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. Even though it is now just 24 acres, many of the important elements remain. 2019 was the year it finally became socially unacceptable to use a historic plantation as a wedding venue. Its important the reality of what happened in these spaces is present, versus a romanticization of human rights abuses.. Because of the tragedies that transpired therin, they powerfully communicate how far America has come. 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. At first you think this is all in your imagination. 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? Located in the middle of the Belmont University campusbehind Freeman Hall. Please contact nps.submissions@gmail.com for more information. For more information, click here. 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. LGBTQ advocacy organization Equality Shoals, Shoals Young Democrats and Rev. 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. Affordable Nashville Elopements start here! The organization behind this growing movement, Color of Change, indicts vendors for using words like breathtaking to describe plantations. As of Thursday morning, Alabama Historical Commission members have not responded to the letter or AL.coms emails and phone calls. The house and surrounding property are reportedly haunted by the former slaves that lived and died on the plantation. Ken is a graphic designer, web developer and co-founder of One True Paranormal, a para-group in southwest Missouri. The underlying premise of the anti-plantation movement is that Southern plantations cannot be romanticized. Use the "Browse" or "Choose File" button below to select an image to upload along with your comment. It was the centerpiece of a 1,760 acre cotton plantation and had one of the largest slave populations in the state. The Knot, WeddingWire, and Pinterest are seeking to limit content on their websites that promotes Southern plantations as a wedding venue. Gradually, the family gatherings became less frequent until the home was completely abandoned. Belle Mont Mansion, known for its architecture, was built in 1828 for Alexander Williams Mitchell. 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. 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. Constructed between 1849 and 1860, Belmont Mansion was the home of Adelicia and Joseph Acklen. Disclaimer: The stories posted here are user-submitted and are, in the nature of "ghost stories," largely unverifiable. Moreover, the entire country was once the land of American Indians, and a good deal of it deceptively or violently taken from them. Belle Mont Mansion, known for its architecture, was built in 1828 for Alexander Williams Mitchell. Many of them, even their detractors must admit, are beautiful, both in reference to their natural surroundings and their architecture. I got chills then tried to write it off. Mr. Winston was a cousin of Dolly Madison, Patrick Henry, and Isaac Cole, who was a personal friend and secretary of President Thomas Jefferson. Belle Mont Mansion has been listed under several names through its history. View all AHC Owned Historic Houses & Museums. All information on this page was submitted to Alabama Haunted Houses and was believed to be accurate at the time it was posted. General Martin retired to his Belle Mont plantation at Leatherwood, which he purchased in 1796 from Benjamin Harrison V of Berkeley Plantation. Voice your opinion here! I came out of the cellar and saw Ronnie sitting in my truck, so I asked if he had came into the cellar, he told me no. 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. I was born and raised in Tuscumbia. 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? 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. 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. 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. Constructed between 1849 and 1860, Belmont Mansion was the home of Adelicia and Joseph Acklen. Stories of the Past - Conversations for the Future. 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. What do you think? Yet self-righteous assaults on these places and the many ways they are used will not bring restorative justice. Click "thumbs up" if you think its haunted, or "thumbs down" if you think its all just a tall tale. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. We went back there, and I finished the project, with help from all was involved. My great great great great grandfather used to live at the belle mont mansion ! At this time, the family decided to move to a different location but continued to hold Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations in the mansion. 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 . Strange are there actually any African Americans who have memories of the antebellum period, given that it ended 160 years ago? 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. 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. Your CommentsHave a photograph taken from this location? Nearby, an early 1800s mansion, Belle Mont, is available for touring. It was the centerpiece of a 1,760 acre cotton plantation and had one of the largest slave populations in the state. Just one if many weird, cant explain it things that have happened here. You can imagine me trying to picture my great aunt doing this, haha! 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. Belle Mont's out-buildings are no longer standing, but several foundations, including that of a slave house, have been located by archeologists. === A monument was errected in 2008 on the old Henry Courthouse square in Martinsville, VA. . Related Videos Video #1 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. The answer will always be a mystery. n 1832. As there is not formal cemetery for the slaves it is likely that they were buried on some part of the estate. However, the staff continues to research as we endeavor to tell the stories of all who lived at Belmont. 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. Sign up for our newsletter and receive Halloween event updates, discounts and more! Just outside the city of Tuscumbia, the 700+ acre Cane Creek Canyon Nature . 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! All rights reserved. Belle Mont is available for special events. 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 antebellum plantation experience, as lived by the enslaved, was neither happy nor joyous. 