belle mont mansion slaves

I was born and raised in Tuscumbia. 68 were here. 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. At first you think this is all in your imagination. Visitors to this page: 3,182 Some visitors say that the building . As there is not formal cemetery for the slaves it is likely that they were buried on some part of the estate. Your email address will not be published. Belle Mont Mansion is being restored and partially furnished to reflect the antebellum, or pre-Civil War, time period. belle mont mansion slaves July 3, 2022 July 3, 2022 July 3, 2022 July 3, 2022. In its zealous desire to right previous wrongs, this goes too far in the other direction, and in the process, undermines the historical fabric of our nation. You feel things passing by you. 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. In. The answer will always be a mystery. 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. It once stretched over 5400 acres and hosted celebrities, presidents, and countless southern gentlemen. William F. Buckleys popularization of Eric Voegelins warning is apt: Dont immanentize the eschaton!. We went back there, and I finished the project, with help from all was involved. Its also not as if Dixie estates were the only sites where acts of brutality were committed by one group of Americans against another. 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. 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. 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. In each society and in each generation slaves adjusted and . Positioned on a commanding hilltop, Belle Mont Mansion is one of Alabama's crowning architectural achievements. Belle Mont Mansion is a historic house museum open for guided tours. 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! Very little historic data, including census records, include last names of those who were enslaved, making it challenging to locate descendents through geneaology records. It was one of those drizzly unpleasant days, so after a while I went into the Cellar area of the plantation. Just outside the city of Tuscumbia, the 700+ acre Cane Creek Canyon Nature . Private property should be respected at all times, as should all posted signs concerning trespassing, hours of operation and other local regulations. Not-So-Scary Haunted Houses (Kid Friendly). Your email address will not be published. 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. It was built in 1940 on some of the land near General John Coffees home. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Id suggest a far better solution for prospective newlyweds, regardless of race or ethnicity, would be to get married where they should: in a church. 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. 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. Contact the museum for current rates, policies, and an application. Is it possible that Dr. Mitchell built Belle Mont in this style, two years after Jeffersons death, to honor the late president? Visitors to the mansion have reported seeing dark shadowy figures walking the fields and have heard the sound of chains rattling near the house. Dr. Mitchell and his family of seven were already living in Belle Mont when it was fully completed in 1832. Over the years, this historic mansion has been restored to its original pre-Civil War appearance. The Conway family purchased the property in 1670 and it remained in the family for 120 years. The Belle Mont Mansion was constructed from 1828-1832. What Todays Cultural Marxists Would Be Wise To Learn From Martin Luther King Jr. Moreover, the entire country was once the land of American Indians, and a good deal of it deceptively or violently taken from them. ?????? Advertised as an event where people can experience the "hospitality of the Old South", "A Plantation Christmas" was held at the Belle Mont Mansion on Sunday evening. Visitors to the mansion have reported seeing dark shadowy figures walking the fields and have heard the sound of chains rattling near the house. The property is also available for tours Thursday through Sunday and for special event rentals. Located just outside Tuscumbia in Colbert County, the mansion is one of a few . LGBTQ advocacy organization Equality Shoals, Shoals Young Democrats and Rev. Their appetites will not be satisfied until all things and persons associated with injustice, real or imagined, are expunged from public experience and memory. Peace to everyone. I mention this because Gay Mont was his home. Join now to unlock comments, browse ad-free, and access exclusive content from your favorite FDRLST writers. According to census records, Mitchell enslaved 115 people at the cotton plantation. Affordable Nashville Elopements start here! In addition, volunteers from the Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation assist as docents for special events and participate in fund-raising activities. The Belle Mont Mansion in Tuscumbia Alabama was built around 1828 for physician and planter Alexander Williams Mitchell. Belle Mont, built between 1828 and 1832, was a plantation that used slave labor. "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.'". Most Americans know that George Washington owned enslaved people at his Mount Vernon home. Ken is a graphic designer, web developer and co-founder of One True Paranormal, a para-group in southwest Missouri. 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. He has a bachelors in history and masters in teaching from the University of Virginia and a masters in theology from Christendom College. The answer will always be a mystery. Catholics in the 19th century suffered violent assaults at the hands of anti-papist mobs on the streets of Boston, Philadelphia, and New York. 