Magnolia Mound Plantation House

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The Magnolia Mound Plantation House is a National Register of Historic Places site that is located at 2161 Nicholson Drive, approximately one mile south from downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. The house and other structures on the Magnolia Mound Plantation are examples of the architectural influences of early settlers from France and the West Indies. The site is maintained by the Baton Rouge Recreation Commission (BREC).

[edit] History

One of the earliest buildings in the city of Baton Rouge, the property was owned originally by James Hillen, an early settler who arrived in 1786. On December 23, 1791, John Joyce, from Cork County, Ireland, purchased the property. Here he lived with his wife, Constance Rochon, until he mysteriously drowned in Mobile, Alabama on May 9, 1798. Constance Rochon Joyce went on to marry Armand Allard Duplantier, a former captain of the continental army under the Marquis de Lafayette and a most influential personality in the city. Several persons owned the property from the time of the Duplantier family to the late 19th century when Mr. Louis Barillier sold the land and improvements to Mr. Robert A. Hart. Of note it was owened by Edward J. Gay for a considerable period of timie after the U.S. Civil war. He purchased the deed for the place in the early 1860s and who had several people run the platation for him. In 1869 It was run by W.L.Larimore. Finally, through family inheritance Mrs. Blanche Duncan acquired Magnolia Mound Plantation. Mrs. Duncan commissioned the architectural firm of Goodman and Miller of Baton Rouge to do extensive alterations and additions in 1951. Eventually, the city of Baton Rouge expropriated the property in 1966 for its historic and visual significance to the community.

The house originally had a three-room side by side room arrangement. It was extended to the rear in the early 19th century to include a formal dining room and two service rooms. A "U-shaped" gallery was constructed during this second stage of development. During the late 19th century, rooms were added under the gallery on the north and south. The basic form of the house is rectangular with a large hip roof, which covered all rooms and galleries. During the early 19th century double hung windows were added. The interior décor was altered during the early 20th century. Many period documents refer to the plantation as Mount Magnolia.