Walter Place (Holly Springs, Mississippi) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Walter Place
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
Walter Place in 2014
|
|
 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 300 West Chulahoma Avenue, Holly Springs, Mississippi, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Built | 1860; 1903 |
| Architect | Spires Boling; Theodore C. Link |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Gothic Revival |
| Part of | Southwest Holly Springs Historic District (ID83000963) |
| Added to NRHP | April 20, 1983 |
Walter Place is a beautiful old mansion in Holly Springs, Mississippi, United States. It was built in 1860 for Harvey Washington Walter, who was a lawyer and led the Mississippi Central Railroad. He supported keeping the United States together during a difficult time.
During the American Civil War, the mansion was a temporary home for Union General Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia Grant. Later, it became the summer home of Oscar Johnson, Jr.. He was one of the people who started the International Shoe Company. Walter Place has a mix of two cool building styles: Greek Revival and Gothic Revival. In 2011, it was the most expensive house for sale in Mississippi!
Contents
Where is Walter Place Located?
This historic mansion is found at 300 West Chulahoma Avenue. It's in Holly Springs, a small town in Marshall County, which is in Northern Mississippi.
The Story of Walter Place
Building the Mansion
Work on this two-story mansion began in 1857 and finished in 1860. The architect, Spires Boling, designed it with a mix of styles. It has a grand front porch, called a portico, with four tall columns. These columns are in the Corinthian order style, which means they have fancy tops. On each side of the portico, there are round towers. The top part of each tower has special half-moon shaped windows.
Walter Place During the Civil War
The mansion was built for Colonel Harvey Washington Walter. He was a lawyer and the head of the Mississippi Central Railroad. During the American Civil War (1861-1865), Colonel Walter did not support the Southern states leaving the Union. He invited Union General Ulysses S. Grant to stay in his home.
When Confederate General Earl Van Dorn and his troops took over Holly Springs, they were not allowed to enter Walter Place until Julia Grant had left. The house was also protected from being searched or damaged. Because of this, Confederate soldiers and spies sometimes used the house.
However, other stories, including Julia Grant's own memories, say things happened a bit differently. She wrote that she had already left Holly Springs before Van Dorn's troops arrived. Some soldiers tried to take her personal items from the house. But Mrs. Pugh Govan, who was looking after Walter Place, stopped them. Julia Grant's carriage was burned, and her horses were taken. This was likely part of Van Dorn's plan to remove or destroy anything that could help the Union army.
After the War: New Owners
About ten years after the Civil War, in 1878, a serious illness called yellow fever spread. Walter Place was used as a hospital to help sick people. Sadly, Colonel Walter and three of his sons died from the disease that year. His wife, Fredonia, then inherited the mansion.
In 1889, Fredonia's son-in-law, Oscar Johnson, bought the house. He was married to their daughter, Irene. Oscar Johnson helped start a shoe company in St. Louis, Missouri that later became the famous International Shoe Company. The Johnsons added a beautiful garden and spent their summers at the mansion. In 1903, they hired a German-born architect named Theodore C. Link to update the house.
Later Years and Restoration
After Oscar Johnson passed away in 1916, his wife sold the house in 1918 to A. M. Green. Mr. Green, who sold Ford cars, made changes to the garden. But by 1934, Oscar Johnson's children bought the property back at an auction for $4,000. However, hired helpers mostly lived there.
In the 1970s, people who wanted to save old buildings bought Walter Place and fixed it up. In 2011, it was listed as the most expensive house in Mississippi, costing $15 million. It was sold again at an auction in 2014.
Why Walter Place is Important
Walter Place is a special part of the Southwest Holly Springs Historic District. Because of its history and unique architecture, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 20, 1983. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
