The home was designed for Haller and Julia Nutt In 1859. The basement was finished first so they could live in the home while they were working on the additional floors. Due to the civil war, work on the home halted in 1861. The family continued to live in the basement. Rooms were set up so that they were able to entertain. They entertained union soldiers during the war. Because of this, their home was not burned. Dr. Nutt was a cotton farmer. He had a huge cotton crop stored in warehouses just waiting for the war to end so he could sell it. Even though they did not damage the house, the union soldiers confiscated his entire cotton crop.
The war ended and the family had very little money. Dr. Nutt died of pneumonia in 1864. His wife, Julia, continued to live on the house until her death. Various family members continued to live in the basement. No one was ever able to afford to complete the other 5 floors as planned.
The house fell into total disrepair. It was sold and the basement restored. It was sold again to the historic society and is now used for tours and events.
We were not allowed to take photos in the basement. We were told about 80 percent of the furniture was original to the home. Julia’s parents’s home burned and some of the furniture salvaged from their home was also on display. Family portraits adorned the walls.
We were allowed to go up to what was supposed to be the main floor. We were allowed to take photos there. Remnants of their lives were stored up there. The brickwork was awesome. It was designed to have double floors and huge windows to help keep the home cool. There were coal burning fireplaces throughout the home for warmth.
The original kitchen sits beside the house. It’s just a shell of a building left. You could see the old fireplace. There was a well inside the kitchen which I found interesting.
The slave quarters were there but they have been remodeled and serve as restrooms for the guests.
The original carriage house is there. Julia Nutt’s carriage is still in there along with tools and farm implements.
Haller and Julia Nutt, along with a few family members, are buried in the grounds.
