Mount Holly (Foote, Mississippi) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mount Holly
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The house in 1937
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Location | Foote, Mississippi |
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| Area | 7 acres (2.8 ha) |
| Built | 1855 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001030 |
| Added to NRHP | August 14, 1973 |
Mount Holly was a very old and important house in Foote, Mississippi. It was also known as Dudley Plantation. This large home was built in 1855. Many famous people visited Mount Holly. One of them was Jefferson Davis, who was the President of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.
Later, the house was owned by the family of a well-known writer named Shelby Foote. He wrote a book that was inspired by the history of Mount Holly. Sadly, this historic house burned down on June 17, 2015.
Contents
Where Was Mount Holly Located?
Mount Holly was found in a small place called Foote, Mississippi. This area is part of Washington County in the state of Mississippi. The house was built right on the eastern side of Lake Washington.
The Story of Mount Holly
Building a Grand Home
The land where Mount Holly stood was first claimed by John C. Miller in 1831. In 1833, he sold it to Henry Johnson and his wife, Elizabeth Julia Flournoy.
In 1854, their daughter, Margaret Johnson Erwin Dudley, bought the land. She paid $100,000 for 1,699 acres. The property included other buildings, farm animals, and 100 enslaved African people. These people were forced to work without pay.
A year later, in 1855, Margaret married Dr. Charles Wilkins Dudley. Charles decided to build a grand house as a gift for his wife. The house was made of red bricks. It had two floors and 32 rooms. It was designed in a style called Italianate. Two famous architects, Samuel Sloan or Calvert Vaux, might have designed it.
Famous Visitors and New Owners
The Dudley family often welcomed important guests to Mount Holly. These visitors included Jefferson Davis, the Confederate President. Other military leaders like Albert Sidney Johnston, John C. Pemberton, Ulysses S. Grant, and William Tecumseh Sherman also visited.
In the 1880s, a rich farmer named Hezekiah William Foote bought the house. Hezekiah was a veteran of the Confederate Army. He also served in the Mississippi House of Representatives and the Mississippi Senate. His son, Huger Lee Foote, later inherited the house. Huger was also a farmer and a state senator.
Huger's grandson was the famous author Shelby Foote. Shelby wrote a novel in 1949 called Tournament. This book was based on his father losing the family home.
Later Years and the Fire
From 1903 to 1956, Mrs. Mary Griffin Lee owned the mansion. In 1927, a huge flood happened. During this time, Mount Holly was used as a safe place for people needing help. Later, Mrs. Lee's granddaughter, Mrs. John Cox, inherited the house. She turned it into a bed and breakfast. Even so, it remained a private home.
On June 17, 2015, the historic Mount Holly mansion sadly burned down.
Why Mount Holly Was Important
Mount Holly was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 14, 1973. This means it was recognized as a very important historical site.
A special historical marker was placed on an outside wall of the house. It was put there by the National Society of Colonial Dames. The marker said: 'Mount Holly, Ca. 1856, Excellent example of Italianate style steeped in history of the Mississippi Delta, built for Margaret (Johnson) Erwin Dudley, an early settler's daughter, used as headquarters for relief committees in 1927 flood, marked by Mississippi State Society, National Society of Colonial Dames XVII century, October 10, 1998.'
