Green Leaves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Koontz House
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Front of the house
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Location | 303 S. Rankin St., Natchez, Mississippi |
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| Built | 1838 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001288 |
| Added to NRHP | March 29, 1979 |
Green Leaves, also called the Koontz House or the Beltzhoover House, is a beautiful old mansion in Natchez, Mississippi. It was built in the Greek Revival style, which was popular for grand homes back then. A French lawyer named Edward P. Fourniquet finished building it in 1838. Later, in 1849, a local banker named George Washington Koontz bought the house. His family has owned it ever since! Green Leaves was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1979 because of its important history.
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Exploring Green Leaves: A Historic Home
This house is special because it still has many of its original family items and furniture. It's like stepping back in time! Experts say the inside of the house is very well-preserved. It shows what homes looked like in the mid-1800s. You can see many original architectural details inside. The decorations and contents also remain from that time. This makes Green Leaves a valuable example of how people lived back then. It is one of several historic buildings in Natchez with amazing old interiors.
The Beautiful Gardens of Green Leaves
The house is also famous for its lovely gardens. They have many different kinds of plants. You can find beautiful camellias and azaleas there. The whole backyard is shaded by a huge live oak tree. This tree is thought to be more than 400 years old! Some people believe the Natchez Indians used this big tree as a meeting spot long ago.
The front yard has a smaller live oak tree. It is estimated to be over 200 years old. There is also a very large magnolia tree. People say it is one of the biggest in the entire state!
The History of Green Leaves Mansion
The oldest part of the house is now the north wing. It was built around 1812 for Jonathan Thompson. He was a rich cotton farmer in the area. This first house had two stories and was made entirely of brick. Later, it was used as a kitchen and living quarters for staff. In May 1820, Thompson and his family passed away.
Building the Main Mansion
In 1836, Edward P. Fourniquet bought the land. He was a lawyer from France who built other structures nearby. In late 1838, he finished building the main part of the house. This section is next to the original building. It cost about $25,000 to build. This main section features the famous Greek Revival architecture. It is the part that Green Leaves became known for.
New Owners and Additions
George Washington Koontz, a banker, bought the house in 1849. Koontz had moved to Natchez from Pennsylvania in 1836. He started a business with William Audley Britton that same year. Their bank, Britton & Koontz Bank, was in business for a very long time. It merged with another company in 2014.
The Koontz family made some changes to the house. In the 1850s, they added a bedroom wing on the south side. In the 1880s and 1890s, they connected the main house to the original building. Green Leaves was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on March 29, 1979.
