Plantations of Louisiana
Oak Alley Plantation
The first owners of Oak Alley plantation were Jaques Roman and Celinie Pilie. The two loved each other so much that they got married in 1834. They both were New Orleans families, but Jacques wanted a plantation life. Once when he was searching for property that was is brother- in- law, Valcour Aime, Jacques saw a lot filled with beautiful oak trees that were planted about 100 years ago. He had then bought the beautiful lot for his wife and himself. He had borrowed 57 slaves and started to build his new dream home.
There was no air conditioning, but Monsiuer Pilie had built Oak Alley with features like thirteen foot veranda surrounding Oak Alley, twelve and a half foot ceilings, and solid brick walls that were sixteen inches thick. There used to be marble covering the entire floor, but one day when a heard of cattle broke into the beautiful mansion their hooves demolished the floor marble which today is now replaced with real Louisiana pine. Please visit this mansion known as the Oak Alley plantation, but I have to warn you no pictures can be taken inside the plantation.
Cottage Plantation
The Cottage Plantation is located on U.S. Highway 61, six miles north of St.Francisville, Louisiana on the east side of the road. The plantation is home of the old school house, the outside kitchen, milk house, carriage house, barn, slave houses, and other out buildings. Most of the original furniture is still there now. The plantation is secured by John Allen and Patrick Holland. It was also acquired by Judge Thomas about 1810.
The main house is composed of a series of building together. The original house was about 42 feet in length. Now it has been extended to 85 feet in the very early 1800’s. The extension now looks like one building. The roof of the house was raised in the early 1800’s to put a gallery through the length of the house. There are 12 square rooms in the main house.
Mount Hope Plantation
Mount Hope plantation is located on one of the most beautiful roads in Louisiana. With its rolling hills, huge estates, and think trees. It was built in about 1817 and is a beautiful example of the small Greek raised cottage style. Mount Hope is located on U.S. North Street in St. Francisville, Louisiana, 70775. Mount Hope is surrounded by gardens.
Mount Hope is also an example of the architecture typical of Southeastern Louisiana farmhouses constructed during the 19th century. The gable roof was replaced from the original due to a hurricane in the 1940s. The chimneys are between the front and rear rooms. The galleries have posts with molded capitals on their upper portions. Mount Hope was originally made of cypress trees cut from the property.
Oakley
Info found=http://habs.lsu.edu/okley/html/history.htm and http://www.cr.n \ps.gov/nr/travel/louisiana/okl.htm
The Oakley plantation was built in 1796. The Oakley founder is Rutten Gray. He died looking out the window in the plantation. Lucretry Gray moved into Oakley around 1800 with their 4 children. A few years later she married James Pierre. Scotsman held Oakley together until 1947 {when it was transferred to LA}. John Undabon a painter came to Oakley to train the remaining child Elizabeth.
In 1823 Elizabeth ran away and married their neighbor Robert Barrow, but he died within a month. Her father James Pierre died in 1823 looking out the window of his room in the plantation and 10 years later Lucretia died. Elizabeth came back to Oakley with her 3rd husband Henry Black. Elizabeth died in 1851 and that is the history of Oakley.
