History - Belle Mont Mansion Sold by the Acklen family in 1887, the house went to a developer who began one of Nashvilles early suburbs. Belle Mont Mansion (Tuscumbia) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go Belle Mont was erected in 1828 for a physician from Louisa County, Virginia, Dr. Alexander Williams Mitchell. It remained in the Winston family for over a century, and is currently used as a historic house museum open for tours by appointment. 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 site originally served as the centerpiece for the large scale cotton. Went back into the cellar a coupple more times, but never had that akward feeling again. The property is located just south of Tuscumbia and west of US Route 43 at 1569 Cook Lane. Dr. Mitchell and his family of seven were already living in Belle Mont when it was fully completed in 1832. The Miracle Worker organ. 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's currently operated as a museum, and tours are available. 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. Society of slaves: stereotypes fall - Baltimore Sun Slavery at Belmont - old page | belmontmansion Her aunt, who was only a few years older than her, got busted sneaking in/vandalizing the mansion. The designer is unknown but seems to have been influenced by Thomas Jefferson's ideas and style. In each society and in each generation slaves adjusted and . Small items like dimes and nails are moved. Tickets may also be purchased by credit card by calling the museum at 256-381-5052 or online . 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. 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. 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. Sign up for our newsletter and receive Halloween event updates, discounts and more! Strange are there actually any African Americans who have memories of the antebellum period, given that it ended 160 years ago? In 1833, the property was bought by Issac Williams, who owned 119 enslaved people by 1855. 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. I asked, Do you see him now? in a jested way as I awkwardly half-smile to my wife. The Belle Mont Mansion was constructed from 1828-1832. Your email address will not be published. She said he would come out shooting if he caught trespassers. All rights reserved (About Us). Intimate and elegant elopement ceremonies are popular at Belmont Mansion! It has a staff of three: a site director, curator, and tour guide. Its important the reality of what happened in these spaces is present, versus a romanticization of human rights abuses.. 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. Slave child's doll inside Belle Mont Mansion. It also reflects the vulnerability of American businesses to the whims of leftist protest movements. The property remained in the family until 1941 and in 1983 the house and 35 acres was donated to the State of Alabama by the Fennel family. At Belmont, several extended families lived in slavery over the course of several generations. Some visitors say that the building . Gradually, the family gatherings became less frequent until the home was completely abandoned. The architecture of Belmont Mansion makes it one of the most significant homes of 19th century Tennessee. The property is located just south of Tuscumbia and west of US Route 43 at 1569 Cook Lane. An Alabama Historical Commission site, Belle Mont was built 1828-1832 and is one of the state's first great plantation houses. Private property should be respected at all times, as should all posted signs concerning trespassing, hours of operation and other local regulations. 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 remember her sounding really flippant about it and me wondering how being shot at was not a big deal! 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 only way to avoid offending anyone would be to stop celebrating anything, anywhere, at any time. 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. 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. Belle mont mansion slaves - nxggc.soterik.de According to census records, Mitchell enslaved 115 people at the cotton plantation. Disclaimer: The stories posted here are user-submitted and are, in the nature of "ghost stories," largely unverifiable. 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. "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. Belle Mont Mansion | Haunted Places | Tuscumbia, AL 35674 The Massive, Overlooked Role of Female Slave Owners Belle Mont is located south of Tuscumbia in Colbert Couty in northwest Alabama. We went back there, and I finished the project, with help from all was involved. One account is from young William Acklin, a enslaved worker, and the other from a visitor to the estate. No profanity. Is this place really haunted? Belle Mont Mansion | Tuscumbia AL - Facebook It was then purchased by two women who in 1890 started a college which evolved into Belmont University. Disclaimer: Alabama Haunted Houses does not endorse or support trespassing to visit real haunts. The use of the NPS name for any unauthorized events or activities is strictly prohibited. I have lived here since 1963. Belle Meade plantation is one of the premier plantations in Tennessee and one of the top attractions in the state. My great great great great grandfather used to live at the belle mont mansion ! Her eyes, big as saucers, alarm me. But fewer probably know that it . These families included the Baker and Snowden families, among others. Located in the middle of the Belmont University campusbehind Freeman Hall. 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. Is it possible that Dr. Mitchell built Belle Mont in this style, two years after Jeffersons death, to honor the late president? 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 groups who are critiquing the event in Tuscumbia believe historical sites must be honest and respectful. Belle Mont attracts approximately 5,000 visitors each year. 