Adams Co., MS - Mount Locust
Mount Locust, one of the oldest structures in Mississippi, is
the only remaining inn, of more than 50, that once dotted the Old Natchez
Trace during the period of about 1785 to 1830. It can be reached via the
exit at mile marker 15.5, on the Natchez Trace. The house is open to the public from 9am - 4:30pm daily (except Christmas).
History of Mount Locust / Restoration
/ Cemetery / Old Field Road
/ Interior Photos /
.
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HISTORY of MOUNT LOCUST
The land on which the house stands was originally part of a 1779 land
grant, to Thomas HARMON, by the British Government of West Florida. Harmon
transferred the property to Swiss-born John BLOMMART, who probably initiated
the first construction, in order to meet the conditions of the grant, which
included, "...one good Dwelling House to contain at least twenty feet in
length, sixteen feet in Breadth." In 1781, Blommart relocated to the Old
Natchez District, where he became a merchant, fur trader, land speculator,
and planter, and eventually became one of the weathliest men in Natchez.
Eventually, Blommart became a prisoner of the Spanish. His propety was
confiscated, and he was sentenced to death. However, he was later released,
and he went iinto exile in the British West Indies.
After Blommart's banishment, William FERGUSON from Virigina, and of
Scottish descent, acquired the propety. Fergurson had migrated to the Natchez
area before 1776, and had served as garrison clerk of the British fort
at Natchez, in 1778. Shortly after marring Paulina BURCH, Ferguson was
forced to leave the Mount Locust area, and move to a farm. However, Ferguson
later returned, purchased the land and aquired an additional 1,215 acres.
Ferguson and his family, which included seven children, remained on the
land, developing it into a plantation.
By the time Ferguson died, in 1801, the house had become a successful
inn. Paulina Ferguson remarried to James CHAMBERLAIN, and three more children
were born to Paulina.
The Mount Locust Inn served it's travelers well until around 1825, when
traffic on the Old Trace declined to the point where Mount Locust, unable
to sustain itself as an inn, became a sort of "vacation home" for wealthy
Natchez citizens, until shortly before Paulina's death, in 1849.
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RESTORATION OF MOUNT
LOCUST
Restoration on Mount Locust begain around 1956. Part of the original
framing was uncovered, and it was determined that the original structure
consisted of a large room, 16 by 20 feet, and thre galleries. The south
portions formed small rooms, while the main room conformed to the British
West Florida land grant regulations. The building materials had been locally
obtained, a major portion of the frame being constructed from Sassafrass.
The walls were of poplar, although later additions were constructed from
cypress. The brick was fired in a kiln located on the property, just south
of the house.
The furnishings are not original, but are of the period.. In a few cases,
reproductions have been used.
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CEMETERY AT MOUNT LOCUST
The Ferguson Family Cemetery is located a short walk from the house
at Mount Locust. It contains the graves of William Ferguson, his wife Paulina
BURCH, four of their six sons, and two additional sons by Paulina's later
marriage to James CHAMBERLAIN. Also buried in the cemetery are various
members from five generations of the Chamberlain family. One guest of Mount
Locust who died in 1825, Robert LAW, is also buried here.
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MOUNT LOCUST OLD FIELD
ROAD
This path is belived to have been a road once
leading to one or more fields at Mount Locust. It is lined with old red
cedar trees.
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INTERIOR PHOTOS OF MOUNT
LOCUST
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