IEAFCS Trip April 13, 2012--A.M.

Our first stop on the tour of Antebellum homes was Shields Town House. Southern Belles in full dress greeted us. Pictured are Lois Smith and Kathy Rhodes as they received a warm southern welcome. By the way, Antebellum means "before the war." All the homes we toured were built before the Civil War. Shields House was built in 1860--the last fine townhouse built before the war began.

Members of the group pictured in front of the Shields House are Rick Lingle, Ruby Lingle, Kathy Rhodes, Cammy Seguin, Nann Armstrong, Lois Smith, Kathy Harrison, Pat Hildebrand, Karen Gibbs, Joy Richey, Charlotte Crawford, and Joe Harrison.

Our hostess at Airlie (built in 1790) was the lady who actually lives there with her husband and son. They purchased the house several years ago and have worked to preserve it and make it livable at the same time. Airlie was used as a hospital for Union soldiers during the war.

  Natchez has lots of Crepe Myrtle trees all over town. This photo shows how they look like they don't have any bark. We missed the Azaleas because of the early spring, but the Crepe Myrtle were just starting to bloom.

The last stop of the morning was Magnolia Hall (built in 1858). It is owned and maintained by one of the Natchez Garden Clubs. The garden clubs sponsor the Spring Pilgrimage, which is a very big event in Natchez. It began as a garden tour, but one year when it rained and rained, they decided to do home tours instead. The tradition has continued now for many years.

We were served a delicious lunch at Magnolia Hall. It was the last great mansion built downtown before the Civil War. Natchez did not want to go to war, but they had to follow the vote of the state of Mississippi. Because there were no battles fought there, many more of the historic buildings were preserved than in other parts of the south.