Stagville Plantation

E'rybody on the wagon ride!

Just a little ways away from our home lies Stagville Plantation. This historic homestead was founded in the mid 1700's and evolved into a working plantation that continued to operate until the late 1800's. We were charmed by the beauty of the place and the quaint furnishings in the home when we visited Stagville back in October so we decided to visit it once again - this time to see the time-period Christmas decor.

Inside of the main house an informal concert was being performed. The music was very quaint and folksy - the banjo in the background of this photo was a restored 19th century instrument. We could have listened to them all day.

Upstairs, the children enjoyed attempting to write there names with quill pens - complete with authentic washable paint and "Wet Ones"!

Down at the slave quarters there were many displays and vendors. Here we watched a blacksmith work with authentic tools...

...and a wood worker use more modern equipment. Each of the children received a complimentary top from these kind gentlemen. Those tops soon became favorites in our home!

 In an open area by the slave quarters, the children got to try their hand at playing old fashioned games. For this multiplayer game, two sticks are used to catch a flying hoop.

Eleah waits her turn

 The owners of Stagville Plantation apparently took decent care of their field hands and workers. The slave quarters were well constructed and built above the ground to provide better living conditions for the occupants. When the house was built, this chimney needed to be constructed quickly and in their hurry to complete the bricks, many finger and toe prints were left behind.

Josiah's hand points to one of the finger prints in the brick

All of our menfolk...

left to right- Josiah (in back); Matthew; Dad; Elijah (in front); Ethan; and Tim

...and our ladies

left to right: Susannah; Jenna Beth (in front); Eleah; Mamma; Anna-Rebekah

From the quarters, we took a wagon ride down to the barn...

... the barn was very large and impressive with it's huge beams. An interpreter told us that it was the largest structure ever built by enslaved people in the south and it was built entirely without a blueprint or nails. While there, we were able to watch another woodworker work with old fashioned tools using only muscle power. We loved smelling the ceder wood that that he worked with!

 We had a lovely time, enjoying one another's company, learning about a piece of North Carolina's history, and being out in God's nature. What a blessed trip our visit to Stagville was!