← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · confederate_commando
Thread ID: 14110 | Posts: 6 | Started: 2004-06-09
2004-06-09 12:40 | User Profile
[B] "Investigators suspect arson in the fire that scorched doors on the newly renovated front porch."[/B]
Beauvoir boasts a rich history
By KAT BERGERON
THE SUN HERALD
BILOXI - ââ¬Â¢ DAVIS
Beauvoir is the only National Historic Landmark in Harrison County, and one of only two coveted NHL sites in South Mississippi, sharing the honor with the Rocket Propulsion Test Complex at Stennis Space Center, which includes the test stands for the Saturn V and the Space Shuttle engines.
Two years ago, the Mississippi Tourism Association named this retirement estate of Confederate President Jefferson Davis the top tourism destination in Mississippi. With more than 85,000 visitors a year, the 56-acre site in Biloxi is recognized for its place in history, the antebellum architecture of Beauvoir House, a 6-year-old presidential library-museum and the Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier.
"Beauvoir is a national treasure, and it would have been a tragic loss if it had burned," said Elbert Hilliard, longtime director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. "Its national significance is recognized not only by our department but by the U.S. Department of Interior."
A firefighter who was driving on Beach Boulevard at daybreak Saturday is credited with saving the historic home when he spotted smoke.[B] Investigators suspect arson in the fire that scorched doors on the newly renovated front porch. [/B]Had his quick action not prevented the fire's spread, the indoor sprinkler system would have gone off, causing another set of problems.
"The irony is that we have just submitted a grant application for Save America's Treasures, a program through the Department of Interior in cooperation with the National Trust for Historic Preservation," said Grace Aaron, Beauvoir's grant coordinator.
"We're asking for a $305,650 grant to replace the existing sprinkler system, the climate control system and to restore the back porch area. In my research for the grant I talked with the Biloxi fire department and became familiar with the existing system and realized it is woefully inaccurate.
"It's good it didn't work since there was no interior fire."
If the sprinklers had gone off, the rusty water that would have spewed out would have stained and damaged the wall murals and antiques, many original to the 1856 house or the Davis era. The water has been in the iron pipes for years. Aaron said the fire department has suggested replacing the system with a zoned "dry" system that does not put water into pipes until it is necessary.
"The Save America's Treasures grants are incredibly competitive. We would, of course, raise the money to match it, which is one of the requirements," Aaron said.
Fund-raising is ongoing for the proposed Gulf Coast Botanical Gardens at Beauvoir, which will highlight the estate's forest and lagoon, and to also pay for the presidential library-museum.
Beauvoir, built in the raised Louisiana plantation style, predates the war. In 1848, wealthy Madison County planter James Brown purchased the land and within four years began construction of the summer family home, made of cypress and heart pine.
During the Civil War, the Browns fled inland before Brown lost his fortune and his health. His heirs sold it and in 1873 it was bought by Sarah Dorsey as a summer retreat for her ailing husband. She christened it with the French for beautiful view.
When Dorsey, a classmate of Davis' wife, learned the Confederate president was looking for a quiet place to write his interpretation of the Civil War, she offered to rent him a cottage. Then in 1876 she sold the estate to him.
Beauvoir became the Southern Mount Vernon, with both Southerners and Northerners arriving uninvited to discuss the war. Davis lived in genteel poverty until his 1898 death.
His wife in 1903 sold the estate for $10,000 - she'd had much better offers from developers - to the Mississippi Sons of Confederate Veterans with the understanding they would use it to house Confederate veterans and maintain it as a Davis memorial.
In 54 years as a veteran's home, more than 2,000 lived at Beauvoir, and many are buried on the property. The last widow left in 1957, and the estate, still owned by the SCV, continues to undergo an evolution as one of the state's top tourist attractions.
[url]http://www.sunherald.com/mld/thesunherald/news/local/8865809.htm[/url]
2004-06-09 14:17 | User Profile
Beauvoir is a very likely target of the tolerance advocates in their fight against hatred. I would expect there and Stone Mountain in GA to be legally or illegally destroyed within the next decade.
The Davis Home is a beautiful site and an excellent museum. I've been there several times; there is a very good bookstore and the tour ranks with just about any offered at federal or state WBTS sites. The history presented there is not filtered through the usual PC glasses, and a walk through the house and museum gives an unvarnished perspective on Davis' life during and after the war.
It's worth a detour over to MS when visiting the Florida panhandle, and is
a straight shot on I-10. Your vacation bucks are much better spent here
than on some kosher rainbow-coalition mouse in occupied south Florida.
2004-06-10 01:15 | User Profile
Speaking of Stone Mountain, it along with the Confederate Cemetary have been a constant source of acrimony and agitation since the negroes flooded into the City of Stone Mountain and took it over along with the surrounding area. Thirty years ago I would have thought anyone who attempted to sandblast away the carvings would have a death wish. Now, I think their removal is a real possibility.
2004-06-10 02:15 | User Profile
This is a sick evil act and this crime is an attack on all Euro-American!
The detruction of the great site of our history is just part of the plan. The real end is the Death and Destruction of all European people in America!
Who owns Stone Mountain these days? I fear it's detruction is only a matter of time. I understand the artist who may it was a Klansmen and there was even some thought of adding a klansmen to Stone Mountain at the time of it's Construction.
2004-06-10 23:53 | User Profile
I WILL make it there one of these days, probably in the next year or so - I hope its still standing
2004-06-12 17:33 | User Profile
Anger does not begin to discribe this outrage!
I can't say on this forum what those congolians deserve...
I do believe that this is but a foreshadowing of things to come. The War for our history, heritage, and birthright is being challenged, and in a big way.
Let us know when they catch the low life scum that did this . . I'm amazed this story was even printed in the news papers.
CSA . . Now more than Ever