LOUISIANA ANTEBELLUM GREEK REVIVAL PLANTATION MANSION WENT UP FOR AUCTION

Recently, an antebellum plantation mansion, Bocage Plantation, in Darrow, LA, 60 miles west of New Orleans, was auctioned. List price was $5,500,000. 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 7400 sq ft on 110 acres. The architect was James Dakin, and it is an 1837 Greek Revival redesign of an 1801 house. Dakin designed the University of Louisiana in New Orleans, and added marble floors and 16-foot ceilings to the house. The parlor was used in a 1974 civil rights drama, “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. There is a 1350 sq ft caretaker’s house and equipment barn. The home is on the Mississippi River, which hugs the levee and is known for its “Old South” estates. Household goods, including antebellum armoires and crystal valued at about $750,000 were also up for sale.

NATCHEZ HISTORIC PLANTATIONS BUILT in 1812-1857

Friends, Polly and Carl Terry, recently visited Natchez, Mississippi, and here are some of the photos they took of the magnificent Plantations that have stood the "test of time." These are The Rosalie (built 1820-1823), Stanton Hall (built in 1857), Melrose (built in the 1840's) and Auburn (built in 1812). You can see the architectural similarities... pillars, windows, triangular facades above the pillars, some with ornaments. While this blog is devoted to Historic Homes in Florida, these are so pretty that I'm including these stately antebellum homes for the readership to see.

HISTORIC FT. LAUDERDALE MANSION ON ONE ACRE on NEW RIVER with 168 FT of WATERFRONT

This private gated peninsula was formerly known as the Hood Estate, a property where horses once grazed and drank freely from the waters edge. This estate contains a Spanish Style Mansion originally built in the 1920’s and since updated while maintaining the stately charm and private park-like setting with tall century old trees, right down to the waters edge. There is a dock here for a large Yacht. From the Verandas and Patios you see sweeping, majestic,tropical wide river views. In addition to this Mansion is another lovely 3 bedroom/ 3 ½ bath guest house with a boat dock, for guest dockage. Guest House is 2568 square feet. Lot size is 35,322 total square feet (almost an acre). 3 bedroom, 3 bath, trilevel. Dock/Electric/Water. Wide tropical water views. Ocean Access and No Fixed bridges. Watch beautiful yachts cruise by and schools of ocean fish. AS 10 minute walk takes you to Las Olas Boulevard in downtown Fort Lauderdale where all of the fun shops and restaurants are located. This is a truly unique property in downtown Fort Lauderdale, close to everything ….yet you feel a million miles away in this pretty bucolic park-like setting…nothing quite like this will every be available again. List price is $4,200,000. Gated Guest house available separately, if you wish, for $1,295,000. If you would like to see it, or want more information, call Marilyn Jacobs, Realtor at 561-302-3388.

FLORIDA DIVISION OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES

The Division is made up of three bureaus, Archaeological Research, Historical Museums and Historic Preservation and is the governmental body for historical resources within Florida, for the past 21 years, primarily responsible for promoting the historical, archaeological, museum and folk culture resources in Florida. Headquartered in Tallahassee, there are regional offices in St.Augustine, Tampa and Delray Beach. They provide assistance in nominating properties for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and help obtain state and federal grants, opportunities in the Florida Main Street program to revitalize Florida downtowns, adoption of local historic preservations ordinances, training local preservations boards, assisting in heritage tourism initiatives and providing public education opportunities re the Division of Historical Resources; programs. Guidelines for design review appear in “Model Guidelines for Design Reivew: a guid for developing standards for historic rehabilitation in Florida communities,” available in print from the not-for-profit Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. The bi-monthly Florida Preservationist newsletter contains legislative updates, a calendar of Florida preservations events, grant deadline information, information about the Trust’s Annual Meeting, Insider Tours, Educational Workshops and Historic Preservation Day. Members receive the Florida History & The Arts magazine, published quarterly, and the bi-annual Florida’s Heritage Resource Directory. There are 2500 members. See the National Register of Historic Places Criteria for Listing and the Florida Historical Markers Program. For more information, in Delray Beach, call Bonnie Dearborn at 561-279-1475.

PRESERVATION FOUNDATION OF PALM BEACH

Dedicated to preserving the unique environment of the Town of Palm Beach, the Board of Trustees all reside in the community. Through a variety of programs, the Foundation educates residents about their special heritage. Interacting with the town government to encourage preservation of historic architecture and maintenance of the residential quality of landmarks, the Foundation has funded campaign issues such as property tax abatement for historic landmarks, accurate appraisal information for historic homes, and consultant studies for management of redevelopment pressures. Programs for membership include tours, lectures and social events, a newsletter and other publications, and maintenance of Pan’s Garden, a public half-acre plus botanical garden with native Florida plants in upland and wetland habitats. The Earl E.T. Smith Preservation Park is a public pocket park in the town’s historic town square. The Little Red School House, oldest one room schoolhouse in southeast Florida, provides programs for children. Their architectural history library is a resource for residents, researchers and building professionals, and houses over 30,000 original plans from eminent Palm Beach architects and materials on historic preservation. Bring donations of façade or scenic easements so that the Foundation can preserve them. Volunteer opportunities are available and membership is open to all. Call 561-832-0731.

PALM BEACH's HISTORIC HOMES

Various styles of historic homes can be found in Palm Beach from humble bungalows to Spanish Mission houses to stately Mediterranean revivals. The Landmarks Preservation Commission readily approves changes that add modern amenities and living space without sacrificing architectural integrity. Features can include multilevel clay barrel tile roof lines, bell towers, cast-stone surrounds around the front doors, using coquina, and many other recognizable items. Architect Addison Mizner favored romantic flourishes while Maurice Fatio preferred a pared down less fussy Italian-influenced Mediterranean Revival style. These homes were built in the 1920’s and many have been restored and are cherished today. In 1997 a state law allowed municipalities to grant limited tax abatements for preservation projects, to help less-affluent communities save historic homes from demolition. The town of Palm Beach is certified by the state to make landmark designations.