman followed us back to the car and as soon as we pulled out a car came out of no where like we seen no headlights the whole time and we get home And another Freind of mine gets a text and said we know you was here no trespassing and Said I had a picture taker (dont really know what that means) and he had a drink and a bag of chips and he threw it down and they said we found your snack. Group rates available. Today the Belmont Mansion Association, which was formed in 1972, owns the collection, runs the museum, and shares this unique story of 19th century Nashville with visitors from far and near. Moreover, the entire country was once the land of American Indians, and a good deal of it deceptively or violently taken from them. Most Americans know that George Washington owned enslaved people at his Mount Vernon home. Discover the largest house built in Tennessee prior to the Civil War. The property is also available for tours Thursday through Sunday and for special event rentals. Chronological snobbery, as C.S. This mansion is believed to have been influenced by Palladian style architecture for which Thomas Jefferson is known. 10 years later, I relayed the story for the first time to him the day my wife and I decided to visit the place and asked him if he would like to go see the man he saw that night. he respectfully declined. Records of the property's destruction includes information related to the number of slave dwellings on the property. Indeed, it was brutal and terrifying. A majority of rooms in Belmont Mansion have been meticulously restored. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. It was the centerpiece of a 1,760 acre cotton plantation and had one of the largest slave populations in the state. Click "thumbs up" if you think its haunted, or "thumbs down" if you think its all just a tall tale. In 1983, concerned about the condition of the house, members of the Winston family donated Belle Mont and 33 surrounding acres to the Alabama Historical Commission.The house and surrounding property are reportedly haunted by the former slaves that lived and died on the plantation. The property is located just south of Tuscumbia and west of US Route 43 at 1569 Cook Lane. Be lovers of freedom and anxious for the fray, Georgia Senate Passes Bill To Close Sneaky 'Zuckbucks 2.0' Loopholes, 3 Things Anti-America Agitator Angela Davis Can Learn From Her Pilgrim Ancestors, Just Like Real Socialism, Real Feudalism Has Never Been Tried, Amid Personal Loss, Washington And Lincoln Became Fathers Of Their Country. If you have lived in a haunted house you will not find this fun. I grew up in Florence and my Great Grandmother lived near the mansion on Colbert Heights mountain. It's estimated that 40 percent of slave owners may have been white women. "It is unacceptable to subject the descendants of enslaved African Americans to whitewashed versions of history that ignore their ancestors experience.". The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The answer will always be a mystery. As there is not formal cemetery for the slaves it is likely that they were buried on some part of the estate. Surely, we do not want to pretend these places dont have a violent, racist past. The tell when I was growing up was that the book 13 Alabama Ghosts held a tell from that house. It remained in the Winston family for over a century, and is currently used as a historic house museum open for tours by appointment. Just outside the city of Tuscumbia, the 700+ acre Cane Creek Canyon Nature . Dr. Mitchell and his family of seven were already living in Belle Mont when it was fully completed in 1832. I was born and raised in Tuscumbia. An Alabama Historical Commission site, Belle Mont was built 1828-1832 and is one of the state's first great plantation houses. Belle Mont Mansion Tuscumbia, Alabama 65.4 miles from Tupelo, MS. A former slave plantation, it is believed to be haunted by slaves that lived and died here and also possibly by the ghosts of its former owners. Even though it is now just 24 acres, many of the important elements remain. As there is not formal cemetery for the slaves it is likely that they were buried on some part of the estate. . It was the centerpiece of a 1,760 acre cotton plantation and had one of the largest slave populations in the state. That seems far more justified than puritannical policing of plantations. "Others feared the upcoming slave auctions commonly held in January and February in north Alabama as well as upcoming contracts for slave labor that was 'hired out.'". Protest movements that perceive victimization and microaggression under every rock also wreak havoc on our countrys economy. The other residents seem to tolerate it OK, but I hate it. It also reflects the vulnerability of American businesses to the whims of leftist protest movements. My son says, Yes, hes walking to the house. Having passed the sign and turn to the house, I realized there is no way he could have known of the house based on his not being able to read and having no pre-exposure to the houses existence. Mr. Winston was a cousin of Dolly Madison, Patrick Henry, and Isaac Cole, who was a personal friend and secretary of President Thomas Jefferson. Visitors to the mansion have reported seeing dark shadowy figures walking the fields and have heard the sound of chains rattling near the house. What do you think? All of these places, despite their histories, are objectively beautiful. Administrative use only. This 1860 census, also called a Slave Schedule, provides a limited picture of all who were living at Belmont and where they lived. Visitors to this page: 3,182 Marble bust of Helen Keller. Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation, Inc. is the support group in charge of operating the site. View all AHC Owned Historic Houses & Museums. Shes told me that prior to the restorations the mansion was a prime site for local teens to be dumb kids trespass, vandalize, etc. Simply by virtue of ones social justice warrior credentials and alleged victimhood status, these people deputize themselves the cultural police of our history, our language, and now apparently our wedding venues. However, the pamphlet continues by claiming that, characteristics of Jeffersonian Classicism are exhibited at Belle Mont, including finely executed brickwork with contrasting woodwork and a hilltop setting. Intimate and elegant elopement ceremonies are popular at Belmont Mansion! Black people dont have happy memories of the antebellum period and plantations, where our ancestors were beaten and tortured, said senior campaign director Jade Magnus Ogunnaike. Have a haunt/halloween related news story or a tip? What county in Alabama had the most slaves? How many of the great nations of human history have so actively beat their breasts over their sins, both against their own citizens and the peoples of the world? Then they could celebrate their wedding reception at a Southern manor and have a hell of a good time. Would like to know if anyone does know anything about it and any info in accordance with that reference. To avoid this, be sure to get in touch with the property owners before visiting a haunt, and respect their hours of operation, local regulations, and rules for visiting at all times. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), NPS Investigation & Research Education Resource, World Institute for Scientific Exploration (WISE), http://www.mystery411.com/Landing_bellemonttuscumbia.html. Belle Mont Mansion is being restored and partially furnished to reflect the antebellum, or pre-Civil War, time period. All rights reserved (About Us). Yes, its true that some historical artifacts across Americas landscape are honored in ways that belittle or demean our fellow countrymen. In each society and in each generation slaves adjusted and . The Conway family purchased the property in 1670 and it remained in the family for 120 years. complete with original and period furniture, artwork and statuary. The only way to avoid offending anyone would be to stop celebrating anything, anywhere, at any time. When i was 17 years old, Belle Mont Plantation house was in very bad shape and had not had any restoration done to it yet. If you've had a paranormal experience here, or have any additional information about this location, please let us know! The house and surrounding property are reportedly haunted by the former slaves that lived and died on the plantation. At the time, the name of the plantation was not Gay Mont, but Rose Hill. Indeed, it is the Christian character of America that has allowed us to recognize and seek to rectify our past errors. Plantations represent none of those things, declared a Pinterest spokesman, calling the glamorization of these estates a disrespectful practice. Pinterest visitors who search for plantation weddings or similar terms will now be warned that some results may violate the sites policies, de facto making plantations the equivalent of pornography. We also dont need to police their repurposing. The designer is unknown but seems to have been influenced by Thomas Jefferson's ideas and style. Be specific. Although the actual design of Belle Mont is a mystery, this particular relationship provides a clue about the original designer, or at least his influence.The source of Belle Monts design is shrouded in mystery, but tantalizing clues suggest the direct influence of President Thomas Jefferson, gentlemen architect of the early Republic, the official Belle Mont pamphlet states (Commission 2). Belle Mont Mansion, known for its architecture, was built in 1828 for Alexander Williams Mitchell. Mr. Winston was a cousin of Dolly Madison, Patrick Henry, and Isaac Cole, who was a personal friend and secretary of President Thomas Jefferson. Required fields are marked *. The Mitchell family sold Belle Mont and 33 of the surrounding acres to their friends Isaac and Catherine Baker Jones Winston, who were also from Virginia, in 1833. Moreover, the entire. What Todays Cultural Marxists Would Be Wise To Learn From Martin Luther King Jr. Share Your Experience or Comments - Belle Mont. Being new to the area, none of us knew of the Belmont Mansion or its location. 