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. Then you maybe talk to family members and realize everyone feels the same way. The groups who are critiquing the event in Tuscumbia believe historical sites must be honest and respectful. Do not use all capital letters. 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. Have a haunt/halloween related news story or a tip? Gradually, the family gatherings became less frequent until the home was completely abandoned.The abandonment of the home was the largest cause of its deterioration and the vandalism that occurred at Belle Mont. Contextualizing former slave plantations has been a concern across the nation. Protest movements that perceive victimization and microaggression under every rock also wreak havoc on our countrys economy. "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. If you've had a paranormal experience here, or have any additional information about this location, please let us know! It once stretched over 5400 acres and hosted celebrities, presidents, and countless southern gentlemen. The property is located just south of Tuscumbia and west of US Route 43 at 1569 Cook Lane. As there is not formal cemetery for the slaves it is likely that they were buried on some part of the estate. The abandonment of the home was the largest cause of its deterioration and the vandalism that occurred at Belle Mont. My daughter and I have both heard clear voices that sound kind of far away, but you can understand them. Surely, we do not want to pretend these places dont have a violent, racist past. It's currently operated as a museum, and tours are available. 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. He says, the man that lives in that house. still pointing. I dont know any ghost stories but my mother tells a few funny stories. 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. 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. Most Americans know that George Washington owned enslaved people at his Mount Vernon home. 3. Being new to the area, none of us knew of the Belmont Mansion or its location. This is not a good thing. Let us know! Stay safe. Is it possible that Dr. Mitchell built Belle Mont in this style, two years after Jeffersons death, to honor the late president? First, there is no such thing as a slave plantation. There are cotton plantations, sugar plantations, tobacco plantations, etc., etc., but no slave plantations. Visit BelmontMansionEvents.com to review options to Elope in Nashville at Belmont Mansion. It also reflects the vulnerability of American businesses to the whims of leftist protest movements. 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. The letter was signed by social justice groups Project Say Something, Standing in Power, of Decatur, and Beyond the Women's March. Marble bust of Helen Keller. Montvale, the farm at Belmont, was destroyed in 1864. It remained in the Winston family for over a century, and is currently used as a historic house museum open for tours by appointment. Group of women standing outside Belle Mont Mansion. The property is also available for tours Thursday through Sunday and for special event rentals. It is said to be haunted by slaves who died on the grounds and also by former owners. Small items like dimes and nails are moved. This mansion is believed to have been influenced by Palladian style architecture for which Thomas Jefferson is known. The home was built. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. "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.'". Required fields are marked *. 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. 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. 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. The property is located just south of Tuscumbia and west of US Route 43 at 1569 Cook Lane. 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. Doors open and close. But fewer probably know that it . And have seen shadows and once a figure of a person. Blue Star Museum: Belle Mont proudly offers free admission to active duty military personnel and their families between Memorial Day and Labor Day. At Belmont, several extended families lived in slavery over the course of several generations. It has a staff of three: a site director, curator, and tour guide. The National Paranormal Society is not responsible for individuals, teams and submissions listed on the NPS website. Tell Us About Your Experience(s) at Belle Mont. Is this place really haunted? It was built in 1940 on some of the land near General John Coffees home. 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? ?????? Not sure if it did or not but sure does fit. In 1833, the property was bought by Issac Williams, who owned 119 enslaved people by 1855. The house is listed on the National Historic Registry (#19820223). The site is 1/4 mile west of US 43 South on Cook Lane, three miles south of intersection US 43 and US 72. Then they could celebrate their wedding reception at a Southern manor and have a hell of a good time. . Group rates available. Belle Mont isnt included in either of Kathryn Tucker Windhams books about Alabama ghosts. 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. A tour of this Nashville plantation tells the story . All of these places, despite their histories, are objectively beautiful. Visit BelmontMansionEvents.com to review options to Elope in Nashville at Belmont Mansion. You feel things passing by you. Following the death of his wife Alexander Mitchell remarried and sold the plantation to Isaac and Catherine Winston and moved to Philadelphia in 1833. Belle Mont Mansion is located outside of Tuscumbia. Went back into the cellar a coupple more times, but never had that akward feeling again. 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? 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. 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, blacks, both free and slave, provided the bulk of labor that built the White House, the U.S. Capitol, and other early government buildings. 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 was built for Alexander Williams Mitchell, who grew up in Louisa County, Virginia, only 25 miles from Jefferson's home at Monticello. I grew up in Florence and my Great Grandmother lived near the mansion on Colbert Heights mountain. Their appetites will not be satisfied until all things and persons associated with injustice, real or imagined, are expunged from public experience and memory. 