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. Is it not appropriate to celebrate momentous occasions in beautiful places? 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. 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. Earlier this month, prodded by the group Color of Change, four wedding websites said they . Jonece Starr Dunigan | jdunigan@reckonmedia.com, hired a black historian to research the site's enslavement history, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. This mansion is believed to have been influenced by Palladian style architecture for which Thomas Jefferson is known. Belle Mont was erected in 1828 for a physician from Louisa County, Virginia, Dr. Alexander Williams Mitchell. One night while we were both watching TV in the den with the lights off, we both saw two colored orbs gliding through the room from the back door toward the closet, then they disappeared. Do not use all capital letters. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Casey Chalk is a senior contributor at The Federalist and an editor and columnist at The New Oxford Review. Nearby, an early 1800s mansion, Belle Mont, is available for touring. What county in Alabama had the most slaves? Strange are there actually any African Americans who have memories of the antebellum period, given that it ended 160 years ago? 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. Went back into the cellar a coupple more times, but never had that akward feeling again. Last edit to this listing: 1/16/2016 (2604 days ago). Although the original architect and builder remain unknown, the style of Belle Mont appears also to have been influenced by past. 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." Small items like dimes and nails are moved. 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. I know someone who used to volunteer at Belle Mont, which is open for tours, and she said the house was definitely haunted by a woman, possibility a former mistress or daughter who once lived in the house. Affordable Nashville Elopements start here! === A monument was errected in 2008 on the old Henry Courthouse square in Martinsville, VA. . Even though it is now just 24 acres, many of the important elements remain. Things seem to be at their worst after midnight, until early dawn. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The National Paranormal Society is not responsible for individuals, teams and submissions listed on the NPS website. Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation, Inc. is the support group in charge of operating the site. But fewer probably know that it . If you've had a paranormal experience here, or have any additional information about this location, please let us know! The letter was also sent to Ninon Parker, who is listed as a site director for the Belle Mont Mansion. I got chills then tried to write it off. Belle Mont Mansion, known for its architecture, was built in 1828 for Alexander Williams Mitchell. At Belmont, several extended families lived in slavery over the course of several generations. Belle Mont's out-buildings are no longer standing, but several foundations, including that of a slave house, have been located by archeologists. Have a haunt/halloween related news story or a tip? 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. Plantations used for bourgeois ceremonies with language that obscures or even glorifies the estates dark past are one example. 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? Be happy. "It is unacceptable to subject the descendants of enslaved African Americans to whitewashed versions of history that ignore their ancestors experience.". Click "thumbs up" if you think its haunted, or "thumbs down" if you think its all just a tall tale. Is it possible that Dr. Mitchell built Belle Mont in this style, two years after Jeffersons death, to honor the late president? We have located just two first-hand accounts of slavery at Belmont. Yes, its true that some historical artifacts across Americas landscape are honored in ways that belittle or demean our fellow countrymen. 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. 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 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. Multiple north Alabama organizations are demanding an apology after a Christmas event was held at a Colbert County plantation mansion where enslaved people once labored. According to the letter, Christmas was a disturbing time for the enslaved. Your CommentsHave a photograph taken from this location? A majority of rooms in Belmont Mansion have been meticulously restored. The tell when I was growing up was that the book 13 Alabama Ghosts held a tell from that house. 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. Belle Mont Mansion, known for its architecture, was built in 1828 for Alexander Williams Mitchell. Yet self-righteous assaults on these places and the many ways they are used will not bring restorative justice. At this time, the family decided to move to a different location but continued to hold Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations in the mansion. Ninon Parker puts candles out on the table fully set for dinner at Belle Mont Mansion in Colbert County. The historic home is the site of the annual Art of the Dish this week. Belle Mont Mansion has resumed normal operating hours and will be operating at reduced capacity to safeguard against COVID-19. All rights reserved. For some reason a lot of places in Tuscumbia AL are haunted. Now, thats poetic justice. I have experienced some very strange things in my home. HauntedPlaces.org makes no claims that any of the statements posted here are factually accurate. Slave child's doll inside Belle Mont Mansion. Belle Meade plantation is one of the premier