History of
Plantations
“I want the old days back again and they’ll
never come back, and I am haunted by the memory of them
and of the world falling about my ears.”
—Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind
Haunted Plantations of the South is a book about the lifestyle that Margaret Mitchell so eloquently described in this quote from Gone with the Wind. Mitchell’s book gives the reader a realistic glimpse of how chaotic life was for everybody during and after the Civil War.
Unlike Gone with the Wind, Haunted Plantations of the South focuses on a brief history of nearly one hundred separate plantations from seven different states. In order to truly appreciate the ghost stories and legends associated with the plantations, it is important to delve into the history of each location.
It is also important to understand that there were several different types of plantations that existed in the South. Just as most plantations had a distinct name, each plantation had its own individual history. Of course, these histories are accompanied by many legends and ghost stories that make each plantation unique.
In the late 1600s, the first plantations established in America were founded by settlers who were given land grants by the British crown for their dedication, courage, and loyalty. Often these land grants consisted of thousands or even tens of thousands of acres. These men often cleared the land and established plantations. By the way, the oldest plantation on American soil is Shirley Plantation, established in 1638 in colonial Virginia.
Most of the early plantations in America were dedicated to growing tobacco, which was fairly easy to raise and very profitable for the plantation owners, known as planters. In time, other plantations were founded and they focused on crops such as rice, cotton, indigo, and sugar cane.
The Houmas/Burnside Plantation, located in Darrow, Louisiana, is an example of the French Colonial style of architectural design. Courtesy Library of Congress.
Cultivation and harvesting of crops grown on these enormous plantations took considerable resources and manpower. The resources originally were imported from overseas, but soon stores and other businesses were built near some of the most successful plantations. The manpower was found in the form of slaves purchased by the planters. Some of the larger towns and cities in the southern states are named after a plantation, a planter, or an individual who first established a business in the area.
Many planters were so successful in managing their plantations that they became some of the wealthiest and most influential men in all of early America. As a result of this power, many planters entered the political arena on a local, state, or national level. Several of the founding fathers, such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, were some of the most successful plantation owners ever.
Although plantations represented affluence and wealth among the different planters, there was also a great deal of strife and conflict that could not be ignored. Diseases such as tuberculosis, typhoid fever, and yellow fever were contracted by both slaves and plantation owners. Because of the widespread prevalence of these diseases and limited knowledge of hygienic medical practices, it was not uncommon for plantation owners to die before they reached forty years of age.
It was common for wealthier plantation owners to have both a main plantation house and a more remote summer house located a great distance from the plantation proper. One of the original reasons for a retreat was so that the plantation owners and their families and friends could remove themselves from exposure to diseases that sometimes ran rampant in the areas where many of the plantations were located.
To truly appreciate the role of plantations in American history, it is important to know exactly what a plantation was. Most historians agree that in order to be considered a plantation, the property had to consist of a minimum of 600 acres and have at least twenty slaves to work the property. According to the National Register of Historic Places, there were between 650 and 1,000 plantations that met that criteria, and they were scattered throughout eighteen states. The plantations covered in this book will include those found in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Plantation periods
There are two major time periods used to date plantations. Plantations that were constructed from the end of the Revolutionary War until the opening shots of the Civil War are known as antebellum or “pre-war” plantations. Plantations that were built after the beginning of the Civil War are referred to as postbellum or “post-war” plantations. Postbellum plantations were also known as Reconstructionist plantations because they were constructed during the Reconstruction period following the Civil War.
Architectural designs
Although there are only two time periods during which plantations were constructed, there are several architectural styles that were used. The most common architectural designs used in the construction of the plantation houses include the Greek Revival, Georgian, Italianate/Italian Villa, Federal/Adam, Tidewater, Carpenter Gothic Revival, and Jeffersonian. Each has its own unique attributes that separates it from the others.
Carpenter Gothic Revival
The Carpenter Gothic design was popular in both the North and the South in the mid to late 1800s. Buildings constructed in this design often had physical characteristics similar to the gothic churches and other buildings that were popular in Europe until the 1600s.
One of the most distinguishing features of a Carpenter Gothic building is the very steep arches placed above the windows. The windows themselves are not usually rectangular, but are curved to be congruent with the arches constructed above. The roofs are usually arched as well, often extending several inches past the walls of the building itself.
