Nearby, an early 1800s mansion, Belle Mont, is available for touring. If you've had a paranormal experience here, or have any additional information about this location, please let us know! This was just word of mouth and may not have been accurate, but Im glad to hear it can be toured. Haunted Vacations, Adventures and Mysteries. I grew up in Florence and my Great Grandmother lived near the mansion on Colbert Heights mountain. If you've had a paranormal experience here, or have any additional information about this location, please let us know! In addition, volunteers from the Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation assist as docents for special events and participate in fund-raising activities. My daughter and I have both heard clear voices that sound kind of far away, but you can understand them. 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. Tickets are available at Belle Mont Mansion and at Fiddledee D! It remained in the Winston family for over a century, and is currently used as a historic house museum open for tours by appointment. View all AHC Owned Historic Houses & Museums. 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. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), NPS Investigation & Research Education Resource, World Institute for Scientific Exploration (WISE), http://www.mystery411.com/Landing_bellemonttuscumbia.html. For more information, click here. In. Belle Mont is available for special events. Just outside the city of Tuscumbia, the 700+ acre Cane Creek Canyon Nature . Belle Mont Mansion is located outside of Tuscumbia. Group rates available. Is it possible that Dr. Mitchell built Belle Mont in this style, two years after Jeffersons death, to honor the late president? If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. If such locales have tragic histories, this is all the more reason to reimagine them in ways that both recognize and overcome that past. 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. 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. e prior to the Civil War. One account is from young William Acklin, a enslaved worker, and the other from a visitor to the estate. 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. 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 property is also available for tours Thursday through Sunday and for special event rentals. Belle Mont Mansion , built circa 1828, is one of the few examples of Palladian-style houses in Alabama. All rights reserved. Is this place really haunted? Intimate and elegant elopement ceremonies are popular at Belmont Mansion! 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. No haunted tours for me. I have lived here since 1963. 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. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Slave child's doll inside Belle Mont Mansion. Jones says her new title is one she holds . 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. Yet self-righteous assaults on these places and the many ways they are used will not bring restorative justice. 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. Things seem to be at their worst after midnight, until early dawn. At first you think this is all in your imagination. 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. Your CommentsHave a photograph taken from this location? The answer will always be a mystery. 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. It is said to be haunted by slaves who died on the grounds and also by former owners. 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. In 1790, John Hipkins purchased the property from the Conway family and in 1791 built Belle Grove for his only child, Fannie. Montvale, the farm at Belmont, was destroyed in 1864. You feel things passing by you. The Winston family maintained ownership and continued living in Belle Mont through the Civil War and until around 1940. Very little historic data, including census records, include last names of those who were enslaved, making it challenging to locate descendents through geneaology records. 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. "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.'". Is it possible that Dr. Mitchell built Belle Mont in this style, two years after Jeffersons death, to honor the late president? Belle Mont Mansion has been listed under several names through its history. Off Campus Book Store University of North Alabama, Norton Auditorium University of North Alabama. It once stretched over 5400 acres and hosted celebrities, presidents, and countless southern gentlemen. 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. Went back into the cellar a coupple more times, but never had that akward feeling again. Belle Mont was erected in 1828 for a physician from Louisa County, Virginia, Dr. Alexander Williams Mitchell. The schooner Clotilda smuggled African captives into the U.S. in 1860, more than 50 years after importing slaves was outlawed. I was born and raised in Tuscumbia. Shes told me that prior to the restorations the mansion was a prime site for local teens to be dumb kids trespass, vandalize, etc. Wesley Thompson of Bethel Colbert Missionary Baptists Church also signed the letter. Earlier this month, prodded by the group Color of Change, four wedding websites said they . Peace to everyone. I mention this because Gay Mont was his home. Required fields are marked *. Over the years, this historic mansion has been restored to its original pre-Civil War appearance. Belle Mont Mansion has resumed normal operating hours and will be operating at reduced capacity to safeguard against COVID-19. "The celebration of a 'Plantation Christmas' represents a willful ignorance of the experience of enslaved people and a concocted memory of a joyous, white supremacist Christmas celebration," the letter said. Positioned on a commanding hilltop, Belle Mont Mansion is one of Alabama's crowning architectural achievements. Not-So-Scary Haunted Houses (Kid Friendly). The historic home is the site of the annual Art of the Dish this week. 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. Its just really weird that we both saw this happen at the exact same time. It was then purchased by two women who in 1890 started a college which evolved into Belmont University. We went back there, and I finished the project, with help from all was involved. These families included the Baker and Snowden families, among others. Tell Us About Your Experience(s) at Belle Mont. Although the original architect and builder remain unknown, the style of Belle Mont appears also to have been influenced by past. I remember her sounding really flippant about it and me wondering how being shot at was not a big deal! Share Your Experience or Comments - Belle Mont. In each society and in each generation slaves adjusted and . Gift Shop (111 S. Main St., Tuscumbia). The site is 1/4 mile west of US 43 South on Cook Lane, three miles south of intersection US 43 and US 72. Strange are there actually any African Americans who have memories of the antebellum period, given that it ended 160 years ago? At the time, the name of the plantation was not Gay Mont, but Rose Hill. The site originally served as the centerpiece for the large scale cotton. Group of women standing outside Belle Mont Mansion. The Belle Mont Mansion in Tuscumbia Alabama was built around 1828 for physician and planter Alexander Williams Mitchell. As there is not formal cemetery for the slaves it is likely that they were buried on some part of the estate. The letter was also sent to Ninon Parker, who is listed as a site director for the Belle Mont Mansion. Indeed, it was brutal and terrifying. