The property remained in the family until 1941 and in 1983 the house and 35 acres was donated to the State of Alabama by the Fennel family. I have heard quiet voices in the night. He says, the man that lives in that house. still pointing. Slaves in the plantation generations were members of what Berlin calls "slave societies," where slavery was the primary source of labor. First, there is no such thing as a slave plantation. There are cotton plantations, sugar plantations, tobacco plantations, etc., etc., but no slave plantations. This area of the property can be accessed from the master bedroom through a large door with a window that leads directly to the courtyard area, which is where the detached kitchen would have been accessed as well.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. The use of the NPS name for any unauthorized events or activities is strictly prohibited. The house and surrounding property are reportedly haunted by the former slaves that lived and died on the plantation. Blue Star Museum: Belle Mont proudly offers free admission to active duty military personnel and their families between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The coalition said the event celebrated white supremacy by ignoring the enslaved people who labored at the cotton plantation. Belle mont mansion slaves - wqgme.astula.shop Will NOT be displayed. The Winston family maintained ownership and continued living in Belle Mont through the Civil War and until around 1940. Disclaimer: The stories posted here are user-submitted and are, in the nature of "ghost stories," largely unverifiable. This gets to the broader dilemma with our zeitgeist, which combines woke deconstructionism with a modern version of damnatio memoriae, or condemnation of memory, an ancient Roman practice whereby persons vilified by the state were erased from public memory. Built between 1828 and 1832 in the Jeffersonian style, Belle Mont was originally the home of Dr. Alexander Mitchell, who quickly sold the building to one Isaac Winston in 1833. Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation, Inc. is the support group in charge of operating the site. Visitors to this page: 3,182 Plantations used for bourgeois ceremonies with language that obscures or even glorifies the estates dark past are one example. I havent asked in years the last I remember I think I may have heard it was being restored but privately owned and with no plans to open to the public. Tell Us About Your Experience(s) at Belle Mont. A variety of factors have made researching the lives of Belmont's enslaved residents difficult. 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. Sold by the Acklen family in 1887, the house went to a developer who began one of Nashvilles early suburbs. Yes, its true that some historical artifacts across Americas landscape are honored in ways that belittle or demean our fellow countrymen. Belle Mont Mansion is being restored and partially furnished to reflect the antebellum, or pre-Civil War, time period. 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. My mother also said that there was a man, a caretaker of some sort, that lived in a house at the foot of the hill at some point during this time. An example of this occurred in December, when a number of black medical students posed for a photo at a former slave plantation, a site some of them called holy. Heck, why not celebrate their graduation there? Moreover, blacks, both free and slave, provided the bulk of labor that built the White House, the U.S. Capitol, and other early government buildings. The home was built. Ken is a graphic designer, web developer and co-founder of One True Paranormal, a para-group in southwest Missouri. Belle mont mansion slaves - yjgp.hendrik-aus-e.de For more information, click here. Stories of the Past - Conversations for the Future. Is it not appropriate to celebrate momentous occasions in beautiful places? What county in Alabama had the most slaves? I dont think only certain places are as haunted, as the belief that there are paranormal things happening all around us everywhere, and just certain people are allowed to witness these things at certain times. We have located just two first-hand accounts of slavery at Belmont. My daughter and I have both heard clear voices that sound kind of far away, but you can understand them. It was the centerpiece of a 1,760 acre cotton plantation and had one of the largest slave populations in the state. Not sure if it did or not but sure does fit. 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. The groups who are critiquing the event in Tuscumbia believe historical sites must be honest and respectful. List of plantations in Virginia - Wikipedia 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. 