Another sign that a building is Carpenter Gothic is the presence of one or more tall towers, usually on the corners of the main building. In a private house or cottage, the tower would likely be a sitting room or bedroom, whereas the tower of a Carpenter Gothic church often housed the church bell.
Although the Carpenter Gothic design adopted some characteristics from traditional Gothic architecture, there is one major difference between the two styles. Whereas the Gothic buildings were very elaborate in design, their Carpenter Gothic counterparts had a much more conservative appearance.
Most examples of Carpenter Gothic architecture can be found in smaller houses and churches. Although some plantation owners constructed their mansions in this style, most who used this design limited it to secondary buildings on the grounds or cottages or retreats far away from the plantation itself.
Italiante/Italian Villa
The Italian Villa style is loosely based on many of the homes and buildings found throughout the countryside of Italy, hence the name. The Italiante design became very popular in England in the 1840s and within a decade, houses and mansions were being built in America.
Most of the Italian Villa houses and mansions found in the South were constructed in the mid-1800s, shortly before and after the outbreak of the Civil War. Although many plantations in the Southern states were built in this style, most examples of Italian Villa homes can be found in the Northern states.
Like many other architectural styles, Italiante mansions and buildings often had one or more towers attached to the main structure. These towers were very square or rectangular and had a very distinct cornice, or decorative molding, surrounding the entire top. The roofs of the Italiante buildings often had a cornice covering the top edge of the entire building.
Whereas most buildings in other architectural styles are symmetrical, Italiante houses were often asymmetrical. It was not uncommon for the floorplan of an Italiante building to be in a “T” or “L.”
Greek Revival
This architectural style was common among planters between 1800 and 1855. Greek Revival structures can be identified by the square or rounded columns that line the front of the building. Another feature of the Greek Revival plantation house is that there is often an oval window placed above the main entrance. A large number of state and federal government buildings are constructed using the Greek Revival architectural design.
Georgian
The Georgian architectural style was commonly used by planters between 1720 and 1840. It is very similar to the Greek Revival style, the main exception being that there is not an oval window installed above the main entrance. Georgian architecture heavily influenced the Greek Revival and Federal architectural styles.
Federal/Adam
Federal plantation mansions (also known as Adam style) were commonly built between the 1780s and the 1830s. The main difference between the Federal/Adam style and the Georgian or Greek Revival architectural styles is that the Federal plantation houses often have oval-shaped rooms. One of the most famous examples of this is the Oval Office of the White House.
Tidewater
The Tidewater architectural design was very popular among plantation owners near coastal areas throughout the early to mid-1800s. Tidewater houses can be identified by a wraparound porch that encompasses the entire structure. None of the other architectural designs have this feature. Another distinguishing characteristic of a Tidewater house is that the porches are slanted in order to protect the owners from rainstorms that are common along the coasts. The wraparound porches are also helpful in providing shade during the hottest days of the summer.
Jeffersonian
The Jeffersonian architectural style was used frequently between the 1790s and 1830s by some plantation owners. The Jeffersonian architectural style can easily be identified because the house has a round or octagonal shape, whereas the other plantation designs are either rectangular or square in shape.
Combination
Some plantation houses were built by utilizing features from more than one architectural style. There are a number of reasons that a combination plantation house was built. Rather than ordering expensive materials, many planters used materials found on the property. Some planters made bricks from the clay they found on the land. Those who owned coastal plantations would often use tabby, a type of cement made from seashells, limestone, and other ingredients.
A combination mansion was sometimes built because of the outbreak of the Civil War. Many times, an architect left a plantation house unfinished and returned to their home state. Rather than leaving the unfinished building to the elements, a planter had to improvise to save their house. Or, if a plantation house was acquired by another party, such as a descendant or buyer, modifications may have been made to suit their particular tastes.
Ghosts and Hauntings
Associated with Plantations
Ghost stories and legends are often based on real events that occurred at some point in the past. If one should happen to experience a haunting, it is just as important to know the history of a location as it is to record a fascinating EVP or to capture an orb or apparition on film.
With enough research, a person can learn the true facts of a location that is reportedly haunted. This can only increase the person’s understanding and appreciation of the plantation as well as give them a better grasp of how or why a place became haunted.
