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. "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.'". Constructed in the 1820s, Belle Mont fell into ruin until the Alabama Historical Commission rescued it in the 1980s. Belle Mont Mansion is being restored and partially furnished to reflect the antebellum, or pre-Civil War, time period. 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. Multiple north Alabama organizations are demanding an apology after a Christmas event was held at a Colbert County plantation mansion where enslaved people once labored. Sold by the Acklen family in 1887, the house went to a developer who began one of Nashvilles early suburbs. The groups who are critiquing the event in Tuscumbia believe historical sites must be honest and respectful. The best-known ghost tale from each Alabama county - al.com That seems far more justified than puritannical policing of plantations. The house and surrounding property are reportedly haunted by the former slaves that lived and died on the plantation. However, the staff continues to research as we endeavor to tell the stories of all who lived at Belmont. I contacted the historic society to find out about the planned restoration project that I had heard about, and asked if I could assist as part of my Eagle Scout project in the Boy Scouts. Belle Mont is available for special events. You feel things passing by you. 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. According to census records, Mitchell enslaved 115 people at the cotton plantation. 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. A majority of rooms in Belmont Mansion have been meticulously restored. 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. How many of the great nations of human history have so actively beat their breasts over their sins, both against their own citizens and the peoples of the world? Following the death of his wife Alexander Mitchell remarried and sold the plantation to Isaac and Catherine Winston and moved to Philadelphia in 1833. The coalition said the event celebrated white supremacy by ignoring the enslaved people who labored at the cotton plantation. Visit BelmontMansionEvents.com to review options to Elope in Nashville at Belmont Mansion. belle mont mansion slaves July 3, 2022 July 3, 2022 July 3, 2022 July 3, 2022. 2023 The Federalist, A wholly independent division of FDRLST Media. Its two-story north entrance salon is flanked on either side by a formal dining room and parlor. 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. 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. I have heard quiet voices in the night. The house is listed on the National Historic Registry (#19820223). Chronological snobbery, as C.S. The National Paranormal Society is not responsible for individuals, teams and submissions listed on the NPS website. Located in the heart of Nashville on the Belmont University Campus. Art of the Dish at the Historic Belle Mont Mansion | Gallery William F. Buckleys popularization of Eric Voegelins warning is apt: Dont immanentize the eschaton!. Share Your Experience or Comments - Belle Mont. Tell Us About Your Experience(s) at Belle Mont. In addition, volunteers from the Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation assist as docents for special events and participate in fund-raising activities. The abandonment of the home was the largest cause of its deterioration and the vandalism that occurred at Belle Mont. View all AHC Owned Historic Houses & Museums. My great great great great grandfather used to live at the belle mont mansion ! Post was not sent - check your email addresses! 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. The answer will always be a mystery. It was the centerpiece of a 1,760 acre cotton plantation and had one of the largest slave populations in the state. Affordable Nashville Elopements start here! The property is located just south of Tuscumbia and west of US Route 43 at 1569 Cook Lane. It remained in the Winston family for over a century, and is currently used as a historic house museum open for tours by appointment. When i was 17 years old, Belle Mont Plantation house was in very bad shape and had not had any restoration done to it yet. Haunted Places in Tupelo, Mississippi It was built in 1940 on some of the land near General John Coffees home. History - Belle Mont Mansion Tickets may also be purchased by credit card by calling the museum at 256-381-5052 or online . 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. And have seen shadows and once a figure of a person. Slavery at Belmont - old page | belmontmansion Marble bust of Helen Keller. The article included a large photo of an interior shot of the mansion with my great aunts name first and last blazoned across the room in graffiti! All rights reserved. Use of the directory is at the discretion of the individual. Three years later, during the middle of the. Belle Mont attracts approximately 5,000 visitors each year. 3. And in the process, these attacks have unintended economic consequences on working-class Americans. This is not a good thing. I got chills then tried to write it off. The schooner Clotilda smuggled African captives into the U.S. in 1860, more than 50 years after importing slaves was outlawed. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Admission: Adults $6; students, seniors, military $5; and children 6-18 $3. Nanyehi was among the first Cherokee to own African-American slaves. It's currently operated as a museum, and tours are available. Use the "Browse" or "Choose File" button below to select an image to upload along with your comment. In. Couple looking at a car in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Voice your opinion here! The letter was signed by social justice groups Project Say Something, Standing in Power, of Decatur, and Beyond the Women's March. But she never mentioned any slave ghosts. Went back into the cellar a coupple more times, but never had that akward feeling again. 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. Belle Mont Mansion has resumed normal operating hours and will be operating at reduced capacity to safeguard against COVID-19. Ticket options include: General Admission, Guided Tour, Curator Tour & Civil War at Belmont, Discover the largest house built in Tennesse. Belle Mont, built between 1828 and 1832, was a plantation that used slave labor. Gift Shop (111 S. Main St., Tuscumbia). 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. Plantation Christmas event near Tuscumbia 'racist', groups say My daughter and I have both heard clear voices that sound kind of far away, but you can understand them. Although the original architect and builder remain unknown, the style of Belle Mont appears also to have been influenced by past. 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. As there is not formal cemetery for the slaves it is likely that they were buried on some part of the estate. All rights reserved (About Us). It was then purchased by two women who in 1890 started a college which evolved into Belmont University. A tour of this Nashville plantation tells the story . Constructed between 1849 and 1860, Belmont Mansion was the home of Adelicia and Joseph Acklen. Then you maybe talk to family members and realize everyone feels the same way. 