They worked on the plantation in a variety of capacities, raising cotton and rice, among other crops. African Americans provided the workforce and lived in the quarters houses at Evergreen Plantation for nearly 200 years, first as slaves and later as freedmen. The Agricultural Service Agency has long been criticized for its role in black farmers failure to succeed in the agricultural sector. 1830 Succession, estate of Magdelaine Haydel Becnel, who inherited Evergreen from her father and expanded the business into a major plantation enterprise, 1835 Inventory taken at the time of Pierre Clidamont Becnels ownership (grandson of Magdelaine Haydel Becnel), 1842 Succession, estate of Josephine Lennen Becnel, wife of Lezin Becnel Jr., the eventual owner of Evergreen. Many were exceptionally skilled, working as long sawyers, coopers, carpenters, blacksmiths, engineers, seamstresses, and domestics. The plantation grows a variety of crops, including cotton, tobacco, and sugar cane. Louisiana joined the Confederacy during the Civil War but soon came under Union control after the fall of New Orleans in 1862. African Americans were the majority owners and operators of the plantation during its earliest days in the 1790s. In the event that a birthdate isunknown, some have been classified in others ways. Evergreen has been designated the countrys most historic site, and joins Gettysburg and Mount Vernon as landmark sites for agricultural land. In his later years, Ned was supported in part by a pension from the federal government for his service in the war. During the antebellum period, the plantation housed 200 people; everyone working at Evergreen was housed there. The plantation continued to produce sugar cane under the direction of the bank that owned it, and it is still a working sugar cane plantation today. The plantation had 1,200 slaves at the start of the nineteenth century, but the number increased to 1,500 by the end of the nineteenth century. Evergreen Plantation has been a family home since the late-18th century. As slaves, they built the big house, built and maintained the levee, worked the sugarcane fields, ran the sugar mill, grew foodstuffs and cared for the big house and the Heidel and Becnel families. The plantation includes 37 contributing buildings, all but eight of them antebellum, making it one of the most complete plantation complexes in the state and the South. 2023 Louisiana Office of Tourism. African Americans served as Evergreen Plantations workforce and lived in quarters there for more than 200 years. Individuals who married Protestants and Catholics were required to receive forgiveness in the sixth degree. Over the years the plantation's property was subdivided and sold (1). Pierre Clidamont Becnel was born as a result of a union. One of his grandchildren, Olivia Simon, lived to be 100 years old. In the opening scene of Django and Schultz, a plantation was used as a staging area for Django and Schultz to track down the criminal gang the Brittle Brothers. Evergreen Plantation still owns and operates as a privately owned sugar cane plantation today. There is very little documentation on these buildings, although Timeline. Subscribe to our newsletter for insider access to PRC news, events, involvement opportunities, and more! Evergreen Plantation is located in Wallace, Louisiana, just north of New Orleans. On the eve of the Civil War, most sugarcane plantations in Louisiana used vacuum pans to produce unrefined crystallized sugar. Unpacking the history of the largest plantation in the southern US, and its people. At Evergreen Plantation, Pierre Clidamont Becnel purchased slaves that were skilled workers. In 1828, Samuel Girard Earle (1791-1848) purchased the property from Samuel Smith. On February 13, 1852, Ned Edwards was sold in a group with five other men. You do not have to input all fields. urchinTracker(); South-Carolina-Plantations.com Evergreen Plantation, Anderson County, SC, Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves: Volume XIV, South Carolina Narratives, Part 3, Historical and Architectural Survey of Anderson County, South Carolina, The Harrisons of Greenville County, South Carolina, John Baylis Earle Family Cemetery Document, Current status Privately-owned event site, 1848 Samuel Girard Earle passed away and willed the plantation to his oldest living son, Elias John Earle. Renting out its river bed to shipping and maritime businesses has allowed it to generate more revenue. The Evergreen Plantation, a well-preserved sugar cane plantation from the nineteenth century, is a fine example of an old plantation. Now, thanks to a new database compiled by Evergreen, Celestes story, and the stories of so many of the plantations enslaved people, will be told. The site, which has 37 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, is the only one in the South with intact plantation buildings. Some could trace their ancestry back multiple generations to the first slaves brought to the plantation. Artists representation of slave cabin, circa 1800. The plantation operated until about 1930, when the Depression resulted in the owners abandoning the house. In 1997, a group of black farmers sued the agency, claiming that they had been discriminated against for years. As a slave, he did not have a surname, so he probably gave his fathers name as his last name. The house was extensively restored during the 1940s, with 300,000 bricks from the demolished Uncle Sam Plantation used in the restoration.