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. Plantation Christmas at Belle Mont is held annually the first Sunday in December and features period costumed interpreters, decorations, refreshments, and entertainment. Belle Mont Mansion , built circa 1828, is one of the few examples of Palladian-style houses in Alabama. Haunted Places in Tupelo, Mississippi Belle Mont was built for Alexander Williams Mitchell, who grew up in Louisa County, Virginia, only 25 miles from Jefferson's home at Monticello. 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. It's currently operated as a museum, and tours are available. Peace to everyone. During the 1960s, star-crossed lovers camped inside the rotting mansion in the woods, and the home has long been the site of drunken high school parties. However, the staff continues to research as we endeavor to tell the stories of all who lived at Belmont. The letter was signed by social justice groups Project Say Something, Standing in Power, of Decatur, and Beyond the Women's March. Be specific. At first you think this is all in your imagination. According to the Times Daily, the event, which has been a holiday tradition in the Muscle Shoals area for over 30 years, offered vintage ballroom dancing, food and tour guides dressed in Antebellum garb. I grew up in Florence and my Great Grandmother lived near the mansion on Colbert Heights mountain. Please contact nps.submissions@gmail.com for more information. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. One account is from young William Acklin, a enslaved worker, and the other from a visitor to the estate. Most Americans know that George Washington owned enslaved people at his Mount Vernon home. As of Thursday morning, Alabama Historical Commission members have not responded to the letter or AL.coms emails and phone calls. Is it possible that Dr. Mitchell built Belle Mont in this style, two years after Jeffersons death, to honor the late president? Join now to unlock comments, browse ad-free, and access exclusive content from your favorite FDRLST writers. Its also not as if Dixie estates were the only sites where acts of brutality were committed by one group of Americans against another. Her aunt, who was only a few years older than her, got busted sneaking in/vandalizing the mansion. My Dad bought it at that time. Heading south about to pass by the Belmont sign, and not having said a word in at least 15 Min, my son asks a question pointing precisely in the direction of the house, not visible in the daytime, let alone at pitch black night, Daddy, who is that man? to which I reply, What man? Isaac Winston owned 114 slaves according to the 1860 census and died August 13, 1863 at Bell Mont during the American Civil War. Do not use all capital letters. It was one of those drizzly unpleasant days, so after a while I went into the Cellar area of the plantation. A mural of the Clotilda adorns a concrete embankment in Africatown, a community near Mobile founded by Africans illegally transported to Alabama aboard the slave ship. Belle Mont's out-buildings are no longer standing, but several foundations, including that of a slave house, have been located by archeologists. Before you visit ANY local real haunt, make sure to acquire the appropriate permits and/or permissions, and be respectful of privately owned properties. 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. At this time, the family decided to move to a different location but continued to hold Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations in the mansion. After finding lesson plans asking Alabama fourth-graders to write their own slave narratives, experts talk about the hardships of teaching slavery on an elementary school level. And have seen shadows and once a figure of a person. Dr. Mitchell and his family of seven were already living in Belle Mont when it was fully completed in 1832. Indeed, it is the Christian character of America that has allowed us to recognize and seek to rectify our past errors. It's estimated that 40 percent of slave owners may have been white women. The property is located just south of Tuscumbia and west of US Route 43 at 1569 Cook Lane. BG Joseph Lynch Martin Jr. (1740-1808) - Find a Grave Memorial Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Owned by the Alabama Historical Commission and operated by the Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation. We went back there, and I finished the project, with help from all was involved. Visitors to the mansion have reported seeing dark shadowy figures walking the fields and have heard the sound of chains rattling near the house.http://bellemont.weebly.com/history.htmlhttp://www.mystery411.com/Landing_bellemonttuscumbia.html. I remember her sounding really flippant about it and me wondering how being shot at was not a big deal! A variety of factors have made researching the lives of Belmont's enslaved residents difficult. 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. Slave child's doll inside Belle Mont Mansion. Just one if many weird, cant explain it things that have happened here. Their appetites will not be satisfied until all things and persons associated with injustice, real or imagined, are expunged from public experience and memory. 