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Most Americans know that George Washington owned enslaved people at his Mount Vernon home. Belle Meade plantation is one of the premier plantations in Tennessee and one of the top attractions in the state. 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. It also reflects the vulnerability of American businesses to the whims of leftist protest movements. Isaac Winston owned 114 slaves according to the 1860 census and died August 13, 1863 at Bell Mont during the American Civil War. This was just word of mouth and may not have been accurate, but Im glad to hear it can be toured. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. This mansion is believed to have been influenced by Palladian style architecture for which Thomas Jefferson is known. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. Be specific. Positioned on a commanding hilltop, Belle Mont Mansion is one of Alabama's crowning architectural achievements. 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. At Belmont, several extended families lived in slavery over the course of several generations. For more information, click here. Tickets are available at Belle Mont Mansion and at Fiddledee D! e prior to the Civil War. It has a staff of three: a site director, curator, and tour guide. An Alabama Historical Commission site, Belle Mont was built 1828-1832 and is one of the state's first great plantation houses. But fewer probably know that it . Yet self-righteous assaults on these places and the many ways they are used will not bring restorative justice. Private property should be respected at all times, as should all posted signs concerning trespassing, hours of operation and other local regulations. Its also not as if Dixie estates were the only sites where acts of brutality were committed by one group of Americans against another. "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. 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. A graduate of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, he was a physician, planter, and an early elected official of Franklin (present-day Colbert) County, where he settled around 1820. Contextualizing former slave plantations has been a concern across the nation. The use of the NPS name for any unauthorized events or activities is strictly prohibited. In 1833, the property was bought by Issac Williams, who owned 119 enslaved people by 1855. 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. Constructed between 1849 and 1860, Belmont Mansion was the home of Adelicia and Joseph Acklen. Her aunt, who was only a few years older than her, got busted sneaking in/vandalizing the mansion. Is it possible that Dr. Mitchell built Belle Mont in this style, two years after Jeffersons death, to honor the late president? Disclaimer: Alabama Haunted Houses does not endorse or support trespassing to visit real haunts. "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.'". 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. 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. 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. Moreover, the entire. In. It was then purchased by two women who in 1890 started a college which evolved into Belmont University. It's estimated that 40 percent of slave owners may have been white women. Strange are there actually any African Americans who have memories of the antebellum period, given that it ended 160 years ago? A variety of factors have made researching the lives of Belmont's enslaved residents difficult. It was then purchased by two women who in 1890 started a college which evolved into Belmont University. 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. 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. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. 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. Couple looking at a car in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. 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 site is 1/4 mile west of US 43 South on Cook Lane, three miles south of intersection US 43 and US 72. 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. 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 only way to avoid offending anyone would be to stop celebrating anything, anywhere, at any time. The house is listed on the National Historic Registry (#19820223). We also dont need to police their repurposing. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. "It is unacceptable to subject the descendants of enslaved African Americans to whitewashed versions of history that ignore their ancestors experience.". Even though it is now just 24 acres, many of the important elements remain. The Knot, WeddingWire, and Pinterest are seeking to limit content on their websites that promotes Southern plantations as a wedding venue. 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. Please note: It is your responsibility to acquire appropriate permissions before investigating any location listed on this site. Although the original architect and builder remain unknown, the style of Belle Mont appears also to have been influenced by past. 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. Visitors to this page: 3,182 Marble bust of Helen Keller. Do not use all capital letters. First, there is no such thing as a slave plantation. There are cotton plantations, sugar plantations, tobacco plantations, etc., etc., but no slave plantations. 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. If you've had a paranormal experience here, or have any additional information about this location, please let us know! Group of women standing outside Belle Mont Mansion. The antebellum plantation experience, as lived by the enslaved, was neither happy nor joyous. Belle Mont also illustrates Jeffersons reverence for the neoclassical architectural elements and ideas of the Italian Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio,The Winston family maintained ownership and continued living in Belle Mont through the Civil War and until around 1940. Constructed between 1849 and 1860, Belmont Mansion was the home of Adelicia and Joseph Acklen. 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. One account is from young William Acklin, a enslaved worker, and the other from a visitor to the estate. 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. He is the author of The Persecuted: True Stories of Courageous Christians Living Their Faith in Muslim Lands. 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? It was built by Joseph and Adelicia Acklen to serve as the center of their 180-acre summer estate in what was then country outside the city, and featured elaborate gardens and a zoo. Belle Mont was built for Alexander Williams Mitchell, who grew up in Louisa County, Virginia, only 25 miles from Jefferson's home at Monticello. While slavery is often associated with large plantations, the institution permeated Southern culture. My Dad bought it at that time. Some visitors say that the building . At this time, the family decided to move to a different location but continued to hold Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations in the mansion. The property is located just south of Tuscumbia and west of US Route 43 at 1569 Cook Lane. 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. Very little historic data, including census records, include last names of those who were enslaved, making it challenging to locate descendents through geneaology records. Constructed in the 1820s, Belle Mont fell into ruin until the Alabama Historical Commission rescued it in the 1980s. 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. 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. Gradually, the family gatherings became less frequent until the home was completely abandoned. Jonece Starr Dunigan | jdunigan@reckonmedia.com, hired a black historian to research the site's enslavement history, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. The architecture of Belmont Mansion makes it one of the most significant homes of 19th century Tennessee. 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. 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. 