Before & After ~ Sweet Auburn, Natchez, MS.
Sweet Auburn was built in 1834 for Dr. John Wesley Monette and his family. He was a physician, scientist, and author of “The History of the Mississippi Valley” and other works. The stuccoed brick house combines Federal and Greek Revival elements, like many houses of the 1830s. As was common in the region, many of the skilled masons and carpenters involved in its construction were likely enslaved.
The Monette family occupied the house for several generations before it experienced an extended period of vacancy. The original rooftop monitor and pedimented portico were removed at some point in its history.
The before photo shown here is from the 1970s when the current owners bought the property. Over time, they fully restored the house, including reconstructing its missing elements based on 19th-century photographic documentation.
I toured Sweet Auburn while in Natchez for Spring Pilgrimage several weeks ago. I met the charming mistress of the house and saw the impressive results of her and her husband’s efforts. It is a truly lovely house – a testament to those who built it originally and those who restored it.
“Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners” was written to help people who want to restore a house with sensitivity to its character-defining features.
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author at YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/ and through the shop on this page.
Our shop also carries select preservation and restoration titles by other authors.
#antiquehome #antiquehomes #traditionalarchitecture #historicalhomes #historicalhouse #historic #oldhousecharm #oldhome #oldhouse #preservation #preserveourhistory #houseandgarden #aplacetocallhome #homerestoration #houserestoration #historicpreservation #ownapieceofhistory #architecturelover #restoringyourhistorichouse #yourhistorichome #restoration #houserehab