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Natchez Public Works crews haul out overgrown trees and vines from the Arlington property last week.

Arlington owner files police report

By Cassandra Mickens (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Saturday, December 12, 2009

NATCHEZ — Arlington owner Dr. Thomas Vaughan filed a report with the Natchez Police Department Friday, claiming a John Deere tractor was stolen from his property this week.

Vaughan filed the report after meeting with Municipal Judge Jim Blough and Building Inspector Paul Dawes about Arlington’s current status.

Blough ordered the historic house be boarded up by Dec. 21, and vandalized equipment be removed from the property by Jan. 8, Dawes said.

“The city has already cleaned the property, but there’s still a lot of work to do,” Dawes said.

“We’re trying the get the house secure again. We’re trying to protect the property,” Vaughan said. “I would like to sell the house, but security’s been an issue.”

Vaughan said he wasn’t aware the city had been contacting him about Arlington until he was served a citation for property neglect in October.

“I didn’t get any phone calls or letters before the notice,” Vaughan said. “When you have someone being robbed and vandalized, it’s easy to pick on the one that’s being robbed.”

Vaughan said the house’s deteriorating condition is cause for distress.

“There is a venal, criminal element here,” Vaughan said. "(Vandals) are bent on destroying something they don’t own. It’s just sickening.

“We need a conviction. They’re destroying craftsmanship and history and that cannot be tolerated.”

Dawes testified in court last week that drug paraphernalia rested on the property as well as a bulldozer, a backhoe, a manlift, two dump trucks and a bucket truck. Dawes said the radiators had been removed from both dump trucks, and the hood had been removed from one of the dump trucks.

Vaughan said the equipment on the property was there to refurbish the house. Now that a tractor has been stolen — the fourth tractor to be stolen from the property, according to Vaughan — Vaughan urges the community to be more vigilant of suspicious activity.

“(Vandals) destroy your property so you can’t enjoy it, and they destroy your tools so you can’t fix it,” Vaughan said.

“I’m concerned the history is lost. Natchez is known for its history. Take that away and there’s no reason for anybody to come here.”

Comments

Posted by Natchezbear (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 12:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Seems like there's a long list of known trespassers. Which way will the hatchet swing....one just has to wonder.With all the hoopla that's been raised ,seems like someone could be held liable for advertising the fact that the whole property was at anyones desposal.........

Posted by Ntz (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 12:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Its called get off you butt and do something. You know that the city was trying to contact you. Hire a security guard, put up a private fence that has electricity on it. Do something.

Posted by Natchezbear (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 12:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

.......Now the Dr is faced with the next problem ......now that he has decided to sell, finding a buyer at a fair market value. Lets face it who really wants to deal with all the local red tape for a project such as this. Who really wants to get the Ms. Weatherly treatment? This calls for a sucker born yesterday with lots ,lots ,and lots of money............

Posted by abc747 (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 1:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Vaughan says, “I would like to sell the house, but security’s been an issue.” What does that mean?

Posted by justmyopinion (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 6:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

that picture sure doesnt look like a house that someone has tried to keep protected from vandals. Its sad, it just looks like a house left to rot away. I agree with NTZ, at least maybe some windows, a door that locks and a small monthly check to Brinks security might have helped!

Posted by shouldbagrndma (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 7:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

however vaughn acquired the property, he knew it was historical when he got it. he knew all the history involved and should have been concerned with the measures of up keep and security then. it's too late after allowing it to become in such a deteriorating condition now to holler wolf

Posted by Nativeson (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 7:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Are Dr. Vaughan and mrbobo the same person?

Posted by itsmemame (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 7:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Dr. Vaughn should run for public office... now that he has been confronted, he says what he thinks everyone wants to hear but nothing he says jives with his actions. Yep, he would fit right in... especially on the National level!

Posted by Undertaker (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 7:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

mrbobo, You are an idiot, enough said!

Posted by DeanWormer (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 7:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I see there are a couple of people who are overdue for an enama. Mr. Bobo, Mr. Vaughn step up your next. Just go in that little room and the nurse will be with you shortly.

Posted by been_there (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I can't believe that the good Dr. is worried about his tractor.Why didn't he just put a sign out front that said, Nobody lives here!!

Posted by NameThatTune (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Seems like Dr. Vaughn never got interested in protecting this property until the City made a move to protect it. An abandoned property with all that used equipment on it . . . and Dr. Vaughn didn't think anyone was going to steal it? After all, they stole four tractors. Didn't Dr. Vaughn realize that the tractors weren't mysteriously disappearing by themselves? If he was aware that the tractors were being stolen, then he knew about the deterioration of the property.