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. The property is also available for tours Thursday through Sunday and for special event rentals. Magnificently sited on a commanding hilltop, Belle Mont is one of early Alabama's crowning architectural achievements.. Mitchell became known as one of the largest planters in the area before he quickly sold the mansion and the surrounding land one year after its completion. Your email address will not be published. Gradually, the family gatherings became less frequent until the home was completely abandoned. Group of women standing outside Belle Mont Mansion. The house is listed on the National Historic Registry (#19820223). Is it possible that Dr. Mitchell built Belle Mont in this style, two years after Jeffersons death, to honor the late president? But fewer probably know that it . Is this place really haunted? 2023 The Federalist, A wholly independent division of FDRLST Media. 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. Constructed in the 1820s, Belle Mont fell into ruin until the Alabama Historical Commission rescued it in the 1980s. belle mont mansion slaves July 3, 2022 July 3, 2022 July 3, 2022 July 3, 2022. A majority of rooms in Belmont Mansion have been meticulously restored. The answer will always be a mystery. Then they could celebrate their wedding reception at a Southern manor and have a hell of a good time. Be happy. For some reason a lot of places in Tuscumbia AL are haunted. Located in the middle of the Belmont University campusbehind Freeman Hall. 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. The schooner Clotilda smuggled African captives into the U.S. in 1860, more than 50 years after importing slaves was outlawed. Gift Shop (111 S. Main St., Tuscumbia). Share Your Experience or Comments - Belle Mont. The site originally served as the centerpiece for the large scale cotton. Home > Historical Buildings > Belle Mont Mansion 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. 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. Visitors to the mansion have reported seeing dark shadowy figures walking the fields and have heard the sound of chains rattling near the house. Discover the largest house built in Tennessee prior to the Civil War. Couple looking at a car in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. This is a list of plantations and/or plantation houses in the U.S. state of Virginia that are National Historic Landmarks, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, other historic registers, or are otherwise significant for their history, association with significant events or people, or their architecture and design. Unlock premium content, ad-free browsing, and access to comments for just $4/month. She said he would come out shooting if he caught trespassers. And in the process, these attacks have unintended economic consequences on working-class Americans. Slavery Plantation Agriculture Robert J. Vejnar, Kennesaw State University Dogtrot Cabin at Belle Mont Plantation Plantation agriculture was a form of large-scale farming that was most prevalent during the colonial and antebellum periods of American history. Tickets are available at Belle Mont Mansion and at Fiddledee D! Moreover, the entire. 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. It has a staff of three: a site director, curator, and tour guide. All submissions made to The National Paranormal Society, for the purposes of data analysis, article or editorial publication, team, individual or service listing, or any other submission category not listed become the property of the NPS. My wife and I went to the mansion and learned of its peculiarities from the informative guide person. As there is not formal cemetery for the slaves it is likely that they were buried on some part of the estate. Voice your opinion here! Beginning in 1889, the basement of Belmont, which served as the main workspace for many enslaved persons, was significantly remodeled with no care given to historic preservation. Belmont Mansion, or Belle Monte as it was known in the 19th century, was not a plantation but still relied on a large number of enslaved workers to maintain the estate. Use the "Browse" or "Choose File" button below to select an image to upload along with your comment. 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). 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. A tour of this Nashville plantation tells the story . Nearby, an early 1800s mansion, Belle Mont, is available for touring. It remained in the Winston family for over a century, and is currently used as a historic house museum open for tours by appointment. Doors open and close. 