Living in a character rich Colonial Revival home with many bungalow influences in modern day sounds like something from a dream. Well, that’s until you discover Mayor’s Mansion, a historic home rich in personality, craftsmanship, and charm. “Can you guess what the best part is?” It is now available as an AirBNB. You can spend a night, a week, or an entire month here, and how about having your wedding and honeymoon in this historic home while enjoying the beauty and cultural legacy of Natchez.
A LITTLE OF ITS HISTORY
The Mayor’s Mansion is not only a beautifully preserved example of colonial architecture, but it also symbolizes the decades long coexistence of diverse communities as well as their fight for justice and peace in Natchez. Completed in 1907, this home was one of the many glorious homes built by Natchez’s once thriving Jewish community. With the Jewish community having played such a pivotal role in the growth and development of this town, this home helps to capture that history.
In 1964, during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, John J. Nosser, Mayor of Natchez and racial peacemaker, took up residence in the house. At that time, Mayor Nosser had welcomed a number of Lebanese immigrants who went onto becoming some of the most successful businessmen in their respective communities. On September 25, 1964, someone bombed Mayor Nosser’s house, causing a tremendous amount of damage. He and his wife were sitting in the back parlor watching T.V. when the bomb landed on the side of the yard. All the neighbors could feel the bomb. which shattered glass in the neighbors’ homes. Shortly afterwards, at the home of Willie Washington, an African American contractor who occasionally worked for Mayor Nosser, a second bomb exploded in his front yard. The bombings were blamed on the black community, but Mayor Nosser, being the peacekeeper he was between the races, refused to accuse anyone until the real perpetrators were found. Eventually, it was revealed that the Klansmen were responsible, so, the moment you step into this home, you will see that it tells a story of the rich history of Natchez. It is this feeling of knowing that generations of people have lived under the same roof that makes this home a truly special place to stay. Yet, this home not only holds cultural and historical importance to Natchez, but it also has an incredible architectural history.
INTERIOR
Built in 1907 in the heart of Natchez Mississippi, the Mayor’s Mansion has stood the test of time, and is now a gloriously restored mansion in the truest sense of the word. The home still has an original floor plan which is rare these days. However, in 2021, the current owner hired New Orleans Interior Designer, Jennifer M. Kelly of Designlab, to renovate/restore the bathrooms and to furnish the entire home. Jennifer worked closely with Mimi Miller with the Natchez Historic Preservation to accurately restore the home to its original glory. They kept all the original claw foot tubs, vanities and bead board wainscotting. Where the finishes were irreparable, they replaced them with the period correct materials, such as the porcelain mosaic tile in the restrooms upstairs. All of the gas fireplaces throughout the home are original and intact with all the original tile surrounding and wood mantels, and they work.
A WORK OF ART
The Mayor’s Mansion is filled with all the wonders and treasures anyone would expect to find in a work of architectural beauty, and like any work of art, it has stood the test of time. The porch is draped with beautiful ionic fluted columns, and the volutes are still in absolutely remarkable condition even after over a hundred years. Upon entering the house, you will walk through these grand double oak entry doors which was a sign of wealth as it was not often seen in the South. This double door entrance will uncover the many hidden treasures waiting inside the house. During the Colonial Era, it was considered vital to create the perfect first impression when visitors came to your home. This home achieves this throughout its entire design. The entryway has gorgeous ionic columns with scroll volutes with egg and dart detailing. You will see this pattern repeated throughout the bottom floor. The cove plastered ceiling, which is difficult to achieve to high perfection, presents this era’s finest architectural design. As you rise to the first landing, beautiful stain glass windows arrest your attention. You will also find gorgeous fretwork that separates the front parlor from a beautiful bay nook.
Entering the formal living room area through a set of 10 feet tall pocket doors and you will find even more colonial style beauty waiting to be discovered. In the entablature and architrave, a symbol of classic architecture, you will see the same egg and dart and ionic column detailing. At the very top of every window, you will find egg and dart and ionic column detailing hidden by beautiful drapery. Each window in this historic home was built specifically for its window frame. They were all custom made for the frame in which little tags could be placed on the window seals. These little tags indicate which sash was made to go into which frame. You won’t see this level of craftsmanship in today’s construction. Finding these little tags hint at the incredible history and handwork that went into these windows.
The family parlor provides yet another space for recreation and relaxation. In this room, you will find elaborate moldings and beautiful trim work just like the main entertainment spaces of this house. As a double parlor, it was designed this way because it was meant to be an overall entertainment space. When the owners had parties or gatherings, they would throw open these pocket doors and these two parlors could become and serve as one main space to entertain large groups of guests, and this holds true today. This room also has a rare, stamped brick mantel piece. In any home, nothing is as appealing as curling up before a crackling fire and this mantle piece is sure to spark the imagination. Still in its original form, this rare mantle incorporates the surrounding architectural design of the home with its egg and dart detailing along with Greek key.
Your bedroom should be your sanctuary. That is why the bedroom on the first floor is the first room in the house that provides a more private space. Instead of the highly decorative entablatures and architraves featuring fluted ionic columns that are all around in the living areas, in this room you will find simple bullseye molding. This bedroom will make you feel like royalty every night. From the furniture, to the bed frame, to the curtains and to the dressers, are all rooted in historical design and will make you feel welcomed every night. You will also find a pristine bathroom with both a bathtub and shower, complete with white tiling and wood accents that add a wealth of warmth.
The dining room is yet another room to marvel at. The plaster cove ceiling has been treated to mimic the look of gold leaf, and has been done to perfection. A seldom seen feature of this room is the magnificent and amazingly intact tiger oak column mantle with original decorative tile work all around it. There is also a stunning ten-foot pocket door that runs the entire length of its seven-foot opening. The room is complete with a gorgeous dining table and crystal chandelier. The connecting kitchen opens with a swinging door.
On the second floor, which you can only access through an exquisite mahogany staircase, you will find two additional bedrooms, each of them with queen-sized beds and original fireplaces which depict scenes of horses and buggies. You’ll also find two more bathrooms, one accented with white, gold and wood furnishings, and the other with floral wallpaper. Jennifer selected this wallpaper because of the many Magnolia trees and Camelia trees in the yard, and she wanted to bring them inside. On this floor, at the front of the home, there is a study that overlooks Linton Avenue. Through the huge windows, the view looks exactly like a scene from a movie. When this house was built, the second-floor balcony became another living space accessed by the walk-through windows in all the bedrooms. This space catches the cool evening breezes flowing off the Mississippi River.
While you may not be able to marry into a royal family, it’s easy to embrace this late 1800s style in today’s modern age. Spending time in a home like the Mayor’s Mansion can definitely make you feel like the king or queen you are!
Bookings: Jennifer Kelly, DL Design Lab, 5500 Prytania Street #415, New Orleans, LA 70115 Tel: 504-388-8781 or Email: geauxjenny@designlabnola.com