I remember several Natchez people donating their time to install an alarm on this property. Did Dr. Vaughn object to that?

And I'm amazed at his telephone's selective answering system: it only rings when it has nothing to do with the Arlington property!

Has the Natchez Cougar been living there?

Posted by gottabehappy (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 8:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh sure........NOW he wants to sell it!!!
btw...how many K's on spray painted on that front?
KKK?

Posted by gottabehappy (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 8:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

He has NEVER wanted to sell it and I know for a fact several years ago....before the fire....an out of town doctor offered to buy it from him and when they spoke about it Vaughn told him, "No, I've decided I'm going to place a bubble around Arlington."
nutcase

Posted by LdyBreez (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

All of this makes me sick. Blame it on everyone but the person responsible Mr. Vaughn, yourself.

Had you repaired the home after the fire and then sold it. You would not be in the shape you are in now. Surly you were contacted about the fire and that your home had burned. If you had insurance on the home. Where did that money go? Obviously not back into the home. If people had been there on a daily basis working on the home, vandals would have been less likely to roam in and out so freely.

People will be people, being a doctor you know that. A few windows and doors with locks and the replacement of a wall would go a long way to keep vandals out.

Before the fire, A live in property manager who could have opened the house for tour, possibly been able to detect a problem before the fire and if not stop it, minimized the damage. A bed and breakfast such as the property up the street from you would have even turned you a nice profit.

I personally know people who wanted to purchase the property years ago and were told you were not interested in selling.

Now due to your own neglect you wish you could sell ?? A little late now. So suck it up, accept responsibility, repair the property. Put up a temporary construction trailer where someone could keep an eye out on the equipment. Then after it has been restored, either sell it, or hire a live in property manager to open it up for the community to enjoy as well as a few tourist in the spring and fall.

Since I was a little girl playing in the great oak trees, before the Quitman extension, I wondered what the inside looked like. We often wondered if the home was haunted because such a beautiful house was left abandoned and the ground left unkempt. That fear kept us at the outer edge of the property, we didn't want the ghost following us home *chuckle*. I just wish I had the money to purchase it, restore it and share it with the community.

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 8:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

shouldbagmdma - he grew up in that house and inherited it from his mother. His sister lived there for some time before he threw her out.
Gottabehappy - I think one of those letters is an H, it doesn't look like the K.

Posted by prettywife2009 (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

ROTF !!!!! I see the idiots are alive and kicking in The city of Natchez.

Posted by gottabehappy (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Sorry freedom42 but I see 2 K's...no H.

Posted by picture_music101 (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

All those "k"s you see is actually a name. The post i guess are hiding it. And I sure hope Dr.Vaughn can find some way to protect this house. I wish he would get up and TRY to fix it up instead of people saying its not fixable! SAVE ARLINGTON!!

Posted by mrmojorisin (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

He says someone needs to be convicted??? Yep, HIM!

...and his punishment should be that he has to live in his boyhood home until he gets it repaired, and it must be finished before he sells it...

--mojo

Posted by picture_music101 (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 9:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I just got an idea! Replace all the windows and doors....and lock it up! And if any chance....put up a security system!!

Posted by jaquan32 (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think the doctor is full of crap, and who gives a damn about a slave owner's house anyway. I hope the house rots and burns. They should have burned it during the civil war!!! lol, lol, lol, !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by gottabehappy (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Obviously jaquan32 you know nothing of Arlington.

Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I hope he really means it is now for sale.
Of course he probably thinks its worth $100,000,000 - so he can say he tried to sell it, but no one wanted it. I know several people have tried to contact him with offers to buy it - but he has not replied to any offer (or to the city's attempts to contact him).
Lets hope that he is sincere and how he will sell it for a price that is fair and will allow it to be restored. Hard to say what it is worth, it has a lot of land and a lot of potential, but it will require well over a million (or two!) to restore it to its former self. (And then restoring the gardens, out buildings etc could eat another million).
The house is beautiful, its important, and not too far gone. Fortunately there are many people with the funds to restore it and Natchez has a number of similar houses that have sold in the multi-millions.
All the equipement was bought prior to the fire - Tom bought it so he could restore/maintain the house by himself - he had problems trusting the local contractors.
Let's hope that his comments spur potential buyers to make offers - nice public offers so that he can't say "no one want's it" Although he must not read the paper as he seemed to think all was well at Arlington. Houses always improve with neglect ----

Posted by fraidoclowns (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh, wait. I think jaquan32 might be onto something. Nobody should care that a slave owner's house is destroyed. I mean, after all, it's just a reminder of slavery, right?

