Natchez, Symbol of the Old SouthOliver, Nola Nance
History
Natchez, Symbol of the Old South
Oliver, Nola Nance
Historic buildings -- Mississippi -- Natchez
[Illustration: Three of the cultures that have contributed to the
charm of Natchez are represented in Richmond. Post-Colonial Neo-Greek
is shown at the left, Spanish in the center, and English Georgian on
the right.]
[Illustration: (unlabelled)]
[Illustration: FORT ROSALIE Built by the French in the early 18th
century, it was the scene of the Indian massacre of 1729.]
_Rosalie_
[Illustration: Rosalie]
In the Natchez country “Rosalie” is a magic name. It conjures up
memories of startling days that were, and stimulates the imagination to
see Indians and soldiers and people from foreign lands.
The home, “Rosalie”, bears the name and is situated near the site of
Fort Rosalie, which was built by the French in the early 1700’s.
No home in Natchez is of greater historical importance than Rosalie. The
building was started about 1820 by Peter B. Little, and required seven
years for completion. All materials are of the choicest selection.
Home-burned bricks and hand-hewn timbers were used in its construction.
Rosalie is situated 200 feet above the Mississippi River. It is now the
home of Miss Rebecca Rumble and Mrs. James Marsh. It contains many
original pieces of furniture, carpets, and exquisite chandeliers. A
valuable piece is the mahogany table at which Jefferson Davis, president
of the Confederacy, and U. S. Grant dined.
Mr. Little married his thirteen-year-old ward, and sent her to Baltimore
to be educated. It was while she was in school that he built this
mansion in which to receive her when she returned.
It is believed that the ground immediately back of Rosalie is the site
of the great Indian massacre of the French in 1729.
Railroad tracks and driveways have cut through the acres that were
originally Rosalie private grounds, but the yard and gardens of the old
home are well kept and are filled with old-fashioned flowers and
shrubbery of days long gone.
Rosalie was General Grant’s headquarters during the Federal occupation
of Natchez in the War Between the States.
The present occupants display with much pride the huge four-poster
mahogany bed in which General Grant slept during his stay at this old
house.
Rosalie has been purchased by the Daughters of the American Revolution,
and will be maintained as a public shrine. Many of the encroaching
industrial buildings will soon give way to the original acreage that
formed the gardens of Rosalie.
[Illustration: This Bed in Rosalie Has a Prayer Pad at Its Side.]
_Parsonage_
[Illustration: Parsonage]
Under the very eaves of old “Rosalie” with its historic background of
Fort Rosalie, stands a sturdy square structure known as “The Parsonage”.
It is a brick building with an English basement, the entrance leading by
broad steps to the elevated first floor.
While of no particular historic interest, The Parsonage has its story.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account