Lochinvar (Pontotoc, Mississippi) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lochinvar
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Lochinvar (c. 1940)
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Pontotoc, Mississippi |
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| Area | 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) |
| Built | 1836 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000331 |
| Added to NRHP | March 13, 1986 |
Lochinvar is a beautiful old house near Pontotoc, Mississippi. It was built around 1836 by Robert Gordon. This house is a type of large home called a plantation house, built before the American Civil War. It is special enough to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site.
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About the House's Design
Lochinvar is known for its amazing design. The house features heart pine wood and bricks made by hand. This shows how much care the wealthy owner, Robert Gordon, put into building it. He even hired Scottish architects and builders!
Special Features of Lochinvar
- The front porches are supported by strong columns in the Doric style. These columns came from a castle in Scotland.
- The balcony railing is carved to look like delicate English lace.
- Inside, a spiral staircase winds up to the second floor. It's special because it supports itself without any central pole.
- There's even a secret stairway hidden between the walls at the back of the house!
The History of Lochinvar
The land where Lochinvar stands was first bought by Robert Gordon from a Chickasaw woman named Molly Gunn. She was the daughter of William Colbert and his wife, and was married to James Gunn.
Robert Gordon, the Founder
Robert Gordon came to America from Scotland. He settled in Cotton Gin Port, Mississippi. The Gordon family of Lochinvar was an old Scottish clan. Their family home was Kenmure Castle in Galloway, Scotland. Robert Gordon became very successful as a trader with Native American communities. He also owned a lot of land. He even founded the town of Aberdeen in Monroe County, Mississippi. After the Chickasaw people gave up their land in 1832, Robert Gordon bought two large pieces of land near Pontotoc. That's where he built Lochinvar in 1836.
Robert Gordon married Mary Elizabeth Walton. Their son, James Gordon, grew up in the house.
James Gordon's Life
James Gordon married Carolina Virginia Wiley. They had two children, Annie and Robert James. James Gordon was a planter, meaning he owned a farm and grew crops. He also served as an officer in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He fought under famous generals like Jeb Stuart and Nathan Bedford Forrest.
James Gordon also became a politician. He represented Chickasaw County in the Mississippi state legislature several times. In 1909, he was chosen to be a U.S. Senator for a short time. This was before people voted directly for senators.
Lochinvar Changes Hands
James Gordon inherited Lochinvar when his father, Robert, passed away in 1867. The house stayed in the Gordon family until 1900. Then, a lawyer from Pontotoc, Mississippi named J. D. Fontaine bought it. He used it as a house for people who rented it. The old black-and-white photo of Lochinvar (like the one in the infobox) shows the house during a time when it wasn't being kept up very well.
In 1966, Dr. Forrest Tutor and his wife, Dr. Janis Burns Tutor, bought Lochinvar from Fontaine's son. They worked hard to bring the house back to its original beauty. The house was badly damaged by a tornado in 2001, but the Tutors restored it again. Lochinvar is still listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
