Facebook asked me to write a review of the Windsor Ruins. Here you go.The Windsor Ruins are proof that you should buy fire insurance. Once the largest antebellum Greek Revival mansion in Mississippi (it stood from 1861 to 1890) on the Mississippi River (Mark Twain even mentioned it in his book Life on the Mississippi writing that steam boats used it to navigate the river), it was lost to history because of a fire. Apparently a guest was smoking on the third floor and dropped his or her cig on construction supplies. And then poof. (If I had tried that excuse, I’d be arrested for arson.)
Windsor survived the Civil War only to be taken out by a careless smoker. Go figure.
The mansion was never rebuilt, leaving 23 haunting columns behind and four cast iron staircases (three are gone — probably stolen by metal thieves, one is at Alcorn University) The real mystery to me was why someone could be that rich and not hire Matthew Brady to come down and take a picture of it. A sketch of it was found in a Union Solider’s diary a few years ago. That’s all we got. Otherwise, it’s pre-fire appearance is a minor mystery.
How do you get there? You take the Natchez Trace or Hwy. 61 down toward Port Gibson until you get to the road to Alcorn University. The road to the university is a nice, smooth four-lane highway — but then it quickly narrows and looks like you are driving onto the set of the movie of Deliverance. (It’s two-lanes and things get lonely quick.) The ruins are just a few miles ahead (there are plenty of signs). Fear not — unless you hear banjos. (I’m kidding — the people around there are really nice — promise.)
Soon you see the columns off to the right. Archives & History rented a bush-hog and a chainsaw a few years ago and cleared the woods in front of it so you can see it from the road and I can tell you this: The columns themselves are haunting and impressive. The river changed course years ago, leaving the ruins tucked further into the woods. It’s quiet and a good place for reflection. And if you can’t take good pictures of it, don’t worry, Eudora Welty did. I drew a picture of them, too.
The movie Raintree Country was filmed there. Part of Ghosts of Mississippi was too. It’s haunting, mystical and beautiful place. It’s also one of my favorite parts of the state. You’ll discover that it’s on the National Historical Register for good reason. And it’s worth a side-trip if you’re ever on your way to Natchez.
The take away:
• The Windsor Ruins are proof that you should buy fire insurance.
• Not every cool place is off a four-lane road.
• Don’t drop your cigarette on construction supplies.
• Take good pictures of your giant house so historians will know what it looks like.