[3]. These steps of boiling took place in series of large to small open kettles, often referred to as a Jamaica train. The most skilled slaves were chosen for the dangerous job of working close to the open kettles during the boiling process. These birds are currently not seen standing quietly under the two rows of live oak trees that surround them. Evergreen Plantation, located in Edgard, Louisiana, is one of the most intact slaveholding sites in the South, dating back to 1790. Search over 40 years of magazine archives: Published nine times a year since 1975 in partnership with the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office, Preservation in Print is the exclusive publication covering architectural preservation and neighborhood revitalization in Louisiana. Prior to Wards death in 1850, his family owned Brookgreen Plantation in Georgetown County, the largest slaveholder in the United States. Becnel paid $6800 for the six enslaved men, which would be approximately $232,000 today. Refer to the list of names of those enslaved at Evergreen by clicking on the link below. His son, Julius Richard, was born here on September 11, 1929; the family later added a second floor made of wood. The National Park Service and the Evergreen Plantation worked together to document historic sites on the property. Evergreen Plantation, which dates to 1777, is one of the most intact plantation complexes in the South, with 37 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, including "two garconnieres, two pidgeonniers, the kitchen, the domestic slave house, the stables, the Greek Revival privy, and twenty-two slave cabins in their original double-row We are open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., and tours are not permitted the following holiday week. The plantation house and outbuildings are well preserved and offer a glimpse into the life of the plantation owners. Evergreen Plantation. His name was recorded as Edward Edmonds. All content 2023Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans. Thomas Boudar, a notorious slave trader, sold him to sugar planter Lezin Becnel. The oldest plantation in Louisiana is the St. Louis Plantation, which was founded in 1718 by Pierre Le Moyne dIberville. Featuring the documented images collected by students Abbigail Sproul and Jacob Johnson. Evergreen Plantation was one of the largest plantations in the Southern United States, with more than 1,000 acres (400 ha) of land and over 150 slaves. it is clear that they are indeed antebellum. reservation only. The sub-tropical climate, particularly the intense heat and humidity that characterizes much of the year, along with the epidemic diseases such as cholera and yellow fever, took their toll on the overall health of Louisiana's African-Americans during antebellum times. Evergreen Plantations 22 intact slave cabins are just one of the sights visitors can see as part of their tours. Heidels home on his plantation in 1835 was built with a mixture of French, Caribbean, and African influences in order to reflect the climate of southern Louisiana. Evergreen Plantation is the only one in the South still standing. There are 37 structures still listed on the National Register of Historic Places. No longer anonymous, the men, women, and children who called Evergreen Plantation home provide a window to the past and enhance the historical narrative. The 1860 census lists Lezin Evergreen has its country's highest historic designation and joins Mount Vernon and Gettysburg in being granted landmark status for its agricultural acreage. The plantation is currently used as a wedding and event venue, and the family is proud to be able to share their history with others. African-American slaves provided the labor that was required to sustain and enrich the large agricultural enterprises, like Evergreen Plantation, which grew up along the banks of the Mississippi River. Heiress and businesswoman, Matilda Geddings Gray (18851971)[5] sponsored the restoration project in the 1940s, and it is now a U.S. National Historic Landmark. Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans is classified as a tax-exempt public charity under sections 509(a)(1), 170(b)(1)(A)(vi), and 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, Federal Tax Identification Number 72-0760857. Cabins and oaks, upriver (east) side of quarters. Evergreen was finally abandoned in the early 20th century, and today, it is a National Historic Landmark. Elias lived on the plantation in a different house than his father's. There are only a few antebellum sugar plantations left in the United States, and the property is one of the few remaining in the South. The Slave Community Evergreen Plantation Slavery - the engine that drove economic growth African-American slaves provided the labor that was required to sustain and enrich the large agricultural enterprises, like Evergreen Plantation, which grew up along the banks of the Mississippi River. Mowing The Lawn While Pregnant: Is It Safe And What Precautions Should You Take? The citys 37 buildings are all listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the majority of them from the antebellum era. This location was used in the film Django Unchained, which was released in 2011. Evergreen