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." Many "ghost hunters" have been arrested because they failed to contact property owners and/or local authorities ahead of time. The Belle Mont Mansion was constructed from 1828-1832. The only way to avoid offending anyone would be to stop celebrating anything, anywhere, at any time. The Conway family purchased the property in 1670 and it remained in the family for 120 years. Jones says her new title is one she holds . He was also a founding member of a Presbyterian church in Tuscumbia and among the area's largest owners of, Throughout the antebellum period, Isaac Winston operated Belle Mont as a cotton plantation, and the 1860 Census lists him as the owner of 114 enslaved African Americans. It once stretched over 5400 acres and hosted celebrities, presidents, and countless southern gentlemen. The house is listed on the National Historic Registry (#19820223). Owning 1,680 acres of cotton and corn, Dr. Mitchell became known as one of the largest planters in the area before he quickly sold the mansion and the surrounding land one year after its completion.However, while living in Belle Mont and planting the surrounding acres, Dr. Mitchell housed 152 slaves in 13 slave cabins on the property. Belle Mont Mansion (Tuscumbia) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go Founded in 2008, AlabamaHauntedHouses.com is a simple and unique online haunted event & attraction resource created to make it easy for locals to find Haunted House, Spook Walk, Corn Maze, and other Halloween Attractions in their local area. Belmont Mansion, or Belle Monte as it was known in the 19th century, was not a plantation but still relied on a large number of enslaved workers to maintain the estate. Belmont Mansion, also known as Acklen Hall, and originally known as Belle Monte, Belle Mont or Belmont, is a historic mansion located in Nashville, Tennessee. Belle Mont's out-buildings are no longer standing, but several foundations, including that of a slave house, have been located by archeologists. Top ways to experience Belle Mont Mansion and nearby attractions Florence, Muscle Shoals Multi-Attraction Pass 2 Attractions & Museums from $25.00 per adult Muscle Shoals Sound Studio Tour in Sheffield Alabama 72 Recommended Walking Tours from $20.00 per adult The Raptor, High Rope Course and Zipline Tickets, Wheeler Lake KOA 1 Marble bust of Helen Keller. Visit BelmontMansionEvents.com to review options to Elope in Nashville at Belmont Mansion. The Belle Meade Plantation in Nashville hired a black historian to research the site's enslavement history and to offer tours so visitors can learn about the African Americans who were enslaved on the property. Private property should be respected at all times, as should all posted signs concerning trespassing, hours of operation and other local regulations. Belle Mont Mansion - Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area Please report any inaccuracies. All rights reserved. She said that at times, she, and others, would smell a floral scent like a womans perfume and get a cold feeling for no reason as if in the presence of a ghost. The other residents seem to tolerate it OK, but I hate it. History - Belle Mont Mansion The architecture of Belmont Mansion makes it one of the most significant homes of 19th century Tennessee. The Alabama Historical Commission owns this historic site. All rights reserved. A Pinterest representative, for example, announced that the website is working on de-indexing Google searches for plantation wedding. In December, a coalition of Alabama activists protested a Plantation Christmas event held at the Belle Mont Mansion near Tuscumbia, Alabama, because it memorialized white supremacist celebrations of Christmas. Please note: It is your responsibility to acquire appropriate permissions before investigating any location listed on this site. This would have been in the late 60s, early 70s I would guess. The architecture of Belmont Mansion makes it one of the most significant homes of 19th century Tennessee. I was amazed at the huge floor joist under the house, then I had that feeling someone had walked up behind me, I thought it was Ronnie, at that time I noticed some graffiti that had been put there, and asked Ronnie what he thought about, but when I turned around, Iwas there by myself. 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). If People Can't Get Married On Plantations, They Can't Marry Anywhere While slavery is often associated with large plantations, the institution permeated Southern culture. 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. This is not a good thing. I asked, Do you see him now? in a jested way as I awkwardly half-smile to my wife. 2019 was the year it finally became socially unacceptable to use a historic plantation as a wedding venue. Now, thats poetic justice. The underlying premise of the anti-plantation movement is that Southern plantations cannot be romanticized. 