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| Thomas Henderson 1798 - 1863 |
Thomas Henderson is buried in the Old Catholic Plot 1 section of the Natchez City Cemetery. He built Magnolia Hall in 1858. Henderson, a wealthy planter, merchant and cotton broker was a 60-year-old widower when he built his new mansion.
Magnolia Hall is the last grand mansion built in Natchez before the Civil War. It is one of the finest examples of the Greek Revival style in Natchez. The house features a hooded doorway and a well-proportioned portico with massive Ionic columns. The upper deck of the portico is enclosed with wrought-iron banisters. Henderson had his new brick house stuccoed, painted brown and scored to imitate the brownstone so popular in the northeast at the time.
In 1853 Thomas Henderson had been elected vice president of the American Colonization Society, which formed to free slaves and return them to Africa. When the Civil War broke out Thomas’ two sons fought for the Confederacy. One was wounded and the other was taken prisoner.
During the Civil War Magnolia Hall was damaged by the Union gunboat Essex, which bombarded Natchez from the Mississippi River, several blocks west. A shell from the bombardment struck the service wing of Magnolia Hall, but damage was slight and no one was injured.
Thomas Henderson died at Magnolia Hall before the war ended, and the house was sold shortly thereafter and used as a residence for many years.
In later years the house became a rooming house and a private Episcopal school. During the school years all original partition walls were removed, all but two of the original mantelpieces were sold, the ceilings were lowered, the original chandeliers were sold and the home became institutional in character.
In 1976 Magnolia Hall was acquired by the Natchez Garden Club, which completed a restoration of the house.
Magnolia Hall, located at 215 South Pearl Street, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is on tour year-round, Monday through Saturday, beginning at 9:30 a.m. with the last tour starting at 3:30 p.m.
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