Liberty Hall (Kenansville, North Carolina) facts for kids
Liberty Hall is a very old and important house in Kenansville, North Carolina. It was built in the early 1800s and was once the home of James Kenan. He was a state senator and a general in the local army during the American Revolutionary War. The town of Kenansville is even named after him! Today, Liberty Hall is a museum where people can learn about its history.
Contents
The Story of Liberty Hall
The First Home
The very first Liberty Hall was built by Thomas Kenan in the late 1730s. He was the first Kenan family member to come to America from Ireland in 1736. His home was on a large farm called Turkey Branch Plantation. After Thomas died, his wife Elizabeth lived there.
Later, their son, General James Kenan, inherited the home. He named it Liberty Hall because many important political meetings happened there. This was during a time when America was becoming its own country. Sadly, this first home burned down before the year 1800. However, some of its furniture was saved.
A New Home in the 1800s
The Liberty Hall you see today was built by Thomas S. Kenan in the late 1700s in Kenansville. In 1833, he and his wife, Mary Rand, moved away. Their oldest son, Owen Rand Kenan, stayed behind. He married Sarah Rebecca Graham, and they made Liberty Hall their family home.
Owen and Sarah made some changes to the house, like adding two porches. They had four children: Thomas S. Kenan, James Graham Kenan, William Rand Kenan, and Annie D. Kenan. The children were well-educated and loved playing music. Liberty Hall was always full of visitors and guests. A special saying about the house was, "He who enters these open gates never comes too early or leaves too late."
The farm around Liberty Hall made money by selling wood, tar, and turpentine. Many people worked on the plantation.
During the American Civil War, Liberty Hall was lucky and was not damaged. Owen Rand Kenan's three sons all survived the war. They came home, got married, and moved away. Owen died in 1887, and Liberty Hall was left to his daughter, Annie D. Kenan. She lived there for the rest of her life.
The 1900s and Becoming a Museum
In August 1901, a very special wedding happened at Liberty Hall. Annie's niece, Mary Lilly Kenan, married Henry Flagler. Henry Flagler was one of the richest men in America at that time. He helped start the Standard Oil Company and built railroads in Florida. The wedding was a big event and many famous people attended. Mary Lilly loved Liberty Hall because she had spent many summers there.
Annie Kenan passed away in April 1906. The old house was closed up with all its history and family treasures inside. Annie left Liberty Hall to her niece, Mary Lilly. When Mary Lilly passed away, she left the house to her nephew, Owen Hill Kenan.
The Kenan family always cared deeply for their family home. After Owen Hill's death, Frank H. Kenan took the house and land. He gave it to the Board of Education, hoping it would one day become a museum.
In 1965, the Liberty Hall Restoration Commission was formed. The house was strong and still had many valuable family items. However, it needed a lot of work before it could open to the public. In 1968, Liberty Hall opened its doors as a museum. Today, Tom Kenan leads the Restoration Committee. He helps make sure the house is cared for and open for visitors.
Visiting Liberty Hall
Liberty Hall is open for people to visit. There is a small fee to enter. You can also take a special candlelight tour.
See also
- List of museums in North Carolina
- List of plantations in the United States
