Day 48 - October 31, 2012: Halloween and a visit to the Waverly Mansion

The Halloween Day passed without a single trick or treater. That was not surprising, since we were anchored out near West Point, MS. I did get some peanut butter M&M's from Anne after dinner, so no complaints!

The visit to the Waverly Mansion & Gardens was special for Anne since she had been there as a young girl when her father was stationed at Columbus Air Force Base.

The Waverly Mansion was built for Colonel George Hampton Young and completed in 1852. It is one of the many antebellum homes built by cotton barons in the South and was remarkable for its granite steps, massive cupola with an observation walkway, and a suspended circular three story staircase rising above the central entry. The gardens surrounding the home were substantial, and it took five full-time gardeners to maintain them.

The Waverly Mansion and Gardens

Robert and Donna Snow bought this home in 1962 after it had been neglected for over 50 years and began restoring it and filling it with period antiques. Anne was friends with their daughters and spent time at the mansion. The family still owns the home, and it is open for tours and special events.

To get there, we anchored behind an island near an old abandoned railway bridge, took the dinghy over to a public launch ramp, and walked 0.5 miles to the home. Our anchorage was a beautiful spot, so we chose to spend the night.

Anchorage near an abandoned railway bridge

Backlit clouds as the sun set