House on Ellicott's Hill facts for kids
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House on Ellicott's Hill
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House on Ellicott's Hill in 2019
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Location | 215 Canal Street N, Natchez, Mississippi |
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| Built | 1798 |
| Architect | James Moore |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001050 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 30, 1974 |
| Designated NHL | May 30, 1974 |
The House on Ellicott's Hill is a very old and important building in Natchez, Mississippi. It is also known by other names like Connelly's Tavern or James Moore House. This historic house, built in 1798, is the oldest building still standing in Natchez from when it was a new territory.
Because of its history, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1974. It also became a Mississippi Landmark in 2001. Today, you can visit it as a historic house museum.
History of the House
The House on Ellicott's Hill is a special example of an early American building style. It shows how houses were built in the Lower Mississippi Valley a long time ago. The house was built between 1798 and 1801. It was one of the first buildings in the Mississippi Territory to show the new "Federal style" of architecture.
The house has a unique roof shape. It has a central gable roof with other smaller roofs attached high up. This is different from French Louisiana houses, which often had central hipped roofs. The walls of the upper story were made using a mix of mud and Spanish moss called "bousillage." This was a common building method back then.
The house was built into the side of a hill. This means the front of the house looks like two stories, with a brick basement. But from the back, it looks like only one story because the basement is underground. A special ditch at the back helps bring light and air into the basement rooms.
People who visited Natchez long ago wrote about houses like this one. In 1805, Eliza Baker described houses with two stories in front and one in the back. Another writer, Fortescue Cuming, thought Natchez looked like towns in the West Indies. This is because Natchez and the West Indies shared similar building styles. They had similar climates and traded with each other.
The land for the House on Ellicott's Hill was given to James Moore in 1797. He was a merchant in Natchez. Building probably started after January 1798. This was when American soldiers came to take control of the Spanish lands east of the Mississippi River. The hill was also where Andrew Ellicott set up camp. He was sent by President George Washington to map the border with Spain. It is said that Ellicott was the first to raise the American flag on this hill.
By 1801, James Moore was living in the house. In 1805, the house was valued at $8,000 for tax purposes. This made it one of the most valuable houses in Natchez at the time.
The house still looks much like it did in the 1820s. Many of its original wooden details, called "millwork," are still there. This includes the fan-shaped windows above the front and back doors. These are early examples of the Federal style in Mississippi. Inside, the main room has beautiful carvings and matching fireplaces. There's also a special dome on the ceiling. It was probably lined with tin to reflect light from a lamp.
Restoring the House
In 1934, the Natchez Garden Club bought the house. It was in bad shape, so they decided to restore it. An architect named Richard Koch helped with the work. They fixed the walls, repaired the wood and plaster, and restored the trim.
When they started the restoration, people thought the house used to be a tavern owned by Patrick Connelly. But later research showed that Connelly's Tavern was actually on a different street.
Most of the changes to the house happened during this 1930s restoration. For example, the staircase on the porch was redesigned. Some parts of the house's lower porch were also changed. Old photos show that the original porch posts and railings had been replaced with rougher ones before the restoration.
Today, the House on Ellicott's Hill is open to the public as a museum. The Natchez Garden Club runs it. Their work in the 1930s was very important. It was the first time an organization in Mississippi bought and restored a historic building.
See also
