Lower Mississippi Trip
Apr 28 - May 9, 2022
May 5, 2011 Natchez, Mississippi Longwood Plantation
Natchez is an old and beautiful town full of antebellum mansions and plantations many of which are open to the public. On top of the bluff you had the wealthy families living in their mansions.
Below the bluff was the 'Natchez Under the Hill' section of town. Our steamship, the American Queen, is docked facing what was once known as one of the most dangerous places in America. Natchez Under The Hill sits beneath a 200 foot bluff on top of which sits the houses of Natchez, its businesses and warehouses. It was like living in two different worlds. Under the bluff the inhabitants were living a life of debauchery and you name it! In addition to a cargo of cotton, molasses and coal, the steamships also brought in drunks, murderers, bandits, and other criminals. Under the hill area became full or brothels, bars, bandits, murderers and gaming establishments.
Violent crimes including fights, muggings, shootings were the norm. John Murrell is just one example. As a slave owner he would sell one slave over and over, and then steal him back after each sale. John Murrell would repeat this crime until the slave became too well known. Then he would kill the slave and start all over with a different slave.
And then there were the Harpe Brothers who were serial killers. And on and on. Over a period of time the town took measures to bring this all to a close. The area has evolved into a few nice stores in the old buildings.
In the afternoon using the motor coach Al and I toured the Longwood Plantation in Natchez which is now known as the largest octagonal building in America. This plantation was built and the owner moved his large family of 15 into the basement level of the mansion. He fell on hard times and the mansion remained finished only on the basement level. We had a guided tour of the basement level and it was full of 1800s period furniture.
Al visited the upper level and was impressed with the vision of the architect. The home would have been magnificent had it been finished. I suspect the salesmanship of the architect had something to do with the financial demise of the owner.