Not all plantations are reportedly haunted. Does this take away from the historical significance of a plantation? Not in the least. If you decide to visit haunted locations mentioned in this book or elsewhere, take some time to see locations that are not reportedly haunted. These places may give you a better idea of how life was during a particular historical period, which can be beneficial to having a better understanding of a place that is haunted.
There are certain conditions that need be present in order for a location to become haunted. These conditions are often found in abundance on and near plantations, and they include an emotional connection to a location, a sudden or violent death, or unfinished business. Considering the history between the planters, slaves, and soldiers often associated with a plantation, it is fairly easy to see that many plantations meet this criteria.
Generally a plantation is haunted by the ghosts of the plantation owner and family members, slaves, or Civil War soldiers. Below are a few examples of how each of these groups can meet the three criteria that can lead to a haunting.
There is often a great emotional connection associated with a plantation.
Plantation owners and their families often have a great sense of pride in their plantation. With the high mortality rate among plantation owners’ children and other family members, the plantation house can also be a reminder of a loved one’s death or serious illness.
Slaves that were on the plantation undoubtedly would have an emotional connection to the plantation. Virtually all of the slaves’ morale was crushed by years of oppression and mistreatment by the plantation owners and their families. However, a few slaves developed strong feelings of affection toward the plantation owners and their families.
Union and Confederate soldiers who fought and died at the plantations would also have an emotional connection. Sometimes a battle literally took place on the lawn in front of a plantation house. Other times, a plantation house was taken over and used as a field hospital in which several soldiers wounded in battle died.
There may have been a violent or sudden death that led to the haunting.
Between dying on the battlefield and less-than-ideal medical treatment, wounded Civil War soldiers are undoubtedly included in this category.
There was a high mortality rate among plantation owners and their families. Some women died in childbirth. Some plantation owners were killed by another person in any of a variety of ways (poisoning, shooting, duel, etc.). Some died from natural tragedies, such as drowning, house fires, and the like.
Some places become haunted because an individual has unfinished business and cannot rest until that business is completed.
The children of plantation owners were sometimes forbidden to marry a person they truly loved. Marriages were often arranged to ensure that the children of plantation owners married people in their own social class. This unrequited romance sometimes led to a person literally grieving themselves to death or even committing suicide.
Sometimes a soldier made a promise to a loved one to return home but died in war and was not able to do so. Hauntings have also included a soldier so determined to carry out assigned duties that the apparitions of guards standing at attention, or even providing medical service to another soldier, have been seen.
I highly recommend that you who are involved in ghost hunting do the investigation in a slow, methodical manner. It is important to gather as much information as possible before visiting a haunted site. Although paranormal investigations have gained a considerable following in recent years, it is important to present yourself in a professional and respectful manner. While the technology outlined in my first book, How to be a Ghost Hunter, may be obsolete, the core of the investigation protocol described in it is still solid.
A Word about Plantations Today
A number of plantations have been transformed into museums and state-run parks. There is more to a historical place than just a good ghost story. Take the time to learn from staff what the location has to offer in terms of historical significance.
The Kenworthy Hall/Carlisle-Martin House/Carlisle Hall Plantation, located in Marion, Alabama, is an Italian Villa style of architectural design. Courtesy Library of Congress.
Please keep in mind that many plantations are in fact private property and some of the owners are direct descendants or close family members of the original builders. If a plantation is on private property, please give the owners the privacy they deserve.
Some plantations listed in this book are now used as bed-and-breakfasts that cater to people from all walks of life. If you happen to stay at one of these bed-and-breakfasts, please be respectful and courteous of your hosts and any other guests who happen to be staying there as well. Sometimes these bed-and-breakfasts embrace reports of a haunting in order to add to the ambiance of their lodging. Others would rather not share that there are paranormal events that take place on the property.
Finally, some plantations have been abandoned for several years and are in a state of disrepair. While it may be exciting to go to an abandoned plantation house to ghost hunt, this may be very dangerous. There have been cases of abandoned but historically significant locations being completely destroyed by careless actions of people wanting to do a paranormal investigation.
In closing, I hope that you not only find enjoyment in reading about some of the legends and ghost stories of many of America’s plantations, but I also hope that you may gain a better understanding of how plantations were significant in the formation of our country as it is today.