Wednesday, July 6, 2016

A Brief History Of The Waverly Mansion

By Peter Powell


There are a lot of historic places in the world, some better known than others. The Waverly Mansion outside West Point, Mississippi is no exception. For this historic mansion and plantation gained national historic status in 1973. While this is the case, only more recently has this National Historic Landmark been offering tours.

Many believe the interior and exterior to be amazing works of utilitarian art. One reason this is the case is the unique aspects not found anywhere else in the United States. For example, the octagonal rotunda, the cantilevering staircase and the cupola in the ceiling are all one of a kind. Built in accordance with Jefferson building standards and traditions, the entire property reflects the themes and tones of early Americanism.

The unique staircase, cupola and hallway are often the first things visitors notice after proceeding through the rotunda. These features, many of which have been restored all reflect the original aspects of the mansion. Robert Snow, who purchased the property in 1962 is responsible for remodeling and restoring the property to its original glory. After which, the property became eligible for listing on the national historic register.

In the late 1800s, the original owner George Hampton Young, a colonel from Georgia passed down the property to descendants. During early days at the mansion, the plantation was self sufficient. At that time, the owners grew or made everything which was considered necessary. Some of which included energy, textiles, meat, produce and other items such as clothing and home decor.

Later, just after 1913 and the end of the Young family line, the mansion and property fell into disrepair. Sadly, the home and property remained stagnant until 1962 when a young man by the name of Robert Snow purchased and restored the location. After which, the Snows continued to remodel the interior and clear out overgrowth on the plantation.

West Point is a rather small town covering only 20 square miles. In addition, the water supply is quite limited, so many of those still operating plantations must own wells or order water from outside sources. Most often, these owners will stock high capacity water tanks or install expensive irrigation systems so as to have enough water to grow produce and livestock.

As with all areas, the town and surrounding area have good and bad elements when it comes to history. Though, as Mississippi is one of the original slave states, there is often more dark than light when it comes to this area. As such, those traveling with children may want to share some stories of past and present before visiting the plantation. For older students, watching films like Roots and 12 Years A Slave can often provide a great deal of insight into what many call, the darkest hours of American history.

Visitors and residents alike love these two festivals over the course of one holiday weekend. In addition, its one of the only family friendly events to take place in the area. As such, it is often quite popular with the local teenage crowd, music lovers and those with small children. It should be noted that mosquitoes and other insects can be plentiful in this area. As such, it is always advised that people bring sun hats, sunscreen, bug repellent and wear long sleeves and pants to protect against bites.




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