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. This would have been in the late 60s, early 70s I would guess. Officials from multiple wedding-planning websites recently announced they are either no longer advertising plantation wedding venues or making those venues harder to find on their websites. 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. Is it possible that Dr. Mitchell built Belle Mont in this style, two years after Jeffersons death, to honor the late president? Constructed in the 1820s, Belle Mont fell into ruin until the Alabama Historical Commission rescued it in the 1980s. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. I mention this because Gay Mont was his home. belle mont mansion slaves July 3, 2022 July 3, 2022 July 3, 2022 July 3, 2022. Belle Mont also illustrates Jeffersons reverence for the neoclassical architectural elements and ideas of the Italian Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio," (Commission 2). 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. Visitors to the mansion have reported seeing dark shadowy figures walking the fields and have heard the sound of chains rattling near the house. Now, thats poetic justice. Jones says her new title is one she holds . We also dont need to police their repurposing. 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. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. The tell when I was growing up was that the book 13 Alabama Ghosts held a tell from that house. Four bedrooms surround the rear or south courtyard, forming its U-shaped brick exterior. A variety of factors have made researching the lives of Belmont's enslaved residents difficult. 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. One account is from young William Acklin, a enslaved worker, and the other from a visitor to the estate. Sold by the Acklen family in 1887, the house went to a developer who began one of Nashvilles early suburbs. Mr. Winston was a cousin of Dolly Madison, Patrick Henry, and Isaac Cole, who was a personal friend and secretary of President Thomas Jefferson. In. 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. Open Letter Plantation Christmas by Jonece on Scribd. It was then purchased by two women who in 1890 started a college which evolved into Belmont University. Is it possible that Dr. Mitchell built Belle Mont in this style, two years after Jeffersons death, to honor the late president? 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. 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). 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. Be specific. Tickets are available at Belle Mont Mansion and at Fiddledee D! 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. One day toward the end of the project, My friend Ronnie and I went down to remove what was left from an old tree my Dad had cut down the day before and other light work. 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. Plantation Christmas at Belle Mont is held annually the first Sunday in December and features period costumed interpreters, decorations, refreshments, and entertainment. The other residents seem to tolerate it OK, but I hate it. Is it not appropriate to celebrate momentous occasions in beautiful places? For some reason a lot of places in Tuscumbia AL are haunted. The historic home is the site of the annual Art of the Dish this week. Unlock premium content, ad-free browsing, and access to comments for just $4/month. 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 1569 Cook Lane, Tuscumbia, Alabama 35674 View Map CONTACT Site Director: Ninon Parker Museum: 256- 381-5052 Email: bellemontmansion@gmail.com The answer will always be a mystery. Belle Mont was erected in 1828 for a physician from Louisa County, Virginia, Dr. Alexander Williams Mitchell. An Alabama Historical Commission site, Belle Mont was built 1828-1832 and is one of the state's first great plantation houses. If you have lived in a haunted house you will not find this fun. e prior to the Civil War. 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. But she never mentioned any slave ghosts. According to census records, Mitchell enslaved 115 people at the cotton plantation. Share Your Experience or Comments - Belle Mont. 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. Isaac Winston owned 114 slaves according to the 1860 census and died August 13, 1863 at Bell Mont during the American Civil War. 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. At the time, the name of the plantation was not Gay Mont, but Rose Hill. This was just word of mouth and may not have been accurate, but Im glad to hear it can be toured. It has a staff of three: a site director, curator, and tour guide. As there is not formal cemetery for the slaves it is likely that they were buried on some part of the estate. The Alabama Historical Commission owns this historic site. Its also not as if Dixie estates were the only sites where acts of brutality were committed by one group of Americans against another. Will NOT be displayed. It's estimated that 40 percent of slave owners may have been white women. complete with original and period furniture, artwork and statuary. The architecture of Belmont Mansion makes it one of the most significant homes of 19th century Tennessee. We have located just two first-hand accounts of slavery at Belmont. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. 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. 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). No haunted tours for me. Will we need Google to warn us that searching for such places or even worse, planning a vacation to visit them are microaggressive acts, as if we are unable to contemplate both the good and bad of such places? Records of the property's destruction includes information related to the number of slave dwellings on the property. And in the process, these attacks have unintended economic consequences on working-class Americans. Belle Mont, built between 1828 and 1832, was a plantation that used slave labor. Visitors to the mansion have reported seeing dark shadowy figures walking the fields and have heard the sound of chains rattling near the house. I have heard quiet voices in the night. Marble bust of Helen Keller. 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. 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.
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