Mississippi is full of perfectly preserved mansions from the past. There are also a few that haven’t been so well maintained – and Mount Holly is one of them. The massive mansion was once dubbed “one of the finest examples of Italianate architecture in the state;” however today, it sits in shambles, slowly deteriorating. Take a look:
Mount Holly Plantation is situated near Lake Washington in the tiny town of Hollandale.
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Built in the late 1850s, the massive mansion was once a notable piece of architecture. It’s since been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Sadly, Mount Holly caught fire in 2015.
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The historic home all but burned down, leaving behind only a shell of the grand structure it once was.
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Mount Holly was abandoned long before burning down, though. It was used as a private residence until about 2001, at which time it was sold.
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Unfortunately, after the home was sold, it was left vacant and slowly began to show signs of neglect.
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Before meeting its demise, Mount Holly was owned by the Foote family for many generations, beginning in the 1880s. The family’s most prominent member was Shelby Foote, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
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With fourteen-foot ceilings and walls two feet thick, the mansion’s grandeur is undeniable – even in its current state.
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A far cry from what it once was, Mount Holly is now full of rubble and debris.
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Not only is the former plantation in complete disarray, but it’s being consumed by ever-growing foliage and greenery.
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Despite its former status as “one of the finest examples of Italianate architecture in the state,” Mount Holly will, sadly, soon be gone forever.
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Address: 1835 Eastside Lake Washington Road, Hollandale, MS, 38748
This isn’t the only abandoned place you can explore. Read about another here.
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