Something in the Water Round Here...

Just look at the size of this oak at the Melrose Plantation which is a few miles outside Natchitoches. It's big. Must be 300 years old I expect. Something around here making this a special place which is in addition to the plantation business that ranges from indigo, cotton, tobacco, cattle and once the biggest producer of pecans in the country.


Here is the big house, can't remember the date it was built, but dates from mid 1800s with add ons as needed. Most interesting person that lived here was a Mrs. Henry. She invited all kinds of interesting artists and writers of the early 20th century to come and work here in a quiet atmosphere fed by her lively personality and the extensive library and scrapbook collection she assembled that came in handy for research.

This is where these folks stayed to do the creative work. This is the original plantation home, built in the late 1700s by the original plantation owners that were free people of color. The last living freed slave died in the late teens, he had lived in this house and that is what opened up the invites to various artsy types, most notably Lyle Saxon, a New Orleans based writer. Originally called the Yucca House.




Right next to the Yucca house is the Africa House so called because of the African influence on the roof design. Once you get to recognize this design you start to see it around the community on apartment buildings, businesses and so on. Culture goes deep. Dates from the early 1800s. Upstairs is a mural by folk artist Clementine Parker, another creative person who lived out her whole 101 years on this plantation. More on her later.





Here is what they called the women writers cabin. This place was a good place to come, especially during prohibition. Theses sensitive types could get a snoot full here. Only thing was each night at supper Mrs. Henry held a round table discussion about what you had written or painted that day. If its was you practice to drink coffee and watch the river flow by till snoot filling time arrived you were soon to be handed your hat. Mrs. Henry like to have some types around for amusement but she wanted them working.