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. Belle Mont was built for Alexander Williams Mitchell, who grew up in Louisa County, Virginia, only 25 miles from Jefferson's home at Monticello. What do you think? Peace to everyone. Indeed, it was brutal and terrifying. Four bedrooms surround the rear or south courtyard, forming its U-shaped brick exterior. The other residents seem to tolerate it OK, but I hate it. Ken is a graphic designer, web developer and co-founder of One True Paranormal, a para-group in southwest Missouri. 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. Visitors to the mansion have reported seeing dark shadowy figures walking the fields and have heard the sound of chains rattling near the house. My mother also said that there was a man, a caretaker of some sort, that lived in a house at the foot of the hill at some point during this time. 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. complete with original and period furniture, artwork and statuary. Belle Mont | Tuscumbia Alabama | Real Haunted Place The site originally served as the centerpiece for the large scale cotton. 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). 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. 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. 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. The voices in the night are the hardest to explain away. Stories of the Past - Conversations for the Future. Protest movements that perceive victimization and microaggression under every rock also wreak havoc on our countrys economy. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. While slavery is often associated with large plantations, the institution permeated Southern culture. 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. Private property should be respected at all times, as should all posted signs concerning trespassing, hours of operation and other local regulations. Disclaimer: The stories posted here are user-submitted and are, in the nature of "ghost stories," largely unverifiable. Their appetites will not be satisfied until all things and persons associated with injustice, real or imagined, are expunged from public experience and memory. All of these places, despite their histories, are objectively beautiful. Doors open and close. I grew up in Florence and my Great Grandmother lived near the mansion on Colbert Heights mountain. 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. If you've had a paranormal experience here, or have any additional information about this location, please let us know! Moreover, the entire. You can imagine me trying to picture my great aunt doing this, haha! Things seem to be at their worst after midnight, until early dawn. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Belle Mont is located south of Tuscumbia in Colbert Couty in northwest Alabama. 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. n 1832. Then they could celebrate their wedding reception at a Southern manor and have a hell of a good time. Shes told me that prior to the restorations the mansion was a prime site for local teens to be dumb kids trespass, vandalize, etc. Contextualizing former slave plantations has been a concern across the nation. The Knot, WeddingWire, and Pinterest are seeking to limit content on their websites that promotes Southern plantations as a wedding venue. Just outside the city of Tuscumbia, the 700+ acre Cane Creek Canyon Nature . Belle Meade plantation takes a deeper look into the lives of its slaves "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. At first you think this is all in your imagination. The 7 Best Plantation Day Trips And Tours In Alabama - OnlyInYourState Welcome to mystery411 Haunted Belle Mont Tuscumbia page. Its just really weird that we both saw this happen at the exact same time. Belle Mont's out-buildings are no longer standing, but several foundations, including that of a slave house, have been located by archeologists. The site is 1/4 mile west of US 43 South on Cook Lane, three miles south of intersection US 43 and US 72. Your email address will not be published. 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 Mansion, known for its architecture, was built in 1828 for Alexander Williams Mitchell. Affordable Nashville Elopements start here! Montvale, the farm at Belmont, was destroyed in 1864. Be happy. No haunted tours for me. Slaves in the plantation generations were members of what Berlin calls "slave societies," where slavery was the primary source of labor. Being new to the area, none of us knew of the Belmont Mansion or its location. Not sure if it did or not but sure does fit. Positioned on a commanding hilltop, Belle Mont Mansion is one of Alabama's crowning architectural achievements. 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. 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. 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 celebration of a Plantation Christmas is racist, the letter reads. "It is unacceptable to subject the descendants of enslaved African Americans to whitewashed versions of history that ignore their ancestors experience.". 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 important the reality of what happened in these spaces is present, versus a romanticization of human rights abuses.. Some visitors say that the building . As there is not formal cemetery for the slaves it is likely that they were buried on some part of the estate. Simply by virtue of ones social justice warrior credentials and alleged victimhood status, these people deputize themselves the cultural police of our history, our language, and now apparently our wedding venues. 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. What Todays Cultural Marxists Would Be Wise To Learn From Martin Luther King Jr. Belle Mont Mansion - Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area Because of the tragedies that transpired therin, they powerfully communicate how far America has come. 379 Tuscumbia Alabama Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images ?????? The historic home is the site of the annual Art of the Dish this week. The Winston family maintained ownership and continued living in Belle Mont through the Civil War and until around 1940. The property is also available for tours Thursday through Sunday and for special event rentals. Belle Mont's out-buildings are no longer standing, but several foundations, including that of a slave house, have been located by archeologists. According to the letter, Christmas was a disturbing time for the enslaved. 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. At this time, the family decided to move to a different location but continued to hold Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations in the mansion. The Belle Mont Mansion in Tuscumbia Alabama was built around 1828 for physician and planter Alexander Williams Mitchell. 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.