And everybody just wants to forget all about slavery, right? Let's forget the whole thing ever happened. Let's dismantle the NAPAC museum and forget those plans for the Forks of the Road, too. While we're at it, let's forget all about the Jim Crow era, too.

Let's make everybody start fresh on their own individual talents and strengths and make their money the old-fashioned way -- earn it. Sound about right to you, jaquan32?

Posted by 3on23 (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I was really glad I was wearing my boots when I read Dr. Vaughn's comments. It's getting deep around here and it smells!

Sell Arlington to someone would would care for it and appreciate it. Obviously Dr. Vaughn doesn't do either or he would have taken action already. If he sold it he could severe his ties here and someone would be able to return Arlington to it's orginal splendor.

As to Jaquan32's comment, you will never move forward if you hold onto the past. I am sick and tired of the race card being thrown! Guess what, I am white and my grandparent's picked cotton. If you go back far enough my ancestors were slaves or indentured servants in the British Isles, but I don't feel as if I am owed anything due to my ancestore past. I am the only one responsible for my present life and my future.

Posted by gottabehappy (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

and jaquan32 why don't I and every other white person, man woman and child, knock ourselves out to make a zillion dollars so we can shell it out to you and yours for all the slaves I didn't own but surely since I am white someone in my past must've had slaves right? Just like the germans had to do after Hilter....oh wait...they did not....they just had to dust themselves off and get on with their lives and STOP COMPLAINING AND WHINING!!
take a lesson from REAL history....l i f e

Posted by LOVESNATCHEZ (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"LDYBREEZ", This idiot had no insurance on the home when it burned. That's how ridiculously stupid he is. There was a Charles Honore Lannuier (lan-u-way), armoire valued at many hundreds of thousands of dollars and he let it burn. The man is a menace to society.

Posted by abc747 (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 3:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I can just imagine how many thousands of $$$ he shelled out to acquire all that heavy equipment. Money that could have been better spent securing the house and keeping up the yard. His true priorities are reflected in his actions (or lack of action).

Posted by Continental_Line (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

fraidoclowns and gottabehappy are once again right on target.

Posted by 2feathers (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 4:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

...........SOUNDS....like the good doctor is trying for more time............to do nothing....................................chances are these machines didn't run anyway.................

Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 5:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Being a lover of architecture I see a once beautiful house, I am sure was filled with irreplaceable things. For anyone to let this deteriorate inside and out to such an extent has no conscious. Nothing anyone says will make a difference, but when you hit back in the pocket book I bet notice will be taken. Fines and deadlines need to be adhered to, this is just plain pitiful and shameful.

Posted by rebel4ever (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 8:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just have one question jaquan32. Does your statement mean that you think the William Johnson home should burn down also? After all, as a free-person of color he was also a slave owner.

Posted by DuncanPark (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 11:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I assume the 32 in "jaquan 32" references its IQ.

Posted by been_there (anonymous) on December 12, 2009 at 11:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Rebel4ever, Very nice point. On a national park walking tour, someone had to force our black ranger guide to admit that Johnson owned slaves. In fact, the first thing he did when he was freed was to buy his own slaves!! That really says a lot.

Posted by 3on23 (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I just love it when people want to condemn slave owners and not acknowledge that oppositional African tribes sold each other to the slavers. I really wonder how many who are so outspoken against slavery would rather their ancestors had stayed in Africa so that they could have been born there instead of in the United States of America. If you want things to change then quit picking at the scab!

Posted by Continental_Line (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

3on23 is on target as well.

Posted by prettywife2009 (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 3:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Natchez is a city that I don't miss at all. I'm so glad I moved.

Posted by Continental_Line (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I would like to learn more about the George Jetson bubble that had been planned to protect Arlington.

Is there a "his boy Elroy" out there that could take over ?

Posted by gottabehappy (anonymous) on December 13, 2009 at 5:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I first thought of John Travolta in that movie about the bubble boy when I heard about it Continental_Line.

Posted by getalifenatchez (anonymous) on December 14, 2009 at 12:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

prettywife2009: Since you are so glad you left Natchez, why in the h*&% are you reading the Natchez Democrat online??? Your name alone shows that you are a shallow, vain person.... there are enough people in this town just like you who do nothing to make it better.... Hope you are loving where you relocated--I'm sure you are an asset to your "new" community. We are better off without you... what an idiot!

Posted by LOVESNATCHEZ (anonymous) on December 14, 2009 at 7:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Get her "getalifenatchez"...:)

Posted by gottabehappy (anonymous) on December 14, 2009 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I for one am sure you both live in "perfect cities" right?

Posted by Thewatcher (anonymous) on December 14, 2009 at 11:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What's the doc planning on doing now