Longwood House
Natchez, Adams County, Mississippi
Longwood House.
Erected 1860-1861
Construction was begun on Longwood House in 1860. It was to be a "town house"
for Haller and Julia Nutt and their children. Haller Nutt was a millionaire
businessman and planter and was a Federal sympathizer.
The house is reputed to be the "grandest octagonal house in America" and is
a superb example of mid-19th century Oriental style. The War Between the States
halted construction. Many of the craftsmen, who had come from the North, simply
left their tools and hurried home.
This photo was taken from the center gallery, looking upwards toward the fourth level.
The construction scaffolding is still in place. This was taken on the unfinished
main level of the house.
The family would have occupied the main and 3rd levels had the house been
completed. Local workers were found to complete the basement level, which
is available to the public, but not to photograph. It still contains the
family's original furnishings.
In a time when each door was taxed, and air conditioning was unheard of,
large windows were important, not only for air circulation, but also for
another door. Each of the large windows also had ventilating shutters, which
rolled back into the wall, like a pocket door. The bricks were all made on
the property and fired in a kiln built just for that purpose. When the house
was finished, all the brickwork was to be covered with stucco.
Haller Nutt's steamboats and plantations were ravaged by Union troops, despite
the fact that he carried "papers" identifying himself as an important Federalist.
He died at a relatively young age, broken hearted.
Close to the house was a work area where soap might be made.
The entire 97 acre estate is covered with mature oaks and magnolias.
Many have Spanish Moss hanging from their branches --
one of the symbols of the Delta.
Photos by Margaret & Michael Bates, August 2001
Visit the Family Cemetery at Longwood
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