Monmouth celebrates 200th year

Published 12:11 am Thursday, November 1, 2018

NATCHEZ — Period dancers and re-enactors will be part of the fun Saturday as the Monmouth Historic Inn celebrates its bicentennial.

Monmouth’s celebration is free and will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. among the gardens. Restaurant 1818 will offer food and drink for purchase. The bar will be open 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

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Desk clerk Lara Kracek said guided tours of the antebellum house, lounge and study will be offered at the top of each hour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at a discounted price of $10.

Kracek said Monmouth, built in 1818, was purchased for $12,000 in 1826, bequeathed, left abandoned and became a small bed and breakfast in the early 1980s.

Nancy Reuther, owner of Monmouth, said craftsmen, gardeners and re-enactors would make the event a fun way to celebrate the history of Monmouth.

Reuther said the property’s most prominent homeowners John Anthony and Eliza Quitman will be portrayed.

“We are very happy to celebrate Monmouth being here in Natchez for 200 years and a lot of history has been here since that time,” Reuther said. “We have someone playing Gen. Quitman and his wife, Miss Eliza, and some other re-enactors coming from St. Francisville and some dancers. We’re having quite a bit. It’s going to be fun.”

Kracek said the event also would feature an encampment of Civil War soldiers who will give musket-loading demonstrations.

Kracek said guests might even be invited to join as period dancers perform.

“We have a place for people to dance along, and they will be pulling folks in,” Kracek said.

The celebration will include live music by Brint Anderson and Trivato. Kracek said there would be many arts and craft vendors and games of cornhole, horseshoes and bocce ball.

Monmouth is located at 1358 John Quitman Blvd., at Liberty Road and Melrose Avenue.