Brandon Hall (Washington, Mississippi) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Brandon Hall
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Front of Brandon Hall
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Location | Northeast of Washington, Mississippi on U.S. Route 61 |
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| Area | 40.2 acres (16.3 ha) |
| Built | 1856 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002198 |
| Added to NRHP | June 12, 1980 |
Brandon Hall is a beautiful old house built in 1856. It's located in Washington, Mississippi, USA. The house is famous for its Greek Revival architecture style, which looks a bit like ancient Greek temples. Because of its history and unique design, Brandon Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it's recognized as an important historical place.
Contents
The Story of Brandon Hall
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Early Days and First Owners
Brandon Hall was once a very large cotton farm. It was located along the beautiful Natchez Trace, an old historic trail. The land for Brandon Hall was first given to a private owner by King Carlos III of Spain in 1788. This was called a "royal grant."
In 1809, the land was sold to William Lock Chew. He bought it at a public sale. Between 1809 and 1820, Mr. Chew built the first main house. It was a brick house with three rooms. This older brick house is still part of Brandon Hall today. It forms the "basement" of the much larger house you see now.
The Brandon Family Era
In 1833, Mr. Chew sold the property to Nathaniel Hoggatt. He was a successful farmer. After his death, his daughter Charlotte inherited the land.
On October 29, 1840, Charlotte Hoggatt married Gerard Brandon III. His father had been an early Governor of Mississippi. His grandfather was a hero from the American Revolutionary War. Charlotte and Gerard lived in the original brick house. Then, in 1853, they started building the grand Brandon Hall we know today. The new house was finished in 1856.
Changes in Ownership
The Brandon and Hoggatt families owned Brandon Hall for 81 years. This time included Mississippi's early days and the period before the Civil War. It also included the difficult years after the war.
In January 1914, the plantation and house were sold to George Hightower. This happened because of a payment issue. This sale ended the long ownership by the Brandon and Hoggatt families.
Since 1914, Brandon Hall Plantation has had ten different owners. In 1987, the house was completely fixed up and restored. It was made to look exactly like it did when it was first built.
In 2009, the owners at the time, Edward L. and James R. Diefenthal, gave the house to the Historic Natchez Foundation. Later that year, in December 2009, Ron and Kathy Garber bought the home. They opened Brandon Hall as a Bed and Breakfast, where people can stay overnight.