plantations in Tennessee and one of the top attractions in the state. Off Campus Book Store University of North Alabama, Norton Auditorium University of North Alabama. Unlock premium content, ad-free browsing, and access to comments for just $4/month. Indeed, it is the Christian character of America that has allowed us to recognize and seek to rectify our past errors. Moreover, the entire. All rights reserved. Violence against blacks and other disenfranchised groups have occurred across our nations landscape, many in popular and well-trod locales, North and South, East and West. He was not buried on the property as many legends say but in the Winston Family Cemetery in Tuscumbia as was his wife Catherine who died July 25, 1884. He says, the man that lives in that house. still pointing. Constructed between 1849 and 1860, Belmont Mansion was the home of Adelicia and Joseph Acklen. 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 answer will always be a mystery. I have heard quiet voices in the night. Mr. Winston was a cousin of Dolly Madison, Patrick Henry, and Isaac Cole, who was a personal friend and secretary of President Thomas Jefferson. Happy haunting! Not sure if it did or not but sure does fit. Its just really weird that we both saw this happen at the exact same time. The designer is unknown but seems to have been influenced by Thomas Jefferson's ideas and style. The Winston family maintained ownership and continued living in Belle Mont through the Civil War and until around 1940. Be specific. Surely, we do not want to pretend these places dont have a violent, racist past. Ticket options include: General Admission, Guided Tour, Curator Tour & Civil War at Belmont, Discover the largest house built in Tennesse. If such locales have tragic histories, this is all the more reason to reimagine them in ways that both recognize and overcome that past. The Knot, WeddingWire, and Pinterest are seeking to limit content on their websites that promotes Southern plantations as a wedding venue. For more information, click here. 2023 The Federalist, A wholly independent division of FDRLST Media. e prior to the Civil War. Doors open and close. Isaac Winston owned 114 slaves according to the 1860 census and died August 13, 1863 at Bell Mont during the American Civil War. The site is 1/4 mile west of US 43 South on Cook Lane, three miles south of intersection US 43 and US 72. The underlying premise of the anti-plantation movement is that Southern plantations cannot be romanticized. But she never mentioned any slave ghosts. It has a staff of three: a site director, curator, and tour guide. Please report any inaccuracies. Located in the middle of the Belmont University campusbehind Freeman Hall. At the time, the name of the plantation was not Gay Mont, but Rose Hill. Records of the property's destruction includes information related to the number of slave dwellings on the property. Marble bust of Helen Keller. The site is 1/4 mile west of US 43 South on Cook Lane, three miles south of intersection US 43 and US 72. Four bedrooms surround the rear or south courtyard, forming its U-shaped brick exterior. The home was built. It remained in the Winston family for over a century, and is currently used as a historic house museum open for tours by appointment. A variety of factors have made researching the lives of Belmont's enslaved residents difficult. 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. Clicks to Website: 293 The architecture of Belmont Mansion makes it one of the most significant homes of 19th century Tennessee. It is best to play gospel or Christian radio in your house 24/7 to make them move on. Tickets are available at Belle Mont Mansion and at Fiddledee D! Belle Mont Mansion has been listed under several names through its history. Shes told me that prior to the restorations the mansion was a prime site for local teens to be dumb kids trespass, vandalize, etc. The use of the NPS name for any unauthorized events or activities is strictly prohibited. Lewis called our tendency to view our own age as superior to others, is a dark chasm ending in our own destruction. 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. We might also remember that many of the most celebrated and visited historical sites in our country are Southern manors built and worked by slaves: Mount Vernon (itself a wedding venue), Monticello (another wedding venue), and Montpelier (also a wedding venue) among them. Chronological snobbery, as C.S. No profanity. It has a staff of three: a site director, curator, and tour guide. 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. This style stems from the neoclassical architectural design of Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio. The Alabama Historical Commission owns this historic site. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. It is said to be haunted by slaves who died on the grounds and also by former owners. The house is listed on the National Historic Registry (#19820223). 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. Wesley Thompson of Bethel Colbert Missionary Baptists Church also signed the letter. 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). Moreover, are the perpetrators of our historical-cultural cleansing so naive to think their children and grandchildren wont do the same thing to them, who have fostered and encouraged a paradigm of national seppuku? In 1833, the property was bought by Issac Williams, who owned 119 enslaved people by 1855. Jones says her new title is one she holds . 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. All rights reserved (About Us). As of Thursday morning, Alabama Historical Commission members have not responded to the letter or AL.coms emails and phone calls. In 1790, John Hipkins purchased the property from the Conway family and in 1791 built Belle Grove for his only child, Fannie. Voice your opinion here! Let us know! 