The Building of nottoway
Nottoway Plantation was built for John Hampton Randolph and his family. Randolph was a business man who moved to New Orleans looking for a good place to grow cotton. Instead, he decided to start planting sugar cane since it was simpler and he made a greater prophet out of it. He began the building of his White Castle in 1855 when he acquired land to purchase. This land included 400 acres of highland and 620 acres of swampland.
Randolph used cypress to build his home. Henry Howard was hired as the architect of the house. Henry Howard was considered one of the greatest architects of New Orleans at this time. This helped show that Randolph was willing to pay any amount of money needed. The construction of Nottoway was completed in 1859, costing an estimated $80,000. Nottoway has 64 rooms in its 3 floors, 6 interior staircases, 3 modern bathrooms, 22 massive square columns, 165 doors and 200 windows.
Randolph used cypress to build his home. Henry Howard was hired as the architect of the house. Henry Howard was considered one of the greatest architects of New Orleans at this time. This helped show that Randolph was willing to pay any amount of money needed. The construction of Nottoway was completed in 1859, costing an estimated $80,000. Nottoway has 64 rooms in its 3 floors, 6 interior staircases, 3 modern bathrooms, 22 massive square columns, 165 doors and 200 windows.
Civil war impact on nottoway
When Randolph heard word that there would be a war, he opposed it because he did not think the South could win a war against the North. He did, however, send money to support the Confederate clause. Three of his sons also fought in the war. Because of the war, Randolph was forced to leave his wife and some of his children back at the mansion while he went to Texas where he knew he could continue to make money. During the war, Nottoway's grounds were occupied by both the North and South sides at different times in the war.
There was a time when Nottoway came close to being blown away by a Union gunboat. It was saved by a young man who was on the boat. The young man had been a guest at Nottoway and knew the family very well. For this reason, he told his captain that the Plantation was no harm. He was able to convince to Union army to leave the Plantation alone. In this way, Nottoway was saved from damage during the war.
At the end of the war, Randolph had to give an oath to the Union side in order to keep Nottoway. He was never as wealthy after the way as he was before. Because of this, he was forced to lose some of his land after the war.
There was a time when Nottoway came close to being blown away by a Union gunboat. It was saved by a young man who was on the boat. The young man had been a guest at Nottoway and knew the family very well. For this reason, he told his captain that the Plantation was no harm. He was able to convince to Union army to leave the Plantation alone. In this way, Nottoway was saved from damage during the war.
At the end of the war, Randolph had to give an oath to the Union side in order to keep Nottoway. He was never as wealthy after the way as he was before. Because of this, he was forced to lose some of his land after the war.
Randolph's lose ownership
Randolph died in 1883 and left everything to his wife, Jane. Unfortanetly, Jane was unable to maintain and keep up with Nottoway Plantation. So, she sold Nottoway to V. B. Dugas and his wife in 1889 for $50,000. The money from this and all of Randolph's remaining furtone was split up evenly between Jane Randolph and their children.