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. 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. All rights reserved. Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation, Inc. is the support group in charge of operating the site. 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? 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. HauntedPlaces.org makes no claims that any of the statements posted here are factually accurate. The underlying premise of the anti-plantation movement is that Southern plantations cannot be romanticized. The Miracle Worker organ. What county in Alabama had the most slaves? If you've had a paranormal experience here, or have any additional information about this location, please let us know! Is it possible that Dr. Mitchell built Belle Mont in this style, two years after Jeffersons death, to honor the late president? 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. Belle Mont's out-buildings are no longer standing, but several foundations, including that of a slave house, have been located by archeologists. We also dont need to police their repurposing. 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. 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. Use of the directory is at the discretion of the individual. The house is listed on the National Historic Registry (#19820223). Have a haunt/halloween related news story or a tip? This mansion is believed to have been influenced by Palladian style architecture for which Thomas Jefferson is known. The National Paranormal Society is not responsible for individuals, teams and submissions listed on the NPS website. Indeed, it is the Christian character of America that has allowed us to recognize and seek to rectify our past errors. The answer will always be a mystery. All rights reserved (About Us). As of Thursday morning, Alabama Historical Commission members have not responded to the letter or AL.coms emails and phone calls. The Belle Mont Mansion was constructed from 1828-1832. 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. Its also not as if Dixie estates were the only sites where acts of brutality were committed by one group of Americans against another. 2019 was the year it finally became socially unacceptable to use a historic plantation as a wedding venue. Chronological snobbery, as C.S. Marble bust of Helen Keller. Moreover, the entire. Indeed, it was brutal and terrifying. 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. Located just outside Tuscumbia in Colbert County, the mansion is one of a few . Belle Mont also illustrates Jeffersons reverence for the neoclassical architectural elements and ideas of the Italian Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio," (Commission 2). Ninon Parker puts candles out on the table fully set for dinner at Belle Mont Mansion in Colbert County. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. Affordable Nashville Elopements start here! You can visit the historic Belle Mont Mansion at 1569 Cook Ln., Tuscumbia, Alabama 35674. Open Letter Plantation Christmas by Jonece on Scribd. Belle Mont Mansion is being restored and partially furnished to reflect the antebellum, or pre-Civil War, time period. In addition, volunteers from the Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation assist as docents for special events and participate in fund-raising activities. Very little historic data, including census records, include last names of those who were enslaved, making it challenging to locate descendents through geneaology records. 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. He says, the man that lives in that house. still pointing. Peace to everyone. Many of them, even their detractors must admit, are beautiful, both in reference to their natural surroundings and their architecture. 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." Moreover, are the perpetrators of our historical-cultural cleansing so naive to think their children and grandchildren wont do the same thing to them, who have fostered and encouraged a paradigm of national seppuku? But she never mentioned any slave ghosts. 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. 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. Not sure if it did or not but sure does fit. It remained in the Winston family for over a century, and is currently used as a historic house museum open for tours by appointment. 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 has a staff of three: a site director, curator, and tour guide. It remained in the Winston family for over a century, and is currently used as a historic house museum open for tours by appointment. Belle Mont Mansion has resumed normal operating hours and will be operating at reduced capacity to safeguard against COVID-19. Gift Shop (111 S. Main St., Tuscumbia). The use of the NPS name for any unauthorized events or activities is strictly prohibited. It also reflects the vulnerability of American businesses to the whims of leftist protest movements. Your email address will not be published. Positioned on a commanding hilltop, Belle Mont Mansion is one of Alabama's crowning architectural achievements. Indeed, I wonder how many black Americans even have a deceased grandparent who could have had a memory of antebellum America. This was just word of mouth and may not have been accurate, but Im glad to hear it can be toured. Happy haunting! Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Belle Mont also illustrates Jeffersons reverence for the neoclassical architectural elements and ideas of the Italian Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio,. The Alabama Historical Commission owns this historic site. 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). The Winston family maintained ownership and continued living in Belle Mont through the Civil War and until around 1940. Casey Chalk is a senior contributor at The Federalist and an editor and columnist at The New Oxford Review. My daughter and I have both heard clear voices that sound kind of far away, but you can understand them. Even though it is now just 24 acres, many of the important elements remain. Your CommentsHave a photograph taken from this location? 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 organization behind this growing movement, Color of Change, indicts vendors for using words like breathtaking to describe plantations. Belle Meade plantation is one of the premier plantations in Tennessee and one of the top attractions in the state. Belle Mont attracts approximately 5,000 visitors each year. Slaves in the plantation generations were members of what Berlin calls "slave societies," where slavery was the primary source of labor. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Now, thats poetic justice. At this time, the family decided to move to a different location but continued to hold Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations in the mansion. My wife and I went to the mansion and learned of its peculiarities from the informative guide person. 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. 