Artifacts at Belle Mont
Stepping inside of the grand plantation home, time appears to abruptly change its course, and a world filled with jet planes and the Internet is quickly forgotten. From the ornate French wallpaper to the portraits of previous owners and inhabitants, the atmosphere at Belle Mont transports visitors to a warm, cozy version of the mid-nineteenth century. The handcrafted, wooden beds are neatly made, and playing cards are perfectly positioned for display on a table in the parlor. The pre-Civil War life of wealthy, white plantation owners in the South is wonderfully depicted through each period piece of furniture and artwork.
Yet, there is another side to the history of this magnificent home. Although the family of Dr. Alexander Mitchell originally resided in the home, the construction of Belle Mont began in 1828 with the use of slave labor. These slaves, who assuredly went on to work the 1,680 acres of cotton and corn surrounding Belle Mont, spent four years building the mansion for their white owners. However, little of their history remains, and few pieces of their belongings can be found inside the home where their masters would have rested comfortably.
On the surface, it almost appears as if slave life has been overlooked, nearly forgotten, at Belle Mont. Luckily, photographs of the slave cabins that were erected to the rear of the home and a few artifacts, such as the doll of a young slave girl and pottery pieces, have survived the passing of time. These pieces, along with records that have been taken throughout the history of the home, help to provide a different perspective of life at Belle Mont in the nineteenth century.
The photograph featured on this page is an image taken in 1936 of a slave cabin behind Belle Mont. There were 12 other cabins identical to this one that housed slaves through the Civil War. Unfortunately, there is no longer any above ground evidence of the cabins' existence. In 2005, a team of archaeologists surveyed the land behind Belle Mont where the slave cabins were originally located and produced belt buckles, shoe buckles, pieces of clay pottery, arrowheads from both Creek and Cherokee Indians, and small fragments of blue porcelain china. These artifacts, including the original photograph, are on display for the public in one of the bedrooms at Belle Mont. A journal containing the meticulous slave records kept by Dr. Mitchell has also been discovered; it is currently being housed in Montgomery, Alabama by the Alabama Historical Commission.
Yet, there is another side to the history of this magnificent home. Although the family of Dr. Alexander Mitchell originally resided in the home, the construction of Belle Mont began in 1828 with the use of slave labor. These slaves, who assuredly went on to work the 1,680 acres of cotton and corn surrounding Belle Mont, spent four years building the mansion for their white owners. However, little of their history remains, and few pieces of their belongings can be found inside the home where their masters would have rested comfortably.
On the surface, it almost appears as if slave life has been overlooked, nearly forgotten, at Belle Mont. Luckily, photographs of the slave cabins that were erected to the rear of the home and a few artifacts, such as the doll of a young slave girl and pottery pieces, have survived the passing of time. These pieces, along with records that have been taken throughout the history of the home, help to provide a different perspective of life at Belle Mont in the nineteenth century.
The photograph featured on this page is an image taken in 1936 of a slave cabin behind Belle Mont. There were 12 other cabins identical to this one that housed slaves through the Civil War. Unfortunately, there is no longer any above ground evidence of the cabins' existence. In 2005, a team of archaeologists surveyed the land behind Belle Mont where the slave cabins were originally located and produced belt buckles, shoe buckles, pieces of clay pottery, arrowheads from both Creek and Cherokee Indians, and small fragments of blue porcelain china. These artifacts, including the original photograph, are on display for the public in one of the bedrooms at Belle Mont. A journal containing the meticulous slave records kept by Dr. Mitchell has also been discovered; it is currently being housed in Montgomery, Alabama by the Alabama Historical Commission.