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. === A monument was errected in 2008 on the old Henry Courthouse square in Martinsville, VA. . Contextualizing former slave plantations has been a concern across the nation. Chronological snobbery, as C.S. The Conway family purchased the property in 1670 and it remained in the family for 120 years. Owned by the Alabama Historical Commission and operated by the Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation. All of these places, despite their histories, are objectively beautiful. However, while living in Belle Mont and planting the surrounding acres, Dr. Mitchell housed 152 slaves in 13 slave cabins on the property. Located in the heart of Nashville on the Belmont University Campus. It has a staff of three: a site director, curator, and tour guide. Protest movements that perceive victimization and microaggression under every rock also wreak havoc on our countrys economy. Lewis called our tendency to view our own age as superior to others, is a dark chasm ending in our own destruction. 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. Belle Mont, built between 1828 and 1832, was a plantation that used slave labor. n 1832. 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. Stories of the Past - Conversations for the Future. Belle Mont isnt included in either of Kathryn Tucker Windhams books about Alabama ghosts. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. 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. Its also not as if Dixie estates were the only sites where acts of brutality were committed by one group of Americans against another. 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. Ken is a graphic designer, web developer and co-founder of One True Paranormal, a para-group in southwest Missouri. 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. Voice your opinion here! But she never mentioned any slave ghosts. And have seen shadows and once a figure of a person. He says, the man that lives in that house. still pointing. At this time, the family decided to move to a different location but continued to hold Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations in the mansion. The site is 1/4 mile west of US 43 South on Cook Lane, three miles south of intersection US 43 and US 72. It remained in the Winston family for over a century, and is currently used as a historic house museum open for tours by appointment. Will NOT be displayed. At this time, the family decided to move to a different location but continued to hold Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations in the mansion. 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. 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. Visitors to the mansion have reported seeing dark shadowy figures walking the fields and have heard the sound of chains rattling near the house. This would have been in the late 60s, early 70s I would guess. 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. Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation, Inc. is the support group in charge of operating the site. That seems far more justified than puritannical policing of plantations. 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. Countless Haunt Hunters have been arrested, ticketed, and reprimanded by the authorities for trespassing. Belle Mont also illustrates Jeffersons reverence for the neoclassical architectural elements and ideas of the Italian Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio," (Commission 2). The organization behind this growing movement, Color of Change, indicts vendors for using words like breathtaking to describe plantations. 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. 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. The Alabama Historical Commission owns this historic site. Admission: Adults $6; students, seniors, military $5; and children 6-18 $3. The voices in the night are the hardest to explain away. Marble bust of Helen Keller. Ticket options include: General Admission, Guided Tour, Curator Tour & Civil War at Belmont, Discover the largest house built in Tennesse. Is it not appropriate to celebrate momentous occasions in beautiful places? Join now to unlock comments, browse ad-free, and access exclusive content from your favorite FDRLST writers. Belle Mont's out-buildings are no longer standing, but several foundations, including that of a slave house, have been located by archeologists. While slavery is often associated with large plantations, the institution permeated Southern culture. And in the process, these attacks have unintended economic consequences on working-class Americans. 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. A tour of this Nashville plantation tells the story . For some reason a lot of places in Tuscumbia AL are haunted. First, there is no such thing as a slave plantation. There are cotton plantations, sugar plantations, tobacco plantations, etc., etc., but no slave plantations. 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. Belle Mont Mansion is being restored and partially furnished to reflect the antebellum, or pre-Civil War, time period. Clicks to Website: 293 Surely, we do not want to pretend these places dont have a violent, racist past. 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. Nanyehi was among the first Cherokee to own African-American slaves. 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. Ticket options include: General Admission, Guided Tour, Curator Tour & Civil War at Belmont. Your email address will not be published. You can visit the historic Belle Mont Mansion at 1569 Cook Ln., Tuscumbia, Alabama 35674. Records of the property's destruction includes information related to the number of slave dwellings on the property. However, the staff continues to research as we endeavor to tell the stories of all who lived at Belmont. 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. It also reflects the vulnerability of American businesses to the whims of leftist protest movements. 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. According to the letter, Christmas was a disturbing time for the enslaved. Do not use all capital letters. The National Paranormal Society is not responsible for individuals, teams and submissions listed on the NPS website.

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