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. Admission: Adults $6; students, seniors, military $5; and children 6-18 $3. The other residents seem to tolerate it OK, but I hate it. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Just outside the city of Tuscumbia, the 700+ acre Cane Creek Canyon Nature . The Belle Mont Mansion in Tuscumbia Alabama was built around 1828 for physician and planter Alexander Williams Mitchell. Following the death of his wife Alexander Mitchell remarried and sold the plantation to Isaac and Catherine Winston and moved to Philadelphia in 1833. All of these places, despite their histories, are objectively beautiful. 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. 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. If you've had a paranormal experience here, or have any additional information about this location, please let us know! Contact the museum for current rates, policies, and an application. Contextualizing former slave plantations has been a concern across the nation. Art of the Dish at the Historic Belle Mont Mansion | Gallery That seems far more justified than puritannical policing of plantations. It's estimated that 40 percent of slave owners may have been white women. Surely, we do not want to pretend these places dont have a violent, racist past. I mention this because Gay Mont was his home. 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. 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. Tell Us About Your Experience(s) at Belle Mont. This mansion is believed to have been influenced by Palladian style architecture for which Thomas Jefferson is known. Plantation Christmas at Belle Mont is held annually the first Sunday in December and features period costumed interpreters, decorations, refreshments, and entertainment. I have heard quiet voices in the night. Belle Mont - Alabama 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. 1569 Cook Lane, Tuscumbia, Alabama 35674 View Map CONTACT Site Director: Ninon Parker Museum: 256- 381-5052 Email: bellemontmansion@gmail.com Group rates available. 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. Belle Mont was erected in 1828 for a physician from Louisa County, Virginia, Dr. Alexander Williams Mitchell. Owned by the Alabama Historical Commission and operated by the Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation. Its two-story north entrance salon is flanked on either side by a formal dining room and parlor. The underlying premise of the anti-plantation movement is that Southern plantations cannot be romanticized. And have seen shadows and once a figure of a person. Please report any inaccuracies. I have experienced some very strange things in my home. 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. The Winston family maintained ownership and continued living in Belle Mont through the Civil War and until around 1940. 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. Constructed in the 1820s, Belle Mont fell into ruin until the Alabama Historical Commission rescued it in the 1980s. The coalition said the event celebrated white supremacy by ignoring the enslaved people who labored at the cotton plantation. Countless Haunt Hunters have been arrested, ticketed, and reprimanded by the authorities for trespassing. The house and surrounding property are reportedly haunted by the former slaves that lived and died on the plantation. Shes told me that prior to the restorations the mansion was a prime site for local teens to be dumb kids trespass, vandalize, etc. Marble bust of Helen Keller. The abandonment of the home was the largest cause of its deterioration and the vandalism that occurred at Belle Mont. Required fields are marked *. The architecture of Belmont Mansion makes it one of the most significant homes of 19th century Tennessee. Even though it is now just 24 acres, many of the important elements remain. This would have been in the late 60s, early 70s I would guess. Jones says her new title is one she holds . For more information, click here. Is it not appropriate to celebrate momentous occasions in beautiful places? 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. The National Paranormal Society is not responsible for individuals, teams and submissions listed on the NPS website. If such locales have tragic histories, this is all the more reason to reimagine them in ways that both recognize and overcome that past. Would like to know if anyone does know anything about it and any info in accordance with that reference. Belle Meade Plantation in Nashville TN: Horses, History, Wine 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. 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." Welcome to mystery411 Haunted Belle Mont Tuscumbia page. 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. Ticket options include: General Admission, Guided Tour, Curator Tour & Civil War at Belmont, Discover the largest house built in Tennesse. Off Campus Book Store University of North Alabama, Norton Auditorium University of North Alabama. 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 However, while living in Belle Mont and planting the surrounding acres, Dr. Mitchell housed 152 slaves in 13 slave cabins on the property. Indeed, it is the Christian character of America that has allowed us to recognize and seek to rectify our past errors. Most Americans know that George Washington owned enslaved people at his Mount Vernon home. Constructed between 1849 and 1860, Belmont Mansion was the home of Adelicia and Joseph Acklen. Yet self-righteous assaults on these places and the many ways they are used will not bring restorative justice. BG Joseph Lynch Martin Jr. (1740-1808) - Find a Grave Memorial Emerging Civil War Yes, its true that some historical artifacts across Americas landscape are honored in ways that belittle or demean our fellow countrymen. complete with original and period furniture, artwork and statuary. It was the centerpiece of a 1,760 acre cotton plantation and had one of the largest slave populations in the state. Indeed, it was brutal and terrifying. 