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. I have experienced some very strange things in my home. 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. I grew up in Florence and my Great Grandmother lived near the mansion on Colbert Heights mountain. 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 Please note: It is your responsibility to acquire appropriate permissions before investigating any location listed on this site. Dr. Mitchell and his family of seven were already living in Belle Mont when it was fully completed in 1832. No haunted tours for me. That seems far more justified than puritannical policing of plantations. Belle Mont Mansion, known for its architecture, was built in 1828 for Alexander Williams Mitchell. Do not use all capital letters. 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. Belle Mont Mansion is located outside of Tuscumbia. Stories of the Past - Conversations for the Future. And in the process, these attacks have unintended economic consequences on working-class Americans. 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. 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. Although the original architect and builder remain unknown, the style of Belle Mont appears also to have been influenced by past. Intimate and elegant elopement ceremonies are popular at Belmont Mansion! 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. 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. Nanyehi was among the first Cherokee to own African-American slaves. Belle Mont was erected in 1828 for a physician from Louisa County, Virginia, Dr. Alexander Williams Mitchell. It was the centerpiece of a 1,760 acre cotton plantation and had one of the largest slave populations in the state. View all AHC Owned Historic Houses & Museums. 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. The Belle Mont Mansion in Tuscumbia Alabama was built around 1828 for physician and planter Alexander Williams Mitchell. 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. Lewis called our tendency to view our own age as superior to others, is a dark chasm ending in our own destruction. Is it possible that Dr. Mitchell built Belle Mont in this style, two years after Jeffersons death, to honor the late president? My great great great great grandfather used to live at the belle mont mansion ! 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. 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). The architecture of Belmont Mansion makes it one of the most significant homes of 19th century Tennessee. Related Videos Video #1 Being new to the area, none of us knew of the Belmont Mansion or its location. Yes, its true that some historical artifacts across Americas landscape are honored in ways that belittle or demean our fellow countrymen. This is not a good thing. According to census records, Mitchell enslaved 115 people at the cotton plantation. 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. This would have been in the late 60s, early 70s I would guess. The architecture of Belmont Mansion makes it one of the most significant homes of 19th century Tennessee. LGBTQ advocacy organization Equality Shoals, Shoals Young Democrats and Rev. One day toward the end of the project, My friend Ronnie and I went down to remove what was left from an old tree my Dad had cut down the day before and other light work. Constructed between 1849 and 1860, Belmont Mansion was the home of Adelicia and Joseph Acklen. I dont know any ghost stories but my mother tells a few funny stories. Belle Mont Mansion is a historic house museum open for guided tours. At first you think this is all in your imagination. This style stems from the neoclassical architectural design of Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio. Required fields are marked *. Mr. Winston was a cousin of Dolly Madison, Patrick Henry, and Isaac Cole, who was a personal friend and secretary of President Thomas Jefferson. Belle Mont Mansion has been listed under several names through its history. My Dad bought it at that time. 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. We have located just two first-hand accounts of slavery at Belmont. Over the years, this historic mansion has been restored to its original pre-Civil War appearance. Its important the reality of what happened in these spaces is present, versus a romanticization of human rights abuses.. Dr. Mitchell and his family of seven were already living in Belle Mont when it was fully completed in 1832. Three years later, during the middle of the. 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). The house and surrounding property are reportedly haunted by the former slaves that lived and died on the plantation. A variety of factors have made researching the lives of Belmont's enslaved residents difficult. 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. Belle Mont is available for special events. Then you maybe talk to family members and realize everyone feels the same way. Disclaimer: Alabama Haunted Houses does not endorse or support trespassing to visit real haunts. However, the staff continues to research as we endeavor to tell the stories of all who lived at Belmont. Unlock premium content, ad-free browsing, and access to comments for just $4/month. Administrative use only. We went back there, and I finished the project, with help from all was involved. The coalition said the event celebrated white supremacy by ignoring the enslaved people who labored at the cotton plantation. In each society and in each generation slaves adjusted and . Went back into the cellar a coupple more times, but never had that akward feeling again. Voice your opinion here! Visit BelmontMansionEvents.com to review options to Elope in Nashville at Belmont Mansion. "It is unacceptable to subject the descendants of enslaved African Americans to whitewashed versions of history that ignore their ancestors experience.". The site is 1/4 mile west of US 43 South on Cook Lane, three miles south of intersection US 43 and US 72. Is this place really haunted? Many "ghost hunters" have been arrested because they failed to contact property owners and/or local authorities ahead of time. I remember her sounding really flippant about it and me wondering how being shot at was not a big deal! A mural of the Clotilda adorns a concrete embankment in Africatown, a community near Mobile founded by Africans illegally transported to Alabama aboard the slave ship. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Clicks to Website: 293 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. If such locales have tragic histories, this is all the more reason to reimagine them in ways that both recognize and overcome that past. The historic home is the site of the annual Art of the Dish this week. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. 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. Constructed in the 1820s, Belle Mont fell into ruin until the Alabama Historical Commission rescued it in the 1980s. Blanket from Belle Mont Mansion. At this time, the family decided to move to a different location but continued to hold Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations in the mansion.