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. Examples: born before 1800, young, adult, and child. Elias lived on the plantation in a different house than his father's. Should I Form A Corporation For My Lawn Mowing Company? The gates will remain open for tours until 1:45 p.m. on weekdays, and until 10:30 a.m. on weekends. Mills operated around the clock processing sugarcane. 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. Address: 4800 South Carolina Highway 187, Starr, SC 29684 GPS Coordinates: 34.396680,-82.792005 What else should I see? Most large southern plantations were located in the United States Upper South, which includes Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee, and the Deep South, which includes South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. You can choose which field you want to search. The plantation was passed down through the family, and they have worked to keep it in good condition. Yes, you can visit Evergreen Plantation. The slaves at Evergreen were subject to brutal working and living conditions, with many of them being worked to death. There is very little documentation on these buildings, although 1801 Succession, estate of Christophe Haydel, founder of Evergreen Plantation and Magdelaines father. Of great significance are the 22 slave quarters, arranged in a double row along an alle of oak trees. Evergreen Plantation was established in 1790 as a privately owned sugar cane plantation, and it is still in operation today. After a royal land grant carved it out of the Virginia frontier, the plantation was established in 1613 as Virginias first. The loads of cut cane stalks were crushed between rotating steel rollers to extract the cane juice. In addition to her regular quarters, the plantations owner, Lake Charles, La., businesswoman Matilda Gray Stream, lives there on occasion. The Catholic Church in Louisiana completely embraced family alliances when it came to marriage. Becnel paid $6800 for the six enslaved men, which would be approximately $232,000 today. The short documentary film titled Evergreen Plantation Archaeological Survey was edited and created by FSU student Cooper Lyon using footage provided from the excavation as well as footage collected on his own, Evergreen Plantation Archaeological Survey. 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. 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. See other South Carolina Historic Houses. 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 Evergreen. Aime was described as a griffe, indicating that she was of mixed race. The details within the database allow us to read and interpret the past. 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. The main house was constructed mostly in 1790, and renovated to its current Greek Revival style in 1832. The couples first child, Marcel, was born in 1858. The Nottoway Plantation, also known as the White Castle, is thought to be the largest remaining antebellum plantation in the American South. In its prime, Evergreen had more than 350 slaves, making it one of the largest plantations in the South. in the same configuration and location. The slaves were freed, but the plantation workers were not. Ned was one of them. By the 1940s, the plantation was reacquired and fully restored. Louisiana joined the Confederacy during the Civil War but soon came under Union control after the fall of New Orleans in 1862. Cabins and oaks, upriver (east) side of quarters. 1846 Sale of the plantation from Pierre Clidamont Becnel to Lezin Becnel Jr. 1851 Succession, estate of Fanny Baconnais Becnel, wife of Lezin Becnel Jr. 1854 Succession, estate of Pierre Clidamont Becnel, 1856 Succession, inventory taken by Lezin Becnel Jr. included in his papers at Tulane University, 1858 Partnership formed between brothers Lezin Becnel III and Michel Becnel, sons and heirs of Lezin Becnel Jr., to operate the plantation together. their original appearance and double row configuration, have survived Next, excess water was evaporated from the juice through several stages until it thickened and reached the point of crystallization. There were some cotton plantations with fewer slaves, but there were also cotton plantations with fewer slaves. He moved from Evergreen to Carroll Plantation (also known as Johnson) and lived the rest of his life there. Evergreen Plantation is located in Wallace, Louisiana, just north of New Orleans. Creole indicates that the individual was born in Louisiana. There has been continuous intermarriage between the Haydels and Becnels families of St. John the Baptist parish for more than two centuries. quarters. Many of the slave laborers on plantations in the South worked in the fields as plow hands, carters, ditchers, or woodcutters, among others. It is meant for everyone, from scholars who wish to engage in comparative analysis to individuals searching for their ancestors. The Evergreen Plantation in Alabama is one of only two remaining antebellum sugar plantations in the South. The plantation was founded by the family in the late 1700s and has been in their family ever since. They bring to life the identities of real people who lived and worked on this specific site. 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. 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. More | Next Site. Establishing a new plantation required workers with certain capabilities and expertise, and it is likely that each of these slaves was chosen specifically by Becnel to perform the types of work for which they were described. Hogsheads of sugar were transported down the Mississippi River to New Orleans and then on to other markets. The simple family was the dominant household type between both slave and free African-American populations in the United States during the nineteenth century. 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. On August 20, 1864, Ned joined the 80th United States Colored Infantry. 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. Evergreen Plantation was one of the largest and most successful African American-owned plantations in the antebellum South. Evergreen Plantation, a National Historic Landmark, is located The Ancestor Project is a digital database designed specifically for teachers, students, genealogists, and visitors. Evergreen Plantation. Want to search back even further? it is clear that they are indeed antebellum. Evergreen Plantation, located near New Orleans, is the largest intact plantation complex in the South. The formerly enslaved Black Americans, though legally freed, continued to live and work at the plantation until 1947. All rights reserved. Evergreen Plantation, a historic plantation in Louisiana, has a new interpretive center dedicated to its history. Interested in getting more preservation stories like this delivered to your door monthly? Boddie hopes that the exhibits and documents will pique the interest of descendants of all residents of Evergreen. By 1850, the Ward family had owned over 1,000 slaves in addition to being one of the most active slave trading families. The Evergreen Plantation is one of the oldest plantations in the United States, having been established in 1752. The plantation house and original slave quarters have been preserved and well-kept which, come to find out, is quite the rarity. After Neds death, his widow was given a pension on his behalf. Evergreen has its country's highest historic designation and joins Mount Vernon and Gettysburg in being granted landmark status for its agricultural acreage. Call 985-497-3837 to arrange a visit. 