1569 Cook Lane, Tuscumbia, Alabama 35674 View Map CONTACT Site Director: Ninon Parker Museum: 256- 381-5052 Email: bellemontmansion@gmail.com Four bedrooms surround the rear or south courtyard, forming its U-shaped brick exterior. Its also not as if Dixie estates were the only sites where acts of brutality were committed by one group of Americans against another. Peace to everyone. Is it possible that Dr. Mitchell built Belle Mont in this style, two years after Jeffersons death, to honor the late president? If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Off Campus Book Store University of North Alabama, Norton Auditorium University of North Alabama. According to the letter, Christmas was a disturbing time for the enslaved. Located in the heart of Nashville on the Belmont University Campus. The property is located just south of Tuscumbia and west of US Route 43 at 1569 Cook Lane. You feel things passing by you. It is best to play gospel or Christian radio in your house 24/7 to make them move on. My daughter and I have both heard clear voices that sound kind of far away, but you can understand them. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Slave child's doll inside Belle Mont Mansion. Disclaimer: The stories posted here are user-submitted and are, in the nature of "ghost stories," largely unverifiable. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Things seem to be at their worst after midnight, until early dawn. Forts, Battlefields & Archaeological Sites, Alabama Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program, Documenting the Civil Rights Movement in Montgomery, Pond Spring, the General Joe Wheeler Home, To apply for film/photo permit, please send requests to. Some visitors say that the building is haunted, having seen ghosts of former owners or of the slaves that lived and died on the plantation. My wife and I went to the mansion and learned of its peculiarities from the informative guide person. Belle Mont also illustrates Jeffersons reverence for the neoclassical architectural elements and ideas of the Italian Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio,. Belle Mont Mansion, known for its architecture, was built in 1828 for Alexander Williams Mitchell. This celebration clearly ignores the perspective of those who experienced Belle Mont as a forced labor camp., Slavery hard to teach in Cotton State of Alabama, elementary educators say. Your email address will not be published. Please report any inaccuracies. The article included a large photo of an interior shot of the mansion with my great aunts name first and last blazoned across the room in graffiti! I mention this because Gay Mont was his home. Come to Belle Mont to learn more about Palladian architecture and to see first-hand the tantalizing clues suggesting the direct influence of Thomas Jefferson himself. Yet self-righteous assaults on these places and the many ways they are used will not bring restorative justice. Is this place really haunted? Contextualizing former slave plantations has been a concern across the nation. Nor do the sins of our forefathers nullify their many acts of virtue or the great political and cultural gifts they bestowed upon future generations. A tour of this Nashville plantation tells the story . Plantations used for bourgeois ceremonies with language that obscures or even glorifies the estates dark past are one example. Stories of the Past - Conversations for the Future. At first you think this is all in your imagination. All rights reserved. It has a staff of three: a site director, curator, and tour guide. 2023 The Federalist, A wholly independent division of FDRLST Media. Its two-story north entrance salon is flanked on either side by a formal dining room and parlor. General Martin retired to his Belle Mont plantation at Leatherwood, which he purchased in 1796 from Benjamin Harrison V of Berkeley Plantation. The modern application of this practice is also redolent of any of those ancient heresies that are uncomfortable with the complicated reality that vice and virtue, spiritual and material, co-exist within the human experience. You can imagine me trying to picture my great aunt doing this, haha! Sign up for our newsletter and receive Halloween event updates, discounts and more! Visitors to the mansion have reported seeing dark shadowy figures walking the fields and have heard the sound of chains rattling near the house. Well, all in all, me and my fellow troop members and family members spent about six weeks there, clearing underbrush, old trash, planting grass, removing small trees, etc. The Winston family maintained ownership and continued living in Belle Mont through the Civil War and until around 1940. Use the "Browse" or "Choose File" button below to select an image to upload along with your comment. Small items like dimes and nails are moved. The house is listed on the National Historic Registry (#19820223). Weddings should be a symbol of love and unity. She said he would come out shooting if he caught trespassers. Many of them, even their detractors must admit, are beautiful, both in reference to their natural surroundings and their architecture. Plantation Christmas at Belle Mont is held annually the first Sunday in December and features period costumed interpreters, decorations, refreshments, and entertainment. Visiting here is an opportunity to explore one of the few 1850s era homes still standing in Nashville while learning about the place and the people -- both free and enslaved -- who make this site worth understanding. First, there is no such thing as a slave plantation. There are cotton plantations, sugar plantations, tobacco plantations, etc., etc., but no slave plantations.