White Wings
311 North Wall Street
Home of Sallie Ballard
Home of Sallie Ballard
White Wings was built between 1833 and 1835 as the home of Sarah Robinson. It was originally a simple late Federal cottage with small portico. After her death in 1853, the house was acquired by Charles Meeks, a native of New York. Meeks was a banker in Natchez and was engaged in the grocery business at the time of his death. Meeks owned the house from 1854 until he died in 1902, during which time he made two major enlargements. Between 1864 and 1886, Meeks added an addition with master bedroom at the rear and between 1892 and 1894, another bedroom with bay window was added. The wing additions to the house were the source of the name White Wings.
White Wings and neighboring Choctaw have a family connection. Stephen Kelly, the nephew of Charles Meeks of White Wings, married Julia Davis, the daughter of George Malin and Elizabeth Davis who lived at Choctaw. Before his death in 1883, George Malin Davis also owned three other great Natchez mansions: Cherokee, Concord (burned 1901), and Melrose, which remained the home of the Davis family until 1976.
After Meeks’ death, White Wings remained in the family as the residence of a niece, Abbie Clark Sanford. In 1928, the Sanford heirs lost the property, which was sold at public auction. In 1929, the house was purchased by John R. Junkin, late Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives. The house remains in the Junkin family and is today the home of Junkin's daughter, Sallie Junkin Ballard. Sallie inspired and worked tirelessly to raise the money for the citywide planting of 2000 crepe myrtle trees as a millennium project for the year 2000.
Sