That seems far more justified than puritannical policing of plantations. Use the "Browse" or "Choose File" button below to select an image to upload along with your comment. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. 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. Tickets may also be purchased by credit card by calling the museum at 256-381-5052 or online . The Belle Mont Mansion was constructed from 1828-1832. It is said to be haunted by slaves who died on the grounds and also by former owners. Group rates available. 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 organization behind this growing movement, Color of Change, indicts vendors for using words like breathtaking to describe plantations. She said he would come out shooting if he caught trespassers. 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 Knot, WeddingWire, and Pinterest are seeking to limit content on their websites that promotes Southern plantations as a wedding venue. The property is located just south of Tuscumbia and west of US Route 43 at 1569 Cook Lane. The tell when I was growing up was that the book 13 Alabama Ghosts held a tell from that house. I grew up in Florence and my Great Grandmother lived near the mansion on Colbert Heights mountain. Visit BelmontMansionEvents.com to review options to Elope in Nashville at Belmont Mansion. ?????? The Belle Mont Mansion in Tuscumbia Alabama was built around 1828 for physician and planter Alexander Williams Mitchell. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Some visitors say that the building . 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. Yes, its true that some historical artifacts across Americas landscape are honored in ways that belittle or demean our fellow countrymen. 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. Records of the property's destruction includes information related to the number of slave dwellings on the property. Plantations used for bourgeois ceremonies with language that obscures or even glorifies the estates dark past are one example. You feel things passing by you. But fewer probably know that it . You can visit the historic Belle Mont Mansion at 1569 Cook Ln., Tuscumbia, Alabama 35674. Went back into the cellar a coupple more times, but never had that akward feeling again. It was the centerpiece of a 1,760 acre cotton plantation and had one of the largest slave populations in the state. The Conway family purchased the property in 1670 and it remained in the family for 120 years. Earlier this month, prodded by the group Color of Change, four wedding websites said they . 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. 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 is best to play gospel or Christian radio in your house 24/7 to make them move on. Beyond Jesus Revolution: 10 Outside-The-Box Faith-Based Films On The Horizon, Major Doctors Organization Publicly Embraces Dismembering Babies Until Birth, Congress Quietly Left The Door Open To Funneling More Tax Dollars To EcoHealth Research In China For National Security, Utah Considers Ranked-Choice Voting In Primaries Despite Disasters In Alaska And Maine. Sold by the Acklen family in 1887, the house went to a developer who began one of Nashvilles early suburbs. In each society and in each generation slaves adjusted and . One account is from young William Acklin, a enslaved worker, and the other from a visitor to the estate. Indeed, I wonder how many black Americans even have a deceased grandparent who could have had a memory of antebellum America. At this time, the family decided to move to a different location but continued to hold Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations in the mansion. 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. 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. 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 home was built. The designer is unknown but seems to have been influenced by Thomas Jefferson's ideas and style. Peace to everyone. Visitors to the mansion have reported seeing dark shadowy figures walking the fields and have heard the sound of chains rattling near the house. Share Your Experience or Comments - Belle Mont. I was born and raised in Tuscumbia. Is it possible that Dr. Mitchell built Belle Mont in this style, two years after Jeffersons death, to honor the late president? 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). 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. Stories of the Past - Conversations for the Future. Intimate and elegant elopement ceremonies are popular at Belmont Mansion! This design is derived from the neoclassical architectural style of Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio. 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. 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. 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. Is it possible that Dr. Mitchell built Belle Mont in this style, two years after Jeffersons death, to honor the late president? The only way to avoid offending anyone would be to stop celebrating anything, anywhere, at any time. Use of the directory is at the discretion of the individual. Things seem to be at their worst after midnight, until early dawn. The National Paranormal Society is not responsible for individuals, teams and submissions listed on the NPS website. 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 you maybe talk to family members and realize everyone feels the same way. Her eyes, big as saucers, alarm me. Sold by the Acklen family in 1887, the house went to a developer who began one of Nashvilles early suburbs. Gift Shop (111 S. Main St., Tuscumbia). Admission: Adults $6; students, seniors, military $5; and children 6-18 $3. Located just outside Tuscumbia in Colbert County, the mansion is one of a few Palladian-style houses in the Deep South. Couple looking at a car in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. 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. The site is 1/4 mile west of US 43 South on Cook Lane, three miles south of intersection US 43 and US 72. Visitors to this page: 3,182 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. Administrative use only. I got chills then tried to write it off. Belle Mont was erected in 1828 for a physician from Louisa County, Virginia, Dr. Alexander Williams Mitchell. General Martin retired to his Belle Mont plantation at Leatherwood, which he purchased in 1796 from Benjamin Harrison V of Berkeley Plantation. 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." And have seen shadows and once a figure of a person. The answer will always be a mystery. Blue Star Museum: Belle Mont proudly offers free admission to active duty military personnel and their families between Memorial Day and Labor Day. 