What Are Your Opinions With Largest Antebellum Mansion Catching On Fire?

[Lucy68]

On Thursday, May 15, historic Nottoway Planation, in White Castle, Louisiana, just after 2pm the largest antebellum mansion in the U. S., burned to the ground this week after a fire broke out. As of Saturday, the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The 64-room mansion was built by John Hampden Randolph in the late 1850s, by slave labor according to multiple sources. The U. S. Department of the Interior records cited by Axios show that Randolph owned 155 slaves and 6,200 acres of land by 1860. In modern times, the mansion and surrounding property was a museum, resort and wedding venue. Nottoway Plantation’s website states that it sat on 31 acres, which included 40 overnight rooms, a bar, restaurant, event space, pool, tennis courts and more. "While its early history is undeniably tied to a time of great injustice, over the last several decades it evolved into a place of reflection, education, and dialogue," Daigle wrote in the Facebook post. "Since the 1980s, it has welcomed visitors from around the world who came to appreciate its architecture and confront the legacies of its era. It stood as both a cautionary monument and testament to the importance of preserving history, even the painful parts, so that future generations can learn and grow from it."

Now as you all know, I am southerner from the deep south (Alabama), and the news of this fire happening, has caused mixed reviews. Some are saddened by the recent events of what has happened to the plantation, saying it was part of our southern heritage and culture. However, others have said the plantation was a constant reminder of the south's dark and grim past, and that the fire was a sign that it is time for the south, the nation, to move forward and progress.

What are your thoughts, and do you believe a piece of history was lost?

[DrPepper12]

I can separate great humans achievements from the abomination labor system that produced it. ANY loss is history is a time for sadness & reflection.

I had this quote on my classroom to encourage the kids to talk to their elders about what they witnessed & felt:

"When an elder dies, a library burns to the ground"

It's not even conceivable what's irrevocably lost when someone dies. A LIFETIME OF WISDOM JUST DISAPPEARS!! It's so tragiclly human.

[Lliam]

The loss of that beautiful, historic building and museum is tragic. It's a huge loss.
Plus, we need to remember our history, not erase it.

I'll be interested to hear if they ever discover the cause. I wonder if some insane activist did it.

[beefcakebradybatson]

You folk want to forget your horrid history re. POC, such as slavery, which those mansions represent.

[Lliam]

Thanks for the MHO, Lucy.

[Lucy68]

You're welcome @Lliam

[MisterWack]

Asker: “Now as you all know, I am southerner from the deep south (Alabama), and the news of this fire happening, has caused mixed reviews. Some are saddened by the recent events of what has happened to the plantation, saying it was part of our southern heritage and culture. However, others have said the plantation was a constant reminder of the south's dark and grim past, and that the fire was a sign that it is time for the south, the nation, to move forward and progress. What are your thoughts, and do you believe a piece of history was lost?”

My thoughts: There is no shred of a doubt in my mind that a piece of history was lost, it was built utilizing slave labor which all those with a brain can figure out has been abolished in The South and The United States of America as a whole since The Civil War.

What is on my mind is, was it just a constant reminder of The South’s dark grim past, is it is a sign that The South and the nation as a whole should move forward and progress, or was it a part of Southern heritage also culture? I believe it is a dark, grim, and unsettling piece in the American story which happens to be a culture / heritage founded in the submission and exploitation of an entire race of people they deemed “subhuman”.
The fact is, we should strive to progress and move away from the harsher, crueler, inhumane, racist, and exploitive ways of the past and saying “that is not who we are”.
While not forgetting the sacrifice, the renewal, the struggle, resolve, and the lessons those can teach us that went into getting African Americans the freedoms they deserved.

[Red_Arrow]

The first use of electricity in homes was Edison in 1878, so any lighting in the mansion was gas. Unlikely that they tore into walls to switch to electricity later, so the gas would have made a fire pretty destructive. And no sprinkler systems them. So using it for guests was dangerous. It is sad to see the architecture of the time being lost, but not unexpected.

[CaptainSmartass]

They might have ripped into the walls to put electricity cables in. These buildings are primarily made of wood and gyprock. It's not like rebuilding Stonehenge.

[Jamie05rhs]

Oh my goodness! That's horrible. I am a fan of architecture, so this is a terrible tragedy.
And I think it's incredibly petty for someone to hold a grudge against a building. I mean, unless Randolph's descendants were benefiting financially from it.

[OneViewpoint]

The fire came 160 years late. It should have been burned in 1865. Instead we got the failed "Reconstruction". And here we are a century and a half later still dealing with the "Southern" problem.

[jamesgoldman]

That sounds like a liberal advocation for genocide in America's southern states

[OneViewpoint]

@jamesgoldman ,

I prefer to think of it as cleaning up the mess we left 160 years ago. Better late than never.

[jamesgoldman]

At least, you're honest

[DonaldDarko]

It's a shame and the Mansion should be rebuilt immediately.

[bowenw]

It was a good reminder of the sad past like other historic sites where tragedy occurred like Auschwitz. I think it probably should be rebuilt to teach future generations of what occurred there.

[Sal_Monella]

A piece of our history and classical architecture lost.

[beefcakebradybatson]

Love it. My great-great-grandparents were slaves.

[Godihateyou]

Hebrew lightning someone just got really really ritch at poor people's expense

[CaptainSmartass]

Insurance job.

Simples...

[Cubus]

Hope they rebuild it

[Anonymous]

Arson?