is the most intact plantation complex in the South with 37 buildings on the National Register, including 22 slave. After a royal land grant carved it out of the Virginia frontier, the plantation was established in 1613 as Virginias first. quarters. The first black troops to join the United States army did so in Louisiana. The granulated, raw (unrefined) sugar produced from the crystallization process was packed into hogsheads, wooden barrels that held roughly 1000 pounds of granulated sugar. The plantation is now a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public for tours. Call 985-497-3837 to arrange a visit. The Rural Development Initiative for African American Farmers is one of several programs the agency has developed to assist African American farmers. Evergreen Plantation is owned by a family who has resided in the area for generations. They bring to life the identities of real people who lived and worked on this specific site. Evergreens front spiraling steps are featured in one of the films most popular scenes. Merritt, who was 21 years old at the time, stood 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 55 pounds. Evergreen has its country's highest historic designation and joins Mount Vernon and Gettysburg in being granted landmark status for its agricultural acreage. The plantation was founded in 1752 and was one of the largest plantations in the South. As a result of their work, they were directly responsible for the spectacular economic growth that Louisiana's River Road area experienced during the first half of the 19th century. Information contributed by Russ Burriss, a Earle family descendant, from. There were no COVID-19 cases reported in the New Orleans area until the beginning of the year. 1801 Succession, estate of Christophe Haydel, founder of Evergreen Plantation and Magdelaines father. Evergreen Plantation is the most intact plantation complex in the South with 37 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, including 22 slave cabins. Replication not permitted without express consent. The only known historic map of the plantation of Sites | Map | Learn In addition to tours that allow visitors to learn about the plantations history and how its crops are grown, the plantation is still in operation and is open to the public. The gates will remain open for tours until 1:45 p.m. on weekdays, and until 10:30 a.m. on weekends. He was described as "an American negro age 25." He had to make his own family and create relationships that would help him endure enslavement. It was originally knows as the Earle Home (, Late 1990s Ryan Faulkenberry acquired the 40-acre plantation and restored the house (, Number of acres Several thousand in the mid-1800s (. The house is open to the public by reservation only. Some could trace their ancestry back multiple generations to the first slaves brought to the plantation. The Evergreen Plantation was founded in 1752 by the family. The research remains ongoing, and the database will be updated as new discoveries are made. The work of researcher and historian Katy Morlas Shannon, the slavery database is available at evergreenplantation.org/slavery-database. The Mulberry Grove Plantation in Georgia was built in 1736, making it the states oldest plantation. Your email address will not be published. their original appearance and double row configuration, have survived Exploring The Pros And Cons, Exploring The Pros And Cons Of Adding Carb Cleaner To A Gasoline-Powered Lawn Mower Fuel System. He and his new wife, Elizabeth, had a daughter together. Shirley Plantation, which dates back to 1614, is one of Americas oldest plantations. She had been staying in the iconic big house on occasion, but after the property opened its stately gates to the public in 1998, she moved to a cottage. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1992 for its rich architectural legacy. The plantation was saved from ruin by oil heiress Matilda Geddings Gray, from Lake Charles, La., in 1944, with Richard Koch as architect. Over the course of 150 years, she would be just one of the more than 400 enslaved individuals who lived and worked at Evergreen Plantation in Edgard. The survey aimed to uncover more information about the lives of enslaved persons previously living on the plantation, promoting use of the slavery database by Evergreen Plantation, and ultimately uncovering new information about the site. Among the outbuildings are a garconnire, where young bachelors of the family or male guests could stay; a pigeonnier for keeping pigeons (a sign of status among the planters); an overseer's cottage; and late This plantation was abandoned in the 1930s due to the Depression, but it has since been restored and is now a sugar cane plantation. in the same configuration and location. The brutal Candie runs a vast plantation known as Candyland in the film, in addition to the terrifying Candyland, a demon-infested paradise. Itinerary Home | List Evergreen. Boddie hopes that the exhibits and documents will pique the interest of descendants of all residents of Evergreen. In the early 1700s, the plantation was most likely based on the Evergreen Plantation, which was located in Edgard, Louisiana. 