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. === A monument was errected in 2008 on the old Henry Courthouse square in Martinsville, VA. . My wife, son (age 5) and I were heading from Muscle Shoals to our home in Littleville after a night of shopping and eating. Is it possible that Dr. Mitchell built Belle Mont in this style, two years after Jeffersons death, to honor the late president? Belle Mont Mansion | Encyclopedia of Alabama In 1790, John Hipkins purchased the property from the Conway family and in 1791 built Belle Grove for his only child, Fannie. Although the original architect and builder remain unknown, the style of Belle Mont appears also to have been influenced by past. Belle Mont is located south of Tuscumbia in Colbert Couty in northwest Alabama. Catholics in the 19th century suffered violent assaults at the hands of anti-papist mobs on the streets of Boston, Philadelphia, and New York. "The celebration of a 'Plantation Christmas' represents a willful ignorance of the experience of enslaved people and a concocted memory of a joyous, white supremacist Christmas celebration," the letter said. Belle Mont Mansion By Ken Weigandin Ashley Ann Lewis, Haunted Locations Belle Mont was erected in 1828 for a physician from Louisa County, Virginia, Dr. Alexander Williams Mitchell. It has a staff of three: a site director, curator, and tour guide. The celebration of a Plantation Christmas is racist, the letter reads. Constructed between 1849 and 1860, Belmont Mansion was the home of Adelicia and Joseph Acklen. I contacted the historic society to find out about the planned restoration project that I had heard about, and asked if I could assist as part of my Eagle Scout project in the Boy Scouts. I have experienced some very strange things in my home. At the time, the name of the plantation was not Gay Mont, but Rose Hill. Being new to the area, none of us knew of the Belmont Mansion or its location. Belle Mont - Alabama 3. 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). 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Even though it is now just 24 acres, many of the important elements remain. She was caught due to a news story that came out in the local paper about the travesties of vandalism happening to the historic landmark by local youth. n 1832. I was born and raised in Tuscumbia. Me and a group of Freinds went out there one night and we first get there we get out the car and walking up the hill to the house and I get a snapchat (popular app used by teens) from someone I dont even got added and he said Im behind you then he sent another one and said I know where you are and I sent a snap and said where am I the. "It is unacceptable to subject the descendants of enslaved African Americans to whitewashed versions of history that ignore their ancestors experience.". The Massive, Overlooked Role of Female Slave Owners William F. Buckleys popularization of Eric Voegelins warning is apt: Dont immanentize the eschaton!. Its two-story north entrance salon is flanked on either side by a formal dining room and parlor. This design is derived from the neoclassical architectural style of Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio. Strange are there actually any African Americans who have memories of the antebellum period, given that it ended 160 years ago? Her eyes, big as saucers, alarm me. Disclaimer: Alabama Haunted Houses does not endorse or support trespassing to visit real haunts. Located just outside Tuscumbia in Colbert County, the mansion is one of a few Palladian-style houses in the Deep South. Built between 1828 and 1832 in the Jeffersonian style, Belle Mont was originally the home of Dr. Alexander Mitchell, who quickly sold the building to one Isaac Winston in 1833. Belle Mont also illustrates Jeffersons reverence for the neoclassical architectural elements and ideas of the Italian Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio,. Weddings should be a symbol of love and unity. Intimate and elegant elopement ceremonies are popular at Belmont Mansion! The abandonment of the home was the largest cause of its deterioration and the vandalism that occurred at Belle Mont. All information on this page was submitted to Alabama Haunted Houses and was believed to be accurate at the time it was posted. Many of them, even their detractors must admit, are beautiful, both in reference to their natural surroundings and their architecture. Lewis called our tendency to view our own age as superior to others, is a dark chasm ending in our own destruction. Last edit to this listing: 1/16/2016 (2604 days ago). Administrative use only. 379 Tuscumbia Alabama Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images Belle Mont also illustrates Jeffersons reverence for the neoclassical architectural elements and ideas of the Italian Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio," (Commission 2). Over the years, this historic mansion has been restored to its original pre-Civil War appearance. belle mont mansion slaves Affordable Nashville Elopements start here! You can imagine me trying to picture my great aunt doing this, haha! Belle Mont Mansion is located outside of Tuscumbia. Located in the heart of Nashville on the Belmont University Campus. 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. 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