Before & After ~ This Antebellum Greek Revival house in Mississippi is a great example of what can be done to save a historic house with the right combination of knowledge, skill, commitment, and money.
Originally called Hollywood plantation, the house is also known as The Baby Doll House from the title of a movie filmed there in the 1950s.
Shorn of its porches, this house had lost much of its architectural character. Recreation of its missing features based on historic documentation has restored that character to the house. Note the second story door. Apparently a second level was originally planned for the porch but never constructed, leaving this “door to nowhere.” It is suspected the construction was interrupted by the Civil War and this element never completed. See below for a 1936 HABS photo of the house.
More about the house can be found at: http://thebabydollhouse.com/history
Long recognized as symbols of Southern culture, the historic houses of the plantation south are also monuments to the fine craftsmanship and labor of the often-enslaved carpenters who built them and the other enslaved people whose labor paid for these beautiful buildings.
Substantial research has documented the skilled labor of enslaved craftsmen working in building construction in the American south in recent years. Colonial Williamsburg, Monticello, and Poplar Forest in Virginia have been leaders in recognizing this important chapter of our history.
All aspects of home restoration, including appropriate replacement of missing architectural features, are covered in “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.”
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our shop, YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
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