Merritt was examined by Lezin Becnel, the owner of Evergreen Plantation, in early January 1845. 19th-century barns. Evergreen Plantation has 4.5 stars. At Evergreen Plantation, Pierre Clidamont Becnel purchased slaves that were skilled workers. Aimes older sister was considered a mulatresse, but her younger siblings were all listed as negroes. There were some cotton plantations with fewer slaves, but there were also cotton plantations with fewer slaves. have caused alterations. 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. Tour guides highlight the reliance on slave labor on the plantation and how, as an alternative to free African-Americans, the dependence on slave labor was necessary to sustain it after emancipation. This diverse community was made up of Africans, the enslaved from the American South, and Creoles of Louisiana. Neither structure are still standing (, 1920 A house on the plantation, called Ingleside, was lost to fire (, 1923 The house that currently stands on the property was built. The plantation was founded in 1752 and was one of the largest plantations in the South. The oldest plantation in Louisiana is the St. Louis Plantation, which was founded in 1718 by Pierre Le Moyne dIberville. Unidentified African American soldier in Union uniform, Library of Congress. These birds are currently not seen standing quietly under the two rows of live oak trees that surround them. 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. He returned home to Aime and their sons. The only known historic map of the plantation The PRC preserves New Orleans historic architecture, neighborhoods and cultural identity through collaboration, empowerment and service to our community., Preservation Resource Center Headquarters, Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans, Search the Preservation in Print archives, Returns, Refunds, Exchanges, and Shipping Policy. Evergreen Plantation still owns and operates as a privately owned sugar cane plantation today. Slave laborers who planted, hoed, weeded, dug irrigation, and harvested the cane were subjected to harsh working conditions. Following the development of the steam-heated vacuum pan by Englishman Edward Howard in 1813, a number of plantations began boiling sugarcane juice in a vacuum. See other South Carolina Historic Houses. The gates will remain open for tours until 1:45 p.m. on weekdays, and until 10:30 a.m. on weekends. The main house was constructed mostly in 1790, and renovated to its current Greek Revival style in 1832. Boddie hopes that the exhibits and documents will pique the interest of descendants of all residents of Evergreen. People live here and work here, the website said. In 1997, a group of black farmers sued the agency, claiming that they had been discriminated against for years. More than 400 individuals were enslaved at Evergreen Plantation over the course of 150 years. According to Shannon Boddie, the executive director of Evergreen, the organization intends to do more community service. The site, which has 37 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, is the only one in the South with intact plantation buildings. An 1835 document lists a total of 54 slaves at the plantation. The couple went on to have more children and continued to work in the cane fields on Evergreen Plantation. Despite the fact that the Ward family was one of the most powerful and wealthy families in South Carolina at the time, the plantation eventually fell into their hands. Louisiana joined the Confederacy during the Civil War but soon came under Union control after the fall of New Orleans in 1862. Mowing The Lawn While Pregnant: Is It Safe And What Precautions Should You Take? 103 slaves in 48 dwellings. Evergreen Plantation (Wallace, Louisiana), U.S. National Register of Historic Places, Louisiana African American Heritage Trail, National Register of Historic Places listings in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, List of National Historic Landmarks in Louisiana, Plantation complexes in the Southern United States, "Matilda Geddings Gray and Evergreen Plantation", "Quentin Tarantino's 'Django Unchained' begins filming at the Evergreen Plantation in Louisiana on Monday On Location Vacations", Louisiana's African American Heritage Trail, Louisiana Digital Library Evergreen Plantation, History of the National Register of Historic Places, List of U.S. National Historic Landmarks by state, List of jails and prisons on the National Register of Historic Places, University and college buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, National Register of Historic Places portal, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Evergreen_Plantation_(Wallace,_Louisiana)&oldid=1084343937, Museums in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, Houses in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, National Register of Historic Places in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, Slave cabins and quarters in the United States, Articles using NRISref without a reference number, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 23 April 2022, at 23:15. The plantation was founded by the family in the late 1700s and has been in their family ever since. 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. Many of the slave laborers on plantations in the South worked in the fields as plow hands, carters, ditchers, or woodcutters, among others. [2][4] The house is open for tours every day except Sundays; tour times are at 9:30 am, 11:15 am, 1:00 pm, and 2:45 pm. 