First to Oakland, the former home of Duncan Minor
whom is said to be still present at Oakland................
This will give you a little history.......................
This is the delightful Kate Green............................
Mistress of Oakland.............
This parlour is to your left upon entering...............
I told this tour guide that I was going to write that
she was directing me Not to take her picture!
Upon arrival......................................................................
Duncan Minors bedroom...........................
If you enlarge this photo you will see an interesting
Chandelier............................................
" Ms. Mary Louise Shields, Mistress of Montaigne "
As you exit to the back porch, you are greeted by Ms. Shields .
I will be returning to both these homes in the near future
I did not take many photos at Oakland as I was engrossed
by Ms. Green and her daughter telling me stories of Duncan
Minor haunting Oakland..........................I nearly missed my tour bus!
Another interesting story she told me was, how when she married Mr.
Green, in the70s, he owned Glenburnie (Jennie Merrill house) and she
owned Oakland. She did what Duncan Minor had done, every evening
she drove to Glenburnie and returned to Oakland the next morning!
Welcome to Montaigne! Pronounced: Mon ' tain
Welcome to Montaigne! Pronounced: Mon ' tain
" Ms. Mary Louise Shields, Mistress of Montaigne "
She told me; " she will be 103 if she lives till September!
She plays bridge twice a week, and told me she had won
.18 cents the day before! She has invited me back to discuss
The Goat Castle Murder...........................
Each house has a front porch greeter in costume
who gives the history of the house..........................
The next day I saw this woman at a different house!
NO inside pictures were allowed at this house.
As you exit to the back porch, you are greeted by Ms. Shields .
She thanks each visitor for coming. I was told that in past years
she presented each visitor with a Rose from her gardens! She has
lived at Montaigne since 1935 when she came there as a young
bride !
I will be returning to both these homes in the near future
to gather information to use in my book............................
Posts
17 comments:
I do so enjoy touring these old houses and reading your stories about them. I'm in love with Ms. Shields. I hope you will be able to go back and talk with her.
Ms Shields looks to be of true Southern gentry, a lady, through and through. How remarkable she looks to be her age !
I can't wait for the interview Carol....how exciting :)
What beautiful houses! But how glad I am we don't still dress like that.
There's nothing quite as romantic and history filled as the old Antebellum homes...Boone Hall Plantation in Charleston was one of my familiar haunts...I'd love to tour Oakland and Montaigne! Thanks for the opportunity
Sandi
Carolyn.....she is as sharp as a tack!I plan to go back in a few weeks!
Jo........they are both right out of Gone With The Wind !!
They're glad too Vicki !
No there isn't Sandi, and you are welcome!
I must get me a job at one of the houses, so I can wear those great perdiod dresses! Wow! I know they are hot...but they are great. I love all of your older homes posts....keep them coming. FYI...no one dresses like this at the old homes in Mobile, maybe I should start that!
Mr. Minor bears a resemblance to Rhett Butler, don't you think?
How delightful, Carol, to wander around in these enormous mansions! You must have had a wonderful time. Thanks for sharing. Thank you also for your kind words. Have a very wonderful week!
Oh Carol - I'm loving this virtual tour you're taking us on. Thank you!!
Hi Carol,
How wonderful that you could tour these gorgeous mansions, and hear their intriguing histories. I love all the pictures, and Ms. Shields is delightful! How exciting that you will be going back to gather more information for your book! I bet you can't wait. Thank you for sharing the gorgeous pictures and fascinating stories.
Musey Hugs, :-)
Renie
Oh, but aren`t these dresses and the old houses beautiful?! Thanks for sharing all the pictures and descriptions! (I came to you from Lakeviewer). When I drove through the South back in 1964 (spending a year in PA) I just laved the atmosphere, the dialect, the houses... I now love to read the Ann B. Ross novels (Miss Julia) and also I like to listen to Alan Jackson! Cheers from Germany!
Thank you so much for this tour and information. The grand old houses are fantastic. I have read so much about the South, such a lot of history not that long ago. When you write your story, I hope it will be a big success; and wish you the best.Duncan was a handsome man. It is interesting those people had all the advantages and forfeited them, they were probably a spoiled lot.
Carol what an opportunity for you to clearly visualize the setting and create. Good luck on your book!
I have posted the award you gave me...Noblesse Oblige...thank you, dear friend.♥
Thanks Carol.
I just love stories of old houses and the people who lived in them.
Oh and I had a look at your St Patrick's Day post - what an interesting time you had with you Dad. Hope the music is still filling your lives.
You make me want to get in my car and drive East! Thanks for sharing these lovely photos.
I know this is a bit late to comment on this post, but my great grandmother was best friends with Ms. Shields and worked with her for a very long time. Last week I was visiting Natchez with my mother and grandmother, and we stopped by Montaigne. Unfortunately, Montaigne stopped giving tours about four years ago when Mary Louise decided that it was just too much to handle. She was 103, nearly 104 then. However, she is STILL living at the house, and will turn 109 in September!
Mary Louise Shields was my late grandmother's first cousin. She just passed away on October 30, 2015 at the age of 109. Sadly, last time I saw her was about 40 years ago, when I was in my teens. My late mother and I visited her house several times when I was a boy. I have a lot of fond memories of my times with Mary Louise at Montaigne. Here is the link to her obituary in the Natchez Democrat: http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/2015/11/06/mary-louise-kendall-goodrich-shields/
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