The Road To:
St. Francisville, Part 2
As promised I now present Part II of my three part series about St. Francisville, Louisiana: Spanish Moss and Southern Love, Part 2. (Did you miss Part I? You can read it here.) Let’s recap from last week’s post, shall we?
- St. Francisville=Awesome
- Oakley Plantation=Awesome
- Dickens of a Christmas=Awesome
- Fresh Gingerbread Men and Hot Apple Cider=Awesome
- Lazy Magnolia Beer=Awesome
- Sleep=Awesome
To summarize, thus far we have an “awesome” count of 6. There was even more awesomeness to come and that awesomeness was Rosedown Plantation.
Rosedown Plantation
If Oakley Plantation has a piece of my heart, Rosedown has a piece of my soul. Walking through its doors is like coming home. There is a warmth I experience every time I visit. I swear it’s as though Martha Turnbull (the original lady of the house) is there in spirit, greeting me as I walk up the stairs to the large veranda. I honestly feel her presence and the pride and joy she experiences in knowing that her beloved home is so well cared for and loved and continues to greet visitors who have traveled from afar to learn of its history and relive a piece of the past.
On this particular visit she seemed exceptionally house proud as it was decorated with care for the coming holiday season. Fresh branches of pine were laid across the mantles and festooned lovingly along the banister of the main staircase which were topped off with rich red velvet bows. There were carolers dressed in period clothing performing on the veranda with a pianist accompanying them. I have never seen Rosedown look more resplendent than it did that day. I’m sure Martha was beaming from ear to ear.
A Brief History of Rosedown
Rosedown, a Federal-Greek revival home, was built in 1835 by Daniel and Martha Barrow Turnbull and remained in the Turnbull family until the 1950’s. At its pinnacle, Rosedown consisted of an impressive 3,455 acres. The property features a 660 foot long oak alley as well as an expansive and beautiful garden, the keeping of which Martha documented with extraordinary thoroughness from 1835 to 1895. You can learn more about Rosedown by visiting their website or facebook page.
Our Visit
We approached the house from the far end of the oak alley and made it just in time for the tour. Our guide, though highly knowledgeable, was so over-rehearsed that I found myself focusing less on what she said and more on how she said it. I was thankful I had visited so many times before and was already familiar with the home’s history. My honey was riveted, to say the least, and didn’t pay the tour guide’s dullness any mind. I think he fell in love with Rosedown…and I understand completely. Since words would merely (once again) fail me, I’ll leave it to my photos to tell the story.
The aforementioned carolers in their period attire as seen from the second floor balcony.
This is the main staircase. I know it’s very hard to see, but take note of the wallpaper (you can see the slightest puff of a white cloud hiding behind the handrail). It is original period wallpaper. It is NOT a reproduction and it is stunning; a massive mural that spans from floor to ceiling and covers the entire foyer and main staircase. STUNNING. I believe there are only six other examples of original wallpaper from this era left in the world, so, should you visit, soak it in as you will likely never see its equal again.
This mantle was in the dining room and was, as you can see, dripping with lush greenery and fruit for the holiday season. Unfortunately I did not take a photo of the massive shoo-fly that hangs over the dining table. For those of you not familiar with shoo-flies, allow me to explain: A shoo-fly is a large panel that hangs over the dining table. It is attached to a rope and pulley which a house slave would pull, causing the panel to swing back and forth over the table which, in turn, kept flies at bay during the meal.
This doll, along with numerous other toys, is original to the house. What a treasure that they have survived, in tact, all these years.
There is one portion of the home that has not been restored and that is the servant’s staircase. Tucked behind a narrow door just past the dining room, the dangerously steep and narrow curving stairway remains untouched. The stairs are badly worn, each bearing the scar of every foot of every slave that walked the dark and treacherous steps. They will remain in that condition as a reminder…a reminder of the lives and hardships of the slaves that tread upon them daily.
We ended our visit with a stroll through the grounds, enjoying the beautiful gardens despite the slight chill in the air.
There are so many beautiful features to Rosedown, it would be impossible to photograph them all. It is stunning and, should you ever find yourself in the area of St. Francisville, well worth the visit.
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
ps – make sure to check in next Monday for the third and final installment of Spanish Moss and Southern Love. If you missed out on Part I you can read it here.
