Touring in Holly Springs!

Anita wanted to see some antebellum houses while we were on our road trip. In a tourist guide book for Mississippi, we found there were some Antebellum houses in Holly Springs. When Anita mentioned seeing "Antebellum" house, I really didn't know what they were. Here is a definition for these houses: Antebellum means "before war" in Latin. The term Antebellum refers to elegant plantation homes built in the American South in the 30 years or so preceding the Civil War. Antebellum is not a particular house style. Rather, it is a time and place in history. The features we associate with Antebellum architecture were introduced to the American South by Anglo-Americans who moved into the area after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Most Antebellum homes are in the Greek Revival, Classical Revival, or Federal style: grand, symmetrical, and boxy, with center entrances in the front and rear, balconies, and columns or pillars.

"Walter Place Estate (above) is the grand mansion of Holly Springs, fulfilling the desire of its builder - Col. Harvey Washington Walter - that his home would be distinctive from other mansions across town. The bold castellated Gothic towers flank the classic lines of Greek Revival in a stunning, yet pleasing fashion." The grounds features 5 acres of botannical gardens with springs, ponds, and plants. Because we were touring on Mother's Day, everything was closed. We were so disappointed, so if you plan to go to Holly Springs, make sure the tours are open so you can see inside the houses. Walter Place has some significant history: "During the occupation of Holly Springs, Union General U.S. Grant recognized it as a house suitable for his wife, Julia Grant." Julia, her son, and her black slave moved into Walter Place in 1862." (Discovering that Grant's wife had a slave really surprised me, I guess I had never heard this. Since Grant was of the Union during the Civil War, I never suspected that he would have a slave.)

A little more than a dozen years after the end of the Civil War, a more deadly enemy invaded Holly Springs. Walter Place became a hospital for victims of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1878. Col. Walter sent his wife and daughters to live in another town, but he and three of his sons died from the fever within days of each other."

There were lots of other homes, but these were some of my favorites. All in all, Anita and I had a great afternoon. The day was beautiful and sunny and the temperature was wonderful. We certainly enjoyed our little "vacation".