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. A variety of factors have made researching the lives of Belmont's enslaved residents difficult. Click "thumbs up" if you think its haunted, or "thumbs down" if you think its all just a tall tale. Then they could celebrate their wedding reception at a Southern manor and have a hell of a good time. 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. Nanyehi was among the first Cherokee to own African-American slaves. If you've had a paranormal experience here, or have any additional information about this location, please let us know! 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. Belle Meade plantation takes a deeper look into the lives of its slaves 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. Belle Mont's out-buildings are no longer standing, but several foundations, including that of a slave house, have been located by archeologists. The Belle Mont Mansion in Tuscumbia Alabama was built around 1828 for physician and planter Alexander Williams Mitchell. It is best to play gospel or Christian radio in your house 24/7 to make them move on. 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. Is it possible that Dr. Mitchell built Belle Mont in this style, two years after Jeffersons death, to honor the late president? Jonece Starr Dunigan | jdunigan@reckonmedia.com, hired a black historian to research the site's enslavement history, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Voice your opinion here! 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. n 1832. Be specific. However, while living in Belle Mont and planting the surrounding acres, Dr. Mitchell housed 152 slaves in 13 slave cabins on the property. Slaves in the plantation generations were members of what Berlin calls "slave societies," where slavery was the primary source of labor. 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 majority of rooms in Belmont Mansion have been meticulously restored. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. Belle Mont is located south of Tuscumbia in Colbert Couty in northwest Alabama. 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 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. My wife and I went to the mansion and learned of its peculiarities from the informative guide person. This 1860 census, also called a Slave Schedule, provides a limited picture of all who were living at Belmont and where they lived. He is the author of The Persecuted: True Stories of Courageous Christians Living Their Faith in Muslim Lands. In its zealous desire to right previous wrongs, this goes too far in the other direction, and in the process, undermines the historical fabric of our nation. The Conway family purchased the property in 1670 and it remained in the family for 120 years. The property is also available for tours Thursday through Sunday and for special event rentals. This design is derived from the neoclassical architectural style of Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio. The house and surrounding property are reportedly haunted by the former slaves that lived and died on the plantation. 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. Administrative use only. For some reason a lot of places in Tuscumbia AL are haunted. 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. belle mont mansion slaves July 3, 2022 July 3, 2022 July 3, 2022 July 3, 2022. All rights reserved. Belle Mont Mansion | Encyclopedia of Alabama 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? Belle Mont's out-buildings are no longer standing, but several foundations, including that of a slave house, have been located by archeologists. 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. Dr. Mitchell and his family of seven were already living in Belle Mont when it was fully completed in 1832. In addition, volunteers from the Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation assist as docents for special events and participate in fund-raising activities. But she never mentioned any slave ghosts. Many of them, even their detractors must admit, are beautiful, both in reference to their natural surroundings and their architecture. View all AHC Owned Historic Houses & Museums. 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. 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. It has a staff of three: a site director, curator, and tour guide. Belle Mont | Tuscumbia Alabama | Real Haunted Place The Knot, WeddingWire, and Pinterest are seeking to limit content on their websites that promotes Southern plantations as a wedding venue. Now, thats poetic justice. LGBTQ advocacy organization Equality Shoals, Shoals Young Democrats and Rev. Art of the Dish at Belle Mont | This Week | courierjournal.net Stay safe. Nearby, an early 1800s mansion, Belle Mont, is available for touring. What do you think? 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. Join now to unlock comments, browse ad-free, and access exclusive content from your favorite FDRLST writers. Not sure if it did or not but sure does fit. Haunted Places in Tupelo, Mississippi The organization behind this growing movement, Color of Change, indicts vendors for using words like breathtaking to describe plantations. 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. Ticket options include: General Admission, Guided Tour, Curator Tour & Civil War at Belmont. 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. The home was built. 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. Marble bust of Helen Keller. Plantation Christmas event near Tuscumbia 'racist', groups say 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.