Manship
This house is one of the few remaining antebellum houses in
The Manship House was built in 1857 by Charles Henry Manship, a decorative painter by trade and later mayor of
Just a little information on the work required by the family to prepare the house for the summer season with its heat and humidity. First off the house was scrubbed from top to bottom. The chimneys and fireplaces were swept, the windows all washed, the wallpaper was dusted, the closets were organized taking the winter clothing and putting it in storage while the summer clothing was brought out and freshened and hung up. All the painted surfaces were washed and the walls whitewashed and the floors scrubbed.
In most of the houses like this one there were heavy silk draperies to keep the cold out in the winter, in the summer they had to be taken down so the windows could be opened and the breeze to cool the house could blow through. Of course that meant in damaging dust, pollen, insects, and sunlight meaning that all wool rugs, decorative scares and tablecloths had to be removed, cleaned and stored safely away. Straw matting replaced carpets as floor coverings, and all upholstered furniture was covered with washable slipcovers to protect it for dirt and perspirations stains.
Just think about what it was like before window screening! The Manship’s dining room would have contained a fly trap, fans, brushes, or feather for shooing flies away from both food and diners. Gilded surfaces such as picture frames and chandeliers were covered with netting to prevent fly specks. Mosquito netting was hung over beds, and fans were located through the house.
Location:
Open: Tuesday – Friday 9 – 4 and Saturday 10 – 4
Admission: Free
Phone: 601-961-4724
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