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. EVERGREEN PLANTATION - 166 Photos & 80 Reviews - Landmarks & Historical Buildings - 4677 Hwy 18, Edgard, LA - Phone Number - Yelp Evergreen Plantation 80 reviews Unclaimed Frequently Asked Questions about Evergreen Plantation How is Evergreen Plantation rated? Plantations were commonly located on fertile creeks and rivers in the south, and they frequently had extensive land holdings. There are only a few plantations in the South that are as intact as the Evergreen Plantation, with 37 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including 22 slave cabins. He also built a brick home located near a spring. Thomas Boudar, a notorious slave trader, sold him to sugar planter Lezin Becnel. More than 400 individuals were enslaved at Evergreen Plantation over the course of 150 years. Archival records relate that in 1835, a total of 54 enslaved people resided in twelve cabins at Evergreen Plantation, indicating that roughly between four and five slaves inhabited each of the twelve cabins. The Preservation Alliance of New Orleans, Inc., d.b.a. Evergreen Plantation is the only one in the South still standing. In his later years, Ned was supported in part by a pension from the federal government for his service in the war. 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. Monetary contributions to Preservation Resource Center are tax-deductible as provided by law. 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. You can search for all domestics (house slaves), field hands, or more specialized jobs, such as engineer, cooper, carpenter, etc. 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. He and his new wife, Elizabeth, had a daughter together. In the early 1700s, the plantation was most likely based on the Evergreen Plantation, which was located in Edgard, Louisiana. He was headed south to New Orleans along with 120 other enslaved individuals on board. A seemingly endless cycle of planting, hoeing, weeding, harvesting, and grinding comprised the work routine on Louisiana's sugarcane plantations during the 19th century. This suggests that Kattys eldest daughters had a different father than her younger children. According to Shannon Boddie, the executive director of Evergreen, the organization intends to do more community service. 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. Over the decades, the most serious change to Evergreen as a plantation Evergreen Plantation is a former sugar cane plantation in Wallace, Louisiana, that was slave labor-dependent for its operation. Neds term of enlistment expired in March 1867. Tobacco was once produced on the plantation in Charles City County, Virginia, and shipped throughout the colonies to England. Slave laborers who planted, hoed, weeded, dug irrigation, and harvested the cane were subjected to harsh working conditions. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. The number of slaves fluctuated over the years, but there were always at least 300 slaves working on the plantation. On some plantations, slaves worked in eight-hour shifts, called watches, and adult slaves worked two such shifts each day during grinding season. See other South Carolina Barns & Farms 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. . 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. 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. She was born at Evergreen and went on to have 10 children, 51 grandchildren, 148 great-grandchildren, and 88 great-great-grandchildren. *origin (African tribe, American, or Creole). His name was recorded as Edward Edmonds. [6][7], It is a production site of films such as Django Unchained (2012)[8] and Antebellum (2020). It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1992 for its rich architectural legacy. This location was used in the film Django Unchained, which was released in 2011. LOUISIANATRAVEL.COM is the official travel authority for the state of Louisiana. 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. Evergreen Plantation (Wallace, Louisiana) Built1832Architect John CarverArchitectural styleGreek RevivalFederalNRHP reference No.19100386Significant dates 11 more rows. In 1997, a group of black farmers sued the agency, claiming that they had been discriminated against for years. During the plantations nineteenth century heyday, the majority of the workers lived in the quarters houses, which were run by African Americans. The oldest plantation in Louisiana is the St. Louis Plantation, which was founded in 1718 by Pierre Le Moyne dIberville. 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 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. Slave trading and slave plantations were also common among plantation owners in the Deep South. Much of the sugar produced on Louisiana's plantations was consumed in such East Coast cities as New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Susan Langenhennigis PRCs Director of Communications and the editor of Preservation in Print. In 1944, when Mrs. Gray purchased Evergreen Plantation, the double row of slave cabins was occupied primarily by sugar cane workers. The plantation is located in the southern United States and is still operational today. He married Aime, a 17 year old girl enslaved on the plantation with her mother Katty and siblings. These gangs of slave laborers worked in tandem in the fields cutting, stacking, and loading cane stalks onto mule-drawn carts. Another relic of the plantation is an original garconnire, which young men used as sleeping quarters during their time on the plantation. The couple went on to have more children and continued to work in the cane fields on Evergreen Plantation. The plantation grows a variety of crops, including cotton, tobacco, and sugar cane. He also built a brick home located near a spring. Some could trace their ancestry back multiple generations to the first slaves brought to the plantation. 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. 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. This new technology had the advantage of being a more controlled method of boiling, where lower temperatures were required and less fuel was needed. 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