Linden

The tranquility of the seven-acre park-like setting at Linden is captivating the grounds on which Linden stands were originally part of a Spanish land grant.

Linden Plantation was built by James Moore as a four-room cottage on land he inherited from his father, Alexander Moore. Thomas A. Reed, one of the first U.S. Senators from Mississippi acquired the property in 1818 through his wife, Margaret Ross, who inherited it from her father, Isaac Ross. Thomas Reed changed the name to Reedland.

Dr. John Ker bought Reedland Plantation from Margaret Ross Reed after Thomas Reed’s death. Dr. Ker changed the name of the plantation to Linden naming it after the national tree of Germany, his family’s native country and it has been known by this name ever since.

Mrs. Jane Gustine Conner, bought

es the magnificence of the house. It contains a grandfather clock, several fine paintings and French porcelain vases. To the left are spacious double drawing rooms with original Belter parlor sets, antique pianos and white marble mantels with hand- carved roses and seashells. Over each mantel hangs a magnificent mirror.

the house overlooking the Mississippi River and the lowlands of Louisiana.

The beautiful Federal- style mansion was sold to Mr. and Mrs. Andrew L. Wilson in the 1850s, following the deaths of Little and his wife, Eliza.

During the Civil War, Mrs. Wilson was untiring in her services to the Confederacy and fell under suspicion during the federal occupation of Natchez. She was arrested and banished to Atlanta.

Rosalie, her home, became headquarters for the Union officers in Natchez and was the house where Ulysses S. Grant stopped on a trip through Natchez. In 1938, the Mississippi State Society of Daughters of the American Revolu tion bought Rosalie. Open daily year-round, the mansion houses many of it original furnishings.

The lower hall of Rosalie introduc-

Connected with these mirrors is a story of war and harrowing experiences. Family tradition is that the mirrors went unscathed through the shelling of Natchez in 1862, only to get buried at the fort site when news spread that Union troops were approaching. For several years the mirrors remained buried but when they were resurrected, they were unblemished.

The library contains many old books and John James Audubon prints. The dining room is opposite the second drawing room. A large gilt-framed oval mirror hangs above the white marble mantel, which was stained by roaring fires maintained by Union soldiers.

1849. During the Civil War, Mrs. Conner became known as the “Little War Mother,” as she sent seven sons and five sons-in-law to war fighting for the Confederacy. The present owner’s children make the sixth generation of Conner descendants to reside in the home.

One of the earliest homes in Natchez, between 1818 and 1849 the house was doubled in size, and additional land was acquired, making Linden a sizeable estate. It was during this period that additions to the house were built, including the one-story extensions on both sides of the original building, the 98-foot front gallery and the front doorway, an architectural triumph of inlay and alternating diamond and oval panes for which Linden is especially noted. The smaller gallery added to the central portion of the second story has four columns supporting a light and graceful pediment complete with oval window. The front door opens into a hallway with a simple stair to the second story. The downstairs floor plan is simple, with large rooms opening one into another. Fine antique lovers will not want to miss seeing this home as Linden is furnished with an important and remarkable collection of American furniture of the Federal period. Sheraton, Hepplewhite, and Chippendale furnishings fill the home. Truly a museum quality collection, visitors will enjoy close up and personal and see firsthand how furnishings of the era were meant to be used and displayed.

Melrose, one of the outstanding classic Greek Revival homes in Natchez, stands just more than a mile from the heart of the city on Melrose-Montebello Parkway.

Today it is the centerpiece of the Natchez National Historical Park, established by Congress in 1988 and dedicated in 1990.

Beautiful Melrose stands in a spacious park-like setting.

The grounds are open, free of charge from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. every day except Christmas, Thanks-giving and New Year’s. For more information contact the Natchez National Historical Park, 601446-5790, or 601-442-7047.

Melrose stands today virtually as it did more than 138 years ago when it was constructed from a design by builder Jacob Byers of Hagerstown, Md.

The house was built in 1842-1848 by Mary Louisa and John T. McMurran. John T. McMurran came to Natchez in 1824 or 1825 and soon became the law partner of

John A Quitman, later governor of Mississippi, congressman and general.

Mary Louisa McMurran was the daughter of well- known Judge Edward Turner and Eliza Turner.

The McMurrans sold Mel-rose in 1865 to Elizabeth Davis, wife of Natchez attorney and planter George Malin Davis and moved to nearby Woodland, home of Mrs. McMurran’s parents. George Malin Davis, a graduate of Yale Law School, moved his family to Nat- chez from Pennsylvania. Davis practiced law in Natchez with Judge S.J. Boyd. In addition to Melrose, the Davis family owned other Natchez mansions, Cherokee, Concord and Choctaw.

Davis and his wife, Elizabeth Shunk of Louisiana, had two children, Julia and Frances. Julia married Dr. Stephen Kelly of New York. Their son, George Malin Davis Kelly, inherited Melrose in 1883. He and his wife, Ethel Moore Kelly, moved from New York and into

Monmouth Historic Inn and Gardens reflects all that is charming about the South. With 26 acres of manicured gardens, the most prominent owner/occupant of this home was General John A. Quitman, who served as governor of Mississippi and in the U.S. Congress.

The home, which now operates as a historic inn, features beautiful original Quitman furnishings; 26 acres of manicured grounds and a world-class restaurant on the premises.

Melrose in 1910.

After Mrs. Kelly’s death in 1975, the property was purchased in 1976 by Mr. and Mrs. John S. Callon.

The Callons retained the integrity of the house and the grounds while continuing to perfect details of both to their original state.

The Grecian purity of the architectural setting contrasts sharply with the ornate Rococco Revival and Empire furniture, bronze chandeliers, gold-framed mirrors and heavy draperies.

Melrose is most remarkable for the preservation and maintenance of the house, outbuildings and grounds. Melrose’s details begin with Doric columns and delicate railings at the front entrance and continue inside with 36 sol- id cypress original doors, which, having been hand painted to look like white oak, are called “faux bois” or “false wood,” 10 Italian marble fireplaces, French zuber wallpaper made from wood blocks carved in 1843 and rare French gilt mirrors.