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. Belle Mont was built for Alexander Williams Mitchell, who grew up in Louisa County, Virginia, only 25 miles from Jefferson's home at Monticello. Constructed in the 1820s, Belle Mont fell into ruin until the Alabama Historical Commission rescued it in the 1980s. This is not to say there isnt something a bit discomforting about vendors labeling slave cabins on these properties as evoking an elaborate past, as if blacks were happy, willing participants in a fanciful world of white gentry as portrayed in Gone with the Wind. All the same, targeting Southern wedding venues for bigotry reflects yet another manifestation of a purification of our culture and history. As there is not formal cemetery for the slaves it is likely that they were buried on some part of the estate. Plantation Christmas at Belle Mont is held annually the first Sunday in December and features period costumed interpreters, decorations, refreshments, and entertainment. She said he would come out shooting if he caught trespassers. Because of the tragedies that transpired therin, they powerfully communicate how far America has come. Visit BelmontMansionEvents.com to review options to Elope in Nashville at Belmont Mansion. Is it possible that Dr. Mitchell built Belle Mont in this style, two years after Jeffersons death, to honor the late president? The first slaves arrived to Belle Meade in 1807, and as decades rolled on, the number of slaves tripled to 136 of by 1860 based on the 1860 census record. 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. As there is not formal cemetery for the slaves it is likely that they were buried on some part of the estate. 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. An Alabama Historical Commission site, Belle Mont was built 1828-1832 and is one of the state's first great plantation houses. All information on this page was submitted to Alabama Haunted Houses and was believed to be accurate at the time it was posted. This design is derived from the neoclassical architectural style of Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio. Required fields are marked *. Belle Mont is located south of Tuscumbia in Colbert Couty in northwest Alabama. 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. So all the people who work at these historic plantations, regardless of their race, sex, or income, must suffer the economic consequences of what feelings their employers history might provoke. Disclaimer: Alabama Haunted Houses does not endorse or support trespassing to visit real haunts. 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? The voices in the night are the hardest to explain away. Only a country with a conscience in our case informed by the Christian beliefs of our ancestors would bother to engage in the kinds of self-criticism and atonement visible in American society. General Martin retired to his Belle Mont plantation at Leatherwood, which he purchased in 1796 from Benjamin Harrison V of Berkeley Plantation. Many of them, even their detractors must admit, are beautiful, both in reference to their natural surroundings and their architecture. Blue Star Museum: Belle Mont proudly offers free admission to active duty military personnel and their families between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The vast majority of information provided on this web site is anecdotal, and as such, should be viewed in the same light as local folklore and urban legends. 2008-2023 AlabamaHauntedHouses.com. Constructed between 1849 and 1860, Belmont Mansion was the home of Adelicia and Joseph Acklen. Belle Mont Mansion | Tuscumbia AL 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. Intimate and elegant elopement ceremonies are popular at Belmont Mansion! Its important the reality of what happened in these spaces is present, versus a romanticization of human rights abuses.. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Constructed between 1849 and 1860, Belmont Mansion was the home of Adelicia and Joseph Acklen. We also dont need to police their repurposing. 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. One was a bluish light, the other one looked golden. 1569 Cook Lane, Tuscumbia, Alabama 35674 View Map CONTACT Site Director: Ninon Parker Museum: 256- 381-5052 Email: bellemontmansion@gmail.com The groups who are critiquing the event in Tuscumbia believe historical sites must be honest and respectful. 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. I remember her sounding really flippant about it and me wondering how being shot at was not a big deal! Belle Mont's out-buildings are no longer standing, but several foundations, including that of a slave house, have been located by archeologists. It also reflects the vulnerability of American businesses to the whims of leftist protest movements. 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. Mr. Winston was a cousin of Dolly Madison, Patrick Henry, and Isaac Cole, who was a personal friend and secretary of President Thomas Jefferson. Nanyehi was among the first Cherokee to own African-American slaves. 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. Many "ghost hunters" have been arrested because they failed to contact property owners and/or local authorities ahead of time. 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. Belle Mont Mansion , built circa 1828, is one of the few examples of Palladian-style houses in Alabama. The antebellum plantation experience, as lived by the enslaved, was neither happy nor joyous. Disclaimer: The stories posted here are user-submitted and are, in the nature of "ghost stories," largely unverifiable.