1829 - The plantation's name was changed from Hopewell to Evergreen .? It is surprising that these quarters, retaining The Catholic Church in Louisiana completely embraced family alliances when it came to marriage. Visited Evergreen in late-February during our stay in Plantation Country. More than 400 individuals were enslaved at Evergreen Plantation over the course of 150 years. Evergreen Plantation, a National Historic Landmark, is located Become a member of the PRCfor a subscription! Ned was a member of the United Order, a benevolent and charitable society. Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, Louisiana's Must See-It-To-Believe-It Festivals, Dont Miss the Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival, Louisiana State Parks Offer Cabin Getaways. Most enslaved individuals did not havesurnames. You can choose which field you want to search. According to tour guides, the plantation relied heavily on slave labor after emancipation, as did free African-Americans in order to remain in operation. Examples: born before 1800, young, adult, and child. Aimes older sister was considered a mulatresse, but her younger siblings were all listed as negroes. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Over the decades, the most serious change to Evergreen as a plantation It is meant for everyone, from scholars who wish to engage in comparative analysis to individuals searching for their ancestors. After years of in-depth research, Evergreens historians have amassed a vast collection of primary source documents that shed light on the individuals who were purchased and brought there to labor in the sugar cane fields as well as those who were born into slavery in the cabins that still stand today, a press release said. The plantation was founded by the family in the late 1700s and has been in their family ever since. After Neds death, his widow was given a pension on his behalf. After years of in-depth research, we have amassed a vast collection of primary source documents that shed light on the individuals who were purchased and brought here to labor in the sugar cane fields as well as those who were born into slavery in the cabins that still stand today. Ned first appeared on an Evergreen Plantation inventory in 1858. Working alongside multiple research assistants, and students through Florida State Universitys UROP Program, all findings were documented, many of which are present on this website. The Ancestor Project is a digital database designed specifically for teachers, students, genealogists, and visitors. It is in studying their lives that the nuances and complexities of the past can begin to be understood. Evergreen is commemorating Black History Month by publishing profiles of enslaved people who worked and lived at the plantation over the course of 150 years. Estate inventories, succession records, sale records from the New Orleans Notarial Archive, as well as sacramental records from the Archdiocese of New Orleans, were used in the research. Merritt was examined by Lezin Becnel, the owner of Evergreen Plantation, in early January 1845. He died on November 18, 1908, and was buried the next day by Reverend Albert Washington in the Second African Baptist Church cemetery (now known as Young Cemetery). Address: 4800 South Carolina Highway 187, Starr, SC 29684 GPS Coordinates: 34.396680,-82.792005 What else should I see? When Is The Best Time To Start Mowing Your Lawn In Sioux Falls South Dakota? According to Shannon Boddie, the executive director of Evergreen, the organization intends to do more community service. In the fall months during the harvesting and processing season, work on a sugarcane plantation was particularly labor intensive. The couples first child, Marcel, was born in 1858. Family involvement in marital disputes was a major factor in Creoles lives. Some noteworthy original features, such as chimneys, shutters, DONATE TODAY! The carts traveled to the cane mill for processing. This story appeared in the April issueof the PRCsPreservation in Print magazine. Aime was described as a griffe, indicating that she was of mixed race. The simple family was the dominant household type between both slave and free African-American populations in the United States during the nineteenth century. Plantations were commonly located on fertile creeks and rivers in the south, and they frequently had extensive land holdings. The details within the database allow us to read and interpret the past. People live here and work here, the website said. Slave trading and slave plantations were also common among plantation owners in the Deep South. Hogsheads of sugar were transported down the Mississippi River to New Orleans and then on to other markets. See other South Carolina Historic Houses. The database is meant for everyone, from scholars who wish to engage in comparative analysis to individuals searching for their ancestors, Evergreens website said. Evergreen Plantation is the most intact plantation complex in the South with 37 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, including 22 slave cabins. at all. Because of its quality and significance, the plantation was included among the first 26 featured sites on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail. Interested in getting more preservation stories like this delivered to your door monthly? The family also owns a number of slaves, who work the plantation. Even if the plantation owner did not grow any crops, he or she relied on the labor of enslaved people to turn it into a