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. Belle Mont Mansion , built circa 1828, is one of the few examples of Palladian-style houses in Alabama. Things seem to be at their worst after midnight, until early dawn. What county in Alabama had the most slaves? This design is derived from the neoclassical architectural style of Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio. Located just outside Tuscumbia in Colbert County, the mansion is one of a few . Constructed between 1849 and 1860, Belmont Mansion was the home of Adelicia and Joseph Acklen. 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. I remember her sounding really flippant about it and me wondering how being shot at was not a big deal! Affordable Nashville Elopements start here! Belle Mont's out-buildings are no longer standing, but several foundations, including that of a slave house, have been located by archeologists. 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. In each society and in each generation slaves adjusted and . 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. 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. Blanket from Belle Mont Mansion. A majority of rooms in Belmont Mansion have been meticulously restored. 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. ?????? Then you maybe talk to family members and realize everyone feels the same way. The coalition said the event celebrated white supremacy by ignoring the enslaved people who labored at the cotton plantation. And have seen shadows and once a figure of a person. Belle Mont also illustrates Jeffersons reverence for the neoclassical architectural elements and ideas of the Italian Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio," (Commission 2). Be happy. 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. Located just outside Tuscumbia in Colbert County, the mansion is one of a few Palladian-style houses in the Deep South. According to census records, Mitchell enslaved 115 people at the cotton plantation. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). At first you think this is all in your imagination. No haunted tours for me. All rights reserved. Owned by the Alabama Historical Commission and operated by the Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation. Gift Shop (111 S. Main St., Tuscumbia). A variety of factors have made researching the lives of Belmont's enslaved residents difficult. The architecture of Belmont Mansion makes it one of the most significant homes of 19th century Tennessee. Small items like dimes and nails are moved. Their appetites will not be satisfied until all things and persons associated with injustice, real or imagined, are expunged from public experience and memory. She said he would come out shooting if he caught trespassers. Surely, we do not want to pretend these places dont have a violent, racist past. My wife, son (age 5) and I were heading from Muscle Shoals to our home in Littleville after a night of shopping and eating. I got chills then tried to write it off. For some reason a lot of places in Tuscumbia AL are haunted. Administrative use only. 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. Just one if many weird, cant explain it things that have happened here. Earlier this month, prodded by the group Color of Change, four wedding websites said they . As there is not formal cemetery for the slaves it is likely that they were buried on some part of the estate. 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? All rights reserved (About Us). 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! Nanyehi was among the first Cherokee to own African-American slaves. Lewis called our tendency to view our own age as superior to others, is a dark chasm ending in our own destruction. 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. But she never mentioned any slave ghosts. Shes told me that prior to the restorations the mansion was a prime site for local teens to be dumb kids trespass, vandalize, etc. Ticket options include: General Admission, Guided Tour, Curator Tour & Civil War at Belmont. Before you visit ANY local real haunt, make sure to acquire the appropriate permits and/or permissions, and be respectful of privately owned properties. The designer is unknown but seems to have been influenced by Thomas Jefferson's ideas and style. Will NOT be displayed. 2008-2023 AlabamaHauntedHouses.com. Belle Mont, built between 1828 and 1832, was a plantation that used slave labor. He has a bachelors in history and masters in teaching from the University of Virginia and a masters in theology from Christendom College. Belle Mont is located south of Tuscumbia in Colbert Couty in northwest Alabama. 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. Casey Chalk is a senior contributor at The Federalist and an editor and columnist at The New Oxford Review. 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. Intimate and elegant elopement ceremonies are popular at Belmont Mansion! 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? 2023 The Federalist, A wholly independent division of FDRLST Media. It has a staff of three: a site director, curator, and tour guide. 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. Group rates available. Disclaimer: The stories posted here are user-submitted and are, in the nature of "ghost stories," largely unverifiable. Belle Mont is available for special events. Would like to know if anyone does know anything about it and any info in accordance with that reference. Is this place really haunted? As there is not formal cemetery for the slaves it is likely that they were buried on some part of the estate. The house is listed on the National Historic Registry (#19820223). Use of the directory is at the discretion of the individual. This 1860 census, also called a Slave Schedule, provides a limited picture of all who were living at Belmont and where they lived. Let us know! He says, the man that lives in that house. still pointing. If you have lived in a haunted house you will not find this fun. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. You feel things passing by you. 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. 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). Countless Haunt Hunters have been arrested, ticketed, and reprimanded by the authorities for trespassing. I asked, Do you see him now? in a jested way as I awkwardly half-smile to my wife. Is it possible that Dr. Mitchell built Belle Mont in this style, two years after Jeffersons death, to honor the late president? 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. Join now to unlock comments, browse ad-free, and access exclusive content from your favorite FDRLST writers. Montvale, the farm at Belmont, was destroyed in 1864. Indeed, it was brutal and terrifying. The site is 1/4 mile west of US 43 South on Cook Lane, three miles south of intersection US 43 and US 72. Related Videos Video #1 The groups who are critiquing the event in Tuscumbia believe historical sites must be honest and respectful. One was a bluish light, the other one looked golden. Catholics in the 19th century suffered violent assaults at the hands of anti-papist mobs on the streets of Boston, Philadelphia, and New York. However, while living in Belle Mont and planting the surrounding acres, Dr. Mitchell housed 152 slaves in 13 slave cabins on the property. Required fields are marked *. As there is not formal cemetery for the slaves it is likely that they were buried on some part of the estate. 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. The celebration of a Plantation Christmas is racist, the letter reads. Moreover, the entire country was once the land of American Indians, and a good deal of it deceptively or violently taken from them. 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. The Winston family maintained ownership and continued living in Belle Mont through the Civil War and until around 1940. Just outside the city of Tuscumbia, the 700+ acre Cane Creek Canyon Nature . So I like have some family history about the mansion and my aunt found a man and fell in love with him and they both LOVE history and so they both had there wedding at the Belle mont mansion and I was the flower girl and I havent seen the upstairs of the mansion so Im not sure if it really is haunted I really want to find out more the reason why I started searching this up was bc my great aunt works at my school library and she started talking about it and reading us storys about it.