March 24, 2022
MAGNOLIA MOUND PLANTATION
2161 Nicholson Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
“The Magnolia Mound Plantation House is a French Creole house constructed in 1791 near the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Many period documents refer to the plantation as Mount Magnolia.” - Wikipedia
Magnolia Mound Plantation consists of the “Big House” and some outbuildings. The 1791 house may not be the biggest or the fanciest of plantation mansions, but the story of the house, the people who built and occupied it, and its contents are just as intriguing as any other mansion. The house started as a four-room cottage but was enlarged when the family (a blended family with 11 children) needed more room. While not being overly ornate there were many touches, like the coved ceiling in the parlor, that would not have been found in a common house of the time. The people in the area were strong Catholics; you could find evidence of their strong faith in almost every room. Photography was not allowed inside the house, but I was told I could take pictures through the windows.
Because there were elementary school students touring the grounds, there were people demonstrating cooking in the Open Hearth Kitchen, a building away from the house. I enjoyed watching and listening as the cooks made waffles, biscuits, gumbo, and prepared the oven to bake some bread.
The other buildings on the grounds included the Overseer’s House, a Slave Quarters, a three-stall outhouse, and a Pigeonnier (pigeon house).
The staff was incredibly friendly and very knowledgeable.
The "Big House"
Part of the Parlor, as seen through a window.
The Parlor. Notice the coved ceiling.
The boys bedroom.
The front porch. When first built the porch wrapped all around the house.
The master bedroom, which also served as a room for Mrs. Duplantier could entertain (notice the tea cups on the mantel).
The girls bedroom
Mr. Duplantier's office. The bed was for travelers passing through the area.
The dining room table, with a shoo-fly above it.
The buffet in the dining room.
The Open Hearth Kitchen
Food being cooked in the open hearth.
Preparing the waffle iron.
Getting the oven ready to bake bread.
Loaves of bread waiting to be baked.
This vat would have been filled with olive oil and olives.
This tool would have been used to make ice cream. You would place in a container of cold cream and stir.
The three-hole privy. There were three holes, I checked.
The Pigeonnier, or home for pigeons which would have been considered a dining delicacy.
The yard from behind the house with the kitchen on the right and the privy on the left.
The Kitchen Garden
The Overseer's House, used by the person who managed the slaves.
The overseer's parlor/dining room.
The overseer's bedroom.
Stations were spread around the area for the elementary students who were visiting. Here the students would "clean" balls of cotton (I assume).
Another station, students would wash clothing. There were clothes lines to hang the laundry on.
The slaves quarters. The plantation had as many as 79 slaves working there.
Inside the slave's quarters.
Inside the slave quarters.