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History
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Greenwood Plantation, one of the Barrow dynasty of homes in West
Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, was originally built in 1830 by William
Ruffin Barrow. In the 1830's, Greenwood, operating as a 3000 acre
cotton plantation, provided the Barrow's with a comfortable living.
In 1850, Barrow switched to sugarcane. This was advantagous to the
Barrow's as Greenwood grew to 12,000 acres with 750 slaves.
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In the later part of the 1850's, the northern states and the
abolitionist began talk of freeing the slaves. Barrow entered politics
and became one of the instigator's of Louisiana's Seccession from the
Union. Because of his involvement in the Succession, Barrow became a
target for the Union troops. On March 22, 1862, William Ruffin Barrow
died.
After the Civil War, the conditions of the Reconstruction government,
coupled with no labor, forced the Barrow family to sell the plantation.
The new owners fared no better than the Barrow's. As a result, no one
could keep the home for any length of time until Mr. and Mrs. Frank
Percy bought the home in 1915.
With the help of their large family, they worked Greenwood Plantation
as a family farm. The mansion became their home. Once again, Greenwood
prospered. Mr.
and Mrs. Percy opened the home to the public from 1940 until 1960. On
August 1, 1960, lightning struck the home and destroyed it.
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Eight years later, Walton Barnes purchased the plantation home and 300
acres. He and his son, Richard, set out to rebuild the home. They
wanted to restore Greenwood to its former glory. After spending many
years researching and locating photographs of the home, the home was
mostly finished by November, 1984. At this time, a French-Canadian
filmmaker contracted to use Greenwood for the movie "Louisiana". During
the filming of this movie, the filmmaker completed the landscaping and
decorating of the home. Greenwood Plantation has been the site for five
movies: Drango, Louisiana, North and South - Book I, North and South -
Book II, and Sister, Sister.
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Greenwood Plantation is now the home of Richard and his family. Today
Greenwood Plantation is again open to the public. For more information
on location, hours, and rates, click
here. |
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