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. Ned first appeared on an Evergreen Plantation inventory in 1858. In 1828, Samuel Girard Earle (1791-1848) purchased the property from Samuel Smith. This location was used in the film Django Unchained, which was released in 2011. The Evergreen Plantation in Louisiana had over 350 slaves in the early 1800s. Replication not permitted without express consent. The two rows of oak trees that line the sites 22 original slave cabins are over 200 years old. Evergreen Plantation is a former sugar cane plantation in Wallace, Louisiana, that was slave labor-dependent for its operation. and doors remain, but nearly 150 years of patching, repairs, and reconstruction He operated the land as a plantation and eventually built grist mills and a cotton gin ( 1 ). Over the years the plantation's property was subdivided and sold (1). 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. In the event that a birthdate isunknown, some have been classified in others ways. 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 is commemorating Black History Month by publishing profiles of enslaved people who worked and lived at the plantation over the course of 150 years. Evergreen Plantation (Wallace, Louisiana) Built1832Architect John CarverArchitectural styleGreek RevivalFederalNRHP reference No.19100386Significant dates 11 more rows. He and his new wife, Elizabeth, had a daughter together. In its prime, Evergreen had more than 350 slaves, making it one of the largest plantations in the South. 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. Evergreen Plantation was one of the largest and most successful African American-owned plantations in the antebellum South. 66 were here. Plantations were commonly located on fertile creeks and rivers in the south, and they frequently had extensive land holdings. 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. Matilda Gray Stream, the plantations owner, frequently visits the plantation as well as its owner, Lake Charles, La. Should I Form A Corporation For My Lawn Mowing Company? 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. The Evergreen Plantation was founded in 1752 by the family. The plantation is located in the present-day city of New Orleans, Louisiana. 18, in Wallace. Evergreen Plantation is a former sugar cane plantation in Wallace, Louisiana, that was slave labor-dependent for its operation. It is located on Louisiana Highway 18 in St. John the Baptist Parish, near Wallace, and is a plantation on the west bank of the Mississippi River. Pierre Clidamont Becnel was born as a result of a union. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1992 for its rich architectural legacy. Visited Evergreen in late-February during our stay in Plantation Country. Because of its quality and significance, the plantation was included among the first 26 featured sites on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail. Unpacking the history of the largest plantation in the southern US, and its people. Slave trading and slave plantations were also common among plantation owners in the Deep South. Mills operated around the clock processing sugarcane. In the films early scenes, Django and Schultz track down the criminal group the Brittle Brothers. Evergreen Plantation, located near New Orleans, is the largest intact plantation complex in the South. The United States government granted them their freedom in 1877. Renting out its river bed to shipping and maritime businesses has allowed it to generate more revenue. Itinerary Home | List According to tour guides, the plantation relied heavily on slave labor after emancipation, as did free African-Americans in order to remain in operation. Evergreen Plantation is the only one in the South still standing. The Evergreen Plantation Archaeological Survey was led by Dr. Jayur Mehta, excavating a large portion of land on Evergreen plantation. Address: 4800 South Carolina Highway 187, Starr, SC 29684 GPS Coordinates: 34.396680,-82.792005 What else should I see? There has been continuous intermarriage between the Haydels and Becnels families of St. John the Baptist parish for more than two centuries. All rights reserved. is the Mississippi River Commission map of 1876, which shows 22 cabins The Ancestor Project is a digital database designed specifically for teachers, students, genealogists, and visitors. Heidel, a French Creole, founded Evergreen Plantation in 1886. Slaves often worked in gangs under the direction of drivers, who were typically fellow slaves that supervised work in the fields. Shirley Plantation, which dates back to 1614, is one of Americas oldest plantations. Thomas Boudar, a notorious slave trader, sold him to sugar planter Lezin Becnel. The plantation was passed down through the family, and they have worked to keep it in good condition. 18, in Wallace. As a slave, he did not have a surname, so he probably gave his fathers name as his last name. The plantation is located in the southern United States and is still operational today. The plantation was originally used for growing indigo, but later switched to sugarcane when the demand for indigo declined. 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 house and outbuildings are well preserved and offer a glimpse into the life of the plantation owners. Artists representation of slave cabin, circa 1800. 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. In addition to her regular quarters, the plantations owner, Lake Charles, La., businesswoman Matilda Gray Stream, lives there on occasion. She was born at Evergreen and went on to have 10 children, 51 grandchildren, 148 great-grandchildren, and 88 great-great-grandchildren. at all. 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. Becnel paid $6800 for the six enslaved men, which would be approximately $232,000 today. Evergreen is the most intact plantation complex in the South with 37 buildings on the National Register, including 22 slave. Evergreen has its country's highest historic designation and joins Mount Vernon and Gettysburg in being granted landmark status for its agricultural acreage. 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