Roseland Plantation
Encyclopedia
Roseland Plantation is a historic plantation
complex site in Faunsdale
, Alabama
. The site is situated on a low hill at the end of a long driveway on the overgrown estate. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
on January 20, 1994 as a part of the Plantation Houses of the Alabama Canebrake and Their Associated Outbuildings Multiple Property Submission.
, the eldest son of James Harris Fitts and Rebecca Emily Alston. James Fitts had established Roseland as a 1200 acres (485.6 ha) plantation in the Canebrake region
of Marengo County
during the late 1820s, but was murdered by a discharged overseer
on July 16, 1832. His death left Samuel, at the age of eighteen, in charge of caring for his mother and eight brothers and sisters.
Samuel Fitts married Sarah Elizabeth Alston of neighboring Clarke County
on November 29, 1838. Her parents were William Williams Alston and Mary Haywood Burges, also originally from North Carolina. Fitts had made the plantation a success by 1860, with property valued at $95,000. By this point Roseland was worked by at least 67 slaves
.
in 1835. A large two-story Greek Revival
-style frame addition was added to the front of the dogtrot in the mid-1850s. The former front porch of the dogtrot became a cross-hall and the breezeway of the dogtrot was extended into a very long center-hall in the new construction. The upper floor was accessed from the central hallway via a reverse staircase.
The main house and most of the outbuildings have been demolished by neglect, but the largely undisturbed site remains important for archaeological reasons. A dairy cooler and the original log kitchen do remain at the site. A survey done in 1993, prior to its nomination to the National Register, indicated that the main house was in ruins with only a few walls remaining.
At the time of the survey a small Greek Revival plantation office had already been removed to another location. Known as the "apothecary", it was used for dispensing medicine to the plantation's laborers. The property owners gave it to the Sturdivant Museum Association and it was moved to the grounds of Sturdivant Hall
in Selma
in order to ensure its preservation. A large seven-seat privy
at Roseland, dating from the 1850s, was also donated to the Sturdivant Museum Association in 1979, but was not relocated to Sturdivant Hall until 2005.
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
complex site in Faunsdale
Faunsdale, Alabama
Faunsdale is a town in Marengo County, Alabama, U.S. At the 2000 census the population was 87. The town was named for nearby Faunsdale Plantation. Faunsdale is home to a medium-sized community of Amish Mennonites and the only Amish Mennonite community in this area of Alabama outside of Greensboro,...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. The site is situated on a low hill at the end of a long driveway on the overgrown estate. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on January 20, 1994 as a part of the Plantation Houses of the Alabama Canebrake and Their Associated Outbuildings Multiple Property Submission.
History
Roseland Plantation was the longtime home of Samuel Alston Fitts. He was born on May 15, 1815 in Warren County, North CarolinaWarren County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 19,972 people, 7,708 households, and 5,449 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 10,548 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
, the eldest son of James Harris Fitts and Rebecca Emily Alston. James Fitts had established Roseland as a 1200 acres (485.6 ha) plantation in the Canebrake region
Canebrake (region of Alabama)
The Canebrake refers to a historical region of west-central Alabama that was once dominated by thickets of Arundinaria, a type of bamboo, or cane, native to North America. It was centered on the junction of the Tombigbee and Black Warrior rivers, near Demopolis, and extended eastward to include...
of Marengo County
Marengo County, Alabama
Marengo County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is named in honor of a battlefield near Turin, Italy, where the French defeated the Austrians on June 14, 1800. As of 2010 the population was 21,027...
during the late 1820s, but was murdered by a discharged overseer
Overseer
Rob Overseer is an English DJ/producer, born in Leeds whose works have been included in soundtracks for Animatrix, Snatch, Any Given Sunday and The Girl Next Door, as well as video games like Need for Speed: Underground, NFL Gameday 2004, several Matchstick Productions ski films, and Stuntman,...
on July 16, 1832. His death left Samuel, at the age of eighteen, in charge of caring for his mother and eight brothers and sisters.
Samuel Fitts married Sarah Elizabeth Alston of neighboring Clarke County
Clarke County, Alabama
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*54.5% White*43.9% Black*0.4% Native American*0.3% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*0.7% Two or more races*1.0% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
on November 29, 1838. Her parents were William Williams Alston and Mary Haywood Burges, also originally from North Carolina. Fitts had made the plantation a success by 1860, with property valued at $95,000. By this point Roseland was worked by at least 67 slaves
History of slavery in Alabama
Following the War of 1812 and the defeat and expulsion of the Creek Nation, European-American settlement in Alabama was intensified, as was the presence of slavery on newly-established plantations in the territory...
.
Architecture
The main house at Roseland Plantation began as a dogtrot houseDogtrot house
The dogtrot, also known as a breezeway house, dog-run, or possum-trot, is a style of house that was common throughout the Southeastern United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Most theories place its origins in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Some scholars believe the style...
in 1835. A large two-story Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
-style frame addition was added to the front of the dogtrot in the mid-1850s. The former front porch of the dogtrot became a cross-hall and the breezeway of the dogtrot was extended into a very long center-hall in the new construction. The upper floor was accessed from the central hallway via a reverse staircase.
The main house and most of the outbuildings have been demolished by neglect, but the largely undisturbed site remains important for archaeological reasons. A dairy cooler and the original log kitchen do remain at the site. A survey done in 1993, prior to its nomination to the National Register, indicated that the main house was in ruins with only a few walls remaining.
At the time of the survey a small Greek Revival plantation office had already been removed to another location. Known as the "apothecary", it was used for dispensing medicine to the plantation's laborers. The property owners gave it to the Sturdivant Museum Association and it was moved to the grounds of Sturdivant Hall
Sturdivant Hall
Sturdivant Hall, also known as the Watts-Parkman-Gillman Home, is a historic Greek Revival mansion and house museum in Selma, Alabama, United States. Completed in 1856, it was designed by Thomas Helm Lee for Colonel Edward T. Watts. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on...
in Selma
Selma
-Given name:*Selma Bajrami , Bosnian singer*Selma Björnsdóttir , Icelandic singer, 1999 and 2005 representative in the Eurovision Song Contest*Selma Blair , American actress*Selma Chalabi, British filmmaker...
in order to ensure its preservation. A large seven-seat privy
Outhouse
An outhouse is a small structure separate from a main building which often contained a simple toilet and may possibly also be used for housing animals and storage.- Terminology :...
at Roseland, dating from the 1850s, was also donated to the Sturdivant Museum Association in 1979, but was not relocated to Sturdivant Hall until 2005.