profitable business. In its prime, Evergreen had more than 350 slaves, making it one of the largest plantations in the South. Mills operated around the clock processing sugarcane. Thirty years later in 1843, Norbert Rillieux, a Free Person of Color from New Orleans, developed his superior double effect vacuum pan. You can get a sense of Louisianas sugar cane industry firsthand by taking a tour of the facility. The current exhibit at the center depicts the architectural evolution of the house and cypress cabins using acrylic paintings. Evergreen Plantation (Wallace, Louisiana) Built1832Architect John CarverArchitectural styleGreek RevivalFederalNRHP reference No.19100386Significant dates 11 more rows. Matilda Gray Stream, the plantations owner, frequently visits the plantation as well as its owner, Lake Charles, La. Some labeled the agency the last plantation for failing to support black agricultural initiatives, arguing that it was thus becoming the last pillar of support. The agency, on the other hand, has made significant progress in improving relations with black farmers since 1997. The loads of cut cane stalks were crushed between rotating steel rollers to extract the cane juice. Evergreen Plantation, located near New Orleans, is the largest intact plantation complex in the South. Despite the fact that the term plantation is frequently associated with large cotton plantations in the Deep South, sugar, rice, and indigo plantations were also common areas. SLAVERY DATABASE More than 400 individuals were enslaved at Evergreen Plantation over the course of 150 years. The original structures where enslaved people lived can still be found on the property. Evergreen Plantation is a plantation located on the west side of the Mississippi River in St. John the Baptist Parish, near Wallace, Louisiana, and along Louisiana Highway 18. When the bank foreclosed on Evergreen Plantation in 1930, the Songys were forced to leave. Walking the grounds and actually following the slave's path, and seeing how they slept and cooked and worked.. in contrast with touring the plantation house-- was a profound and moving experience to say the least. The main house was constructed mostly in 1790, and renovated to its current Greek Revival style in 1832. Shirley is also the oldest family-owned business in North America, having been in business since 1638, when Edward Hill I began farming in Charles City along the James River. This diverse community was made up of Africans, the enslaved from the American South, and Creoles of Louisiana. He also built a brick home located near a spring. 18, in Wallace. Although our doors are not open for tours, we do provide educational and research opportunities. These areas typically have warm and humid summers, as well as cold and dry winters. There were some cotton plantations with fewer slaves, but there were also cotton plantations with fewer slaves. Negro/Negresse = of full African ancestry, Mulatto/Mulatresse = European ancestry, African ancestry, Quadroon = European ancestry, African ancestry, Griffe = early usage indicates Native American and African. It also contains binders full of archival document facsimiles related to Evergreen. Susan Langenhennigis PRCs Director of Communications and the editor of Preservation in Print. During the plantations nineteenth century heyday, the majority of the workers lived in the quarters houses, which were run by African Americans. Originally the term was used for a slave with some Native American ancestry, but by this time designated a child with one quarter European ancestry. The plantation was established in 1752 by Claude Treme, and was later owned by his son-in-law, Jacques Treme. In 1944, when Mrs. Gray purchased Evergreen Plantation, the double row of slave cabins was occupied primarily by sugar cane workers. More | Next Site. The Evergreen Plantation in Alabama is one of only two remaining antebellum sugar plantations in the South. She was born at Evergreen and went on to have 10 children, 51 grandchildren, 148 great-grandchildren, and 88 great-great-grandchildren. He returned home to Aime and their sons. Should I Form A Corporation For My Lawn Mowing Company? Creole indicates that the individual was born in Louisiana. The Evergreen Plantation is one of the oldest plantations in the United States, having been established in 1752. The Nottoway Plantation, also known as the White Castle, is thought to be the largest remaining antebellum plantation in the American South. In addition to her regular quarters, the plantations owner, Lake Charles, La., businesswoman Matilda Gray Stream, lives there on occasion. Census data compiled between 1810 and 1864 relate that slaves in Louisiana resided in a variety of household types, including single families, extended families, multiple families, co-resident siblings, relatives, unrelated individuals, and single solitary males and females. 4800 South Carolina Highway 187, Starr, SC 29684. Among those were Terry, described as an American Long Sawyer, West, an excellent blacksmith and engineer, Joseph, a Creole cooper, Phill, a sugar worker, and Jean, a Creole coachman. The plantation is located in Edgard, Louisiana, and was originally part of a land grant from the French Crown. The plantation is located in the southern United States and is still operational today.
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