Merrehope facts for kids
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Merrehope
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Merrehope as it looks today.
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Location | 905 31st Ave., Meridian, Mississippi |
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| Built | 1859 |
| Architect | Juriah Jackson; S.H. Floyd |
| Architectural style | Academic Revivalism |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000455 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 9, 1971 |
Merrehope is a large, 26-room mansion in Meridian, Mississippi, that is now a historic house museum. It was first built in 1858 as a family home. Over the years, different owners made changes to the house. In 1904, a new owner named S.H. Floyd gave the house the grand look it has today.
The house has a very interesting past. It survived the American Civil War when many other buildings in Meridian were destroyed. It has been a family home, a headquarters for generals, an apartment building, and a boarding house. Because of its rich history, Merrehope is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Mississippi Landmark.
Contents
The History of Merrehope
The story of Merrehope begins in 1858. A man named Richard McLemore gave the land to his daughter, Juriah Jackson. She and her husband built a small house on the property. This small house was the beginning of the mansion we see today.
Changes During the Civil War
During the American Civil War, the house was used by both sides of the conflict. First, it was the headquarters for the Confederate General Leonidas Polk. Later, when Union General William T. Sherman's army came to Meridian, his officers stayed in the house.
Sherman's raid on Meridian was very destructive, but Merrehope was one of only six homes left standing. This makes the house a rare survivor from that time.
How the House Grew
After the war, a family named Gary bought the house. They added the main part of the mansion, making it much larger. The original small house was still attached to the back.
In 1904, S. H. Floyd bought the house and made the biggest changes. He wanted it to look like a grand Greek temple, a style called Academic Revival.
- He moved the original small house back about 20 feet.
- He added a second floor to it for servants' rooms and bathrooms.
- He added a large dining room, a grand staircase, and a library to the main house.
- He built a huge porch, called a portico, around the front and side of the house. This porch has tall, two-story columns that make the house look very impressive.
From Apartments to a Museum
In the 1930s, the grand home was divided into eight apartments. Later, it became a boarding house, where people could rent single rooms. By the 1960s, the house was in poor condition.
In 1968, a group called the Meridian Restorations Foundation bought the house to save it. They gave it the name "Merrehope," which is a mix of "Meridian Restorations" and "hope." The name showed their hope of bringing the beautiful old house back to life. The city of Meridian helped pay for the restoration.
The Ghosts of Merrehope
Some people who visit or work at Merrehope believe it is haunted. After the house was restored, stories about ghosts began to spread.
One story is about a young woman named Eugenia. She was the daughter of John Gary, one of the home's past owners. Eugenia died at a young age from a serious illness and never got to live in the house her father helped build. Visitors and staff have claimed to see a ghostly figure that looks like her wandering through the rooms.
Another ghost is said to be in a room called the Periwinkle Room. The current hostess at Merrehope said she once saw the shape of a body pressed into the bed, but no one was there. People also report hearing loud crashing sounds from the room, but when they check, nothing is ever out of place.