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. We went back there, and I finished the project, with help from all was involved. This gets to the broader dilemma with our zeitgeist, which combines woke deconstructionism with a modern version of damnatio memoriae, or condemnation of memory, an ancient Roman practice whereby persons vilified by the state were erased from public memory. Constructed between 1849 and 1860, Belmont Mansion was the home of Adelicia and Joseph Acklen. Do not use all capital letters. Owned by the Alabama Historical Commission and operated by the Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation. The house and surrounding property are reportedly haunted by the former slaves that lived and died on the plantation. Dr. Mitchell and his family of seven were already living in Belle Mont when it was fully completed in 1832. Affordable Nashville Elopements start here! Yet self-righteous assaults on these places and the many ways they are used will not bring restorative justice. He has a bachelors in history and masters in teaching from the University of Virginia and a masters in theology from Christendom College. If you've had a paranormal experience here, or have any additional information about this location, please let us know! Weddings should be a symbol of love and unity. This mansion is believed to have been influenced by Palladian style architecture for which Thomas Jefferson is known. Ticket options include: General Admission, Guided Tour, Curator Tour & Civil War at Belmont. The historic home is the site of the annual Art of the Dish this week. A variety of factors have made researching the lives of Belmont's enslaved residents difficult. complete with original and period furniture, artwork and statuary. Is this place really haunted? The site is 1/4 mile west of US 43 South on Cook Lane, three miles south of intersection US 43 and US 72. However, while living in Belle Mont and planting the surrounding acres, Dr. Mitchell housed 152 slaves in 13 slave cabins on the property. I have lived here since 1963. One was a bluish light, the other one looked golden. Belle Mont isnt included in either of Kathryn Tucker Windhams books about Alabama ghosts. According to census records, Mitchell enslaved 115 people at the cotton plantation. 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 the time, the name of the plantation was not Gay Mont, but Rose Hill. The celebration of a Plantation Christmas is racist, the letter reads. HauntedPlaces.org makes no claims that any of the statements posted here are factually accurate. 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. Belle Mont is located south of Tuscumbia in Colbert Couty in northwest Alabama. A majority of rooms in Belmont Mansion have been meticulously restored. No haunted tours for me. 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. At Belmont, several extended families lived in slavery over the course of several generations. Intimate and elegant elopement ceremonies are popular at Belmont Mansion! First, there is no such thing as a slave plantation. There are cotton plantations, sugar plantations, tobacco plantations, etc., etc., but no slave plantations. Nanyehi was among the first Cherokee to own African-American slaves. It remained in the Winston family for over a century, and is currently used as a historic house museum open for tours by appointment. Click "thumbs up" if you think its haunted, or "thumbs down" if you think its all just a tall tale. Belle Mont was erected in 1828 for a physician from Louisa County, Virginia, Dr. Alexander Williams Mitchell. Slave child's doll inside Belle Mont Mansion. 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. 3. It was then purchased by two women who in 1890 started a college which evolved into Belmont University. Unlock premium content, ad-free browsing, and access to comments for just $4/month. If you've had a paranormal experience here, or have any additional information about this location, please let us know! 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. Belle Meade plantation is one of the premier plantations in Tennessee and one of the top attractions in the state. This was just word of mouth and may not have been accurate, but Im glad to hear it can be toured. 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. It's estimated that 40 percent of slave owners may have been white women. Ninon Parker puts candles out on the table fully set for dinner at Belle Mont Mansion in Colbert County. Located just outside Tuscumbia in Colbert County, the mansion is one of a few . The Miracle Worker organ. 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. 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. Countless Haunt Hunters have been arrested, ticketed, and reprimanded by the authorities for trespassing. My great great great great grandfather used to live at the belle mont mansion ! Related Videos Video #1 Located in the middle of the Belmont University campusbehind Freeman Hall. 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 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. I mention this because Gay Mont was his home. The answer will always be a mystery. Stay safe. My wife and I went to the mansion and learned of its peculiarities from the informative guide person. Off Campus Book Store University of North Alabama, Norton Auditorium University of North Alabama. Constructed in the 1820s, Belle Mont fell into ruin until the Alabama Historical Commission rescued it in the 1980s. 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. Its also not as if Dixie estates were the only sites where acts of brutality were committed by one group of Americans against another. Nearby, an early 1800s mansion, Belle Mont, is available for touring. 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. Belle Mont Mansion , built circa 1828, is one of the few examples of Palladian-style houses in Alabama. Plantation Christmas at Belle Mont is held annually the first Sunday in December and features period costumed interpreters, decorations, refreshments, and entertainment. 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. The property is located just south of Tuscumbia and west of US Route 43 at 1569 Cook Lane. Mr. Winston was a cousin of Dolly Madison, Patrick Henry, and Isaac Cole, who was a personal friend and secretary of President Thomas Jefferson. The schooner Clotilda smuggled African captives into the U.S. in 1860, more than 50 years after importing slaves was outlawed. Join now to unlock comments, browse ad-free, and access exclusive content from your favorite FDRLST writers. Belle Mont Mansion has been listed under several names through its history. Blanket from Belle Mont Mansion. 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. Contact the museum for current rates, policies, and an application. Just one if many weird, cant explain it things that have happened here. 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. Visitors to the mansion have reported seeing dark shadowy figures walking the fields and have heard the sound of chains rattling near the house. As there is not formal cemetery for the slaves it is likely that they were buried on some part of the estate. Be specific. Is it not appropriate to celebrate momentous occasions in beautiful places? The coalition said the event celebrated white supremacy by ignoring the enslaved people who labored at the cotton plantation. "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.'". It also reflects the vulnerability of American businesses to the whims of leftist protest movements. Indeed, it was brutal and terrifying. This is not a good thing. Strange are there actually any African Americans who have memories of the antebellum period, given that it ended 160 years ago? 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. 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. Please note: It is your responsibility to acquire appropriate permissions before investigating any location listed on this site. Clicks to Website: 293 Contextualizing former slave plantations has been a concern across the nation. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Because of the tragedies that transpired therin, they powerfully communicate how far America has come.