Tickets are available at Belle Mont Mansion and at Fiddledee D! The Alabama Historical Commission owns this historic site. 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! 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 such locales have tragic histories, this is all the more reason to reimagine them in ways that both recognize and overcome that past. In. Belle Meade plantation is one of the premier plantations in Tennessee and one of the top attractions in the state. The site is 1/4 mile west of US 43 South on Cook Lane, three miles south of intersection US 43 and US 72. And in the process, these attacks have unintended economic consequences on working-class Americans. Constructed between 1849 and 1860, Belmont Mansion was the home of Adelicia and Joseph Acklen. Over the years, this historic mansion has been restored to its original pre-Civil War appearance. My wife and I went to the mansion and learned of its peculiarities from the informative guide person. It has been referred to as the Isaac Winston House and is listed as Belmont in the National Register of Historic Places and as the Henry B. Thornton Plantation House in the Historic American Buildings Survey. The only way to avoid offending anyone would be to stop celebrating anything, anywhere, at any time. 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. 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. 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 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). 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. These families included the Baker and Snowden families, among others. Open Letter Plantation Christmas by Jonece on Scribd. Belle Mont's out-buildings are no longer standing, but several foundations, including that of a slave house, have been located by archeologists. Belle Mont Mansion is being restored and partially furnished to reflect the antebellum, or pre-Civil War, time period. The house is listed on the National Historic Registry (#19820223). In 1790, John Hipkins purchased the property from the Conway family and in 1791 built Belle Grove for his only child, Fannie. 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. The property is located just south of Tuscumbia and west of US Route 43 at 1569 Cook Lane. Administrative use only. Its also not as if Dixie estates were the only sites where acts of brutality were committed by one group of Americans against another. 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. Located in the middle of the Belmont University campusbehind Freeman Hall. 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. Most Americans know that George Washington owned enslaved people at his Mount Vernon home. I have lived here since 1963. Ken is a graphic designer, web developer and co-founder of One True Paranormal, a para-group in southwest Missouri. 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. The house is listed on the National Historic Registry (#19820223). Belle Mont Mansion has resumed normal operating hours and will be operating at reduced capacity to safeguard against COVID-19. Three years later, during the middle of the. 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). We also dont need to police their repurposing. 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. The Belle Mont Mansion in Tuscumbia Alabama was built around 1828 for physician and planter Alexander Williams Mitchell. Then they could celebrate their wedding reception at a Southern manor and have a hell of a good time. It was the centerpiece of a 1,760 acre cotton plantation and had one of the largest slave populations in the state. Her aunt, who was only a few years older than her, got busted sneaking in/vandalizing the mansion. 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. Located just outside Tuscumbia in Colbert County, the mansion is one of a few Palladian-style houses in the Deep South. An Alabama Historical Commission site, Belle Mont was built 1828-1832 and is one of the state's first great plantation houses. Belle Mont is located south of Tuscumbia in Colbert Couty in northwest Alabama. The answer will always be a mystery. 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. Ticket options include: General Admission, Guided Tour, Curator Tour & Civil War at Belmont. 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. Four bedrooms surround the rear or south courtyard, forming its U-shaped brick exterior. Affordable Nashville Elopements start here! Last edit to this listing: 1/16/2016 (2604 days ago). complete with original and period furniture, artwork and statuary. Indeed, it is the Christian character of America that has allowed us to recognize and seek to rectify our past errors. Belle Mont Mansion, known for its architecture, was built in 1828 for Alexander Williams Mitchell. 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. Some visitors say that the building . If you have lived in a haunted house you will not find this fun. Disclaimer: Alabama Haunted Houses does not endorse or support trespassing to visit real haunts. 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. Contextualizing former slave plantations has been a concern across the nation. Blue Star Museum: Belle Mont proudly offers free admission to active duty military personnel and their families between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Tickets may also be purchased by credit card by calling the museum at 256-381-5052 or online . 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? Slave child's doll inside Belle Mont Mansion. Visitors to this page: 3,182 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. 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. Haunted Vacations, Adventures and Mysteries. 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. It also reflects the vulnerability of American businesses to the whims of leftist protest movements. 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. This is not a good thing. As there is not formal cemetery for the slaves it is likely that they were buried on some part of the estate. 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. Intimate and elegant elopement ceremonies are popular at Belmont Mansion! Belle Mont is available for special events. And have seen shadows and once a figure of a person. 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. Is it not appropriate to celebrate momentous occasions in beautiful places? . e prior to the Civil War. Stories of the Past - Conversations for the Future. Sign up for our newsletter and receive Halloween event updates, discounts and more! Belle Mont Mansion , built circa 1828, is one of the few examples of Palladian-style houses in Alabama. 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. In 1833, the property was bought by Issac Williams, who owned 119 enslaved people by 1855. As there is not formal cemetery for the slaves it is likely that they were buried on some part of the estate. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Belle Mont isnt included in either of Kathryn Tucker Windhams books about Alabama ghosts. A majority of rooms in Belmont Mansion have been meticulously restored. Click "thumbs up" if you think its haunted, or "thumbs down" if you think its all just a tall tale. He is the author of The Persecuted: True Stories of Courageous Christians Living Their Faith in Muslim Lands. 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. This mansion is believed to have been influenced by Palladian style architecture for which Thomas Jefferson is known. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Although the original architect and builder remain unknown, the style of Belle Mont appears also to have been influenced by past. What Todays Cultural Marxists Would Be Wise To Learn From Martin Luther King Jr. It was built in 1940 on some of the land near General John Coffees home. The letter was signed by social justice groups Project Say Something, Standing in Power, of Decatur, and Beyond the Women's March. 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. Yes, its true that some historical artifacts across Americas landscape are honored in ways that belittle or demean our fellow countrymen. The celebration of a Plantation Christmas is racist, the letter reads. Protest movements that perceive victimization and microaggression under every rock also wreak havoc on our countrys economy. Wesley Thompson of Bethel Colbert Missionary Baptists Church also signed the letter. 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. 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. Jones says her new title is one she holds . Then you maybe talk to family members and realize everyone feels the same way. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Group of women standing outside Belle Mont Mansion. 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. 3. 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. The coalition said the event celebrated white supremacy by ignoring the enslaved people who labored at the cotton plantation. The letter was also sent to Ninon Parker, who is listed as a site director for the Belle Mont Mansion. 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 designer is unknown but seems to have been influenced by Thomas Jefferson's ideas and style. At Belmont, several extended families lived in slavery over the course of several generations. The house and surrounding property are reportedly haunted by the former slaves that lived and died on the plantation. All rights reserved. The architecture of Belmont Mansion makes it one of the most significant homes of 19th century Tennessee. Stay safe. Belle Mont Mansion has been listed under several names through its history. 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? "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.'". Weddings should be a symbol of love and unity. The Winston family maintained ownership and continued living in Belle Mont through the Civil War and until around 1940. Many of them, even their detractors must admit, are beautiful, both in reference to their natural surroundings and their architecture. Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation, Inc. is the support group in charge of operating the site. Belle Mont was erected in 1828 for a physician from Louisa County, Virginia, Dr. Alexander Williams Mitchell. My wife, son (age 5) and I were heading from Muscle Shoals to our home in Littleville after a night of shopping and eating. Lewis called our tendency to view our own age as superior to others, is a dark chasm ending in our own destruction. "It is unacceptable to subject the descendants of enslaved African Americans to whitewashed versions of history that ignore their ancestors experience.". Is this place really haunted? 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. It has a staff of three: a site director, curator, and tour guide. Surely, we do not want to pretend these places dont have a violent, racist past. It was then purchased by two women who in 1890 started a college which evolved into Belmont University. Well, all in all, me and my fellow troop members and family members spent about six weeks there, clearing underbrush, old trash, planting grass, removing small trees, etc. 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. 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. Dr. Mitchell and his family of seven were already living in Belle Mont when it was fully completed in 1832. At first you think this is all in your imagination. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. 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 I got chills then tried to write it off. Share Your Experience or Comments - Belle Mont. A variety of factors have made researching the lives of Belmont's enslaved residents difficult. Jonece Starr Dunigan | jdunigan@reckonmedia.com, hired a black historian to research the site's enslavement history, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Be happy. Moreover, the entire country was once the land of American Indians, and a good deal of it deceptively or violently taken from them. 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. Be specific. A variety of factors have made researching the lives of Belmont's enslaved residents difficult. 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? For some reason a lot of places in Tuscumbia AL are haunted. The voices in the night are the hardest to explain away. Plantation Christmas at Belle Mont is held annually the first Sunday in December and features period costumed interpreters, decorations, refreshments, and entertainment. Shes told me that prior to the restorations the mansion was a prime site for local teens to be dumb kids trespass, vandalize, etc. He says, the man that lives in that house. still pointing. This design is derived from the neoclassical architectural style of Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio. It was one of those drizzly unpleasant days, so after a while I went into the Cellar area of the plantation. Off Campus Book Store University of North Alabama, Norton Auditorium University of North Alabama. Your email address will not be published. At this time, the family decided to move to a different location but continued to hold Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations in the mansion. Small items like dimes and nails are moved. 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. Disclaimer: The stories posted here are user-submitted and are, in the nature of "ghost stories," largely unverifiable. All rights reserved (About Us). Is it possible that Dr. Mitchell built Belle Mont in this style, two years after Jeffersons death, to honor the late president? I mention this because Gay Mont was his home. Indeed, it was brutal and terrifying. 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. Have a haunt/halloween related news story or a tip? Many "ghost hunters" have been arrested because they failed to contact property owners and/or local authorities ahead of time. Belle Mont was erected in 1828 for a physician from Louisa County, Virginia, Dr. Alexander Williams Mitchell. The site originally served as the centerpiece for the large scale cotton. 2023 The Federalist, A wholly independent division of FDRLST Media. Discover the largest house built in Tennessee prior to the Civil War. Belle Mont was built for Alexander Williams Mitchell, who grew up in Louisa County, Virginia, only 25 miles from Jefferson's home at Monticello. Plantations used for bourgeois ceremonies with language that obscures or even glorifies the estates dark past are one example. 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. 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). Belle Mont is located south of Tuscumbia in Colbert Couty in northwest Alabama. Admission: Adults $6; students, seniors, military $5; and children 6-18 $3. 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. Belle Mont, built between 1828 and 1832, was a plantation that used slave labor. You feel things passing by you. 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. Countless Haunt Hunters have been arrested, ticketed, and reprimanded by the authorities for trespassing. Its just really weird that we both saw this happen at the exact same time. William F. Buckleys popularization of Eric Voegelins warning is apt: Dont immanentize the eschaton!. Clicks to Website: 293 According to the letter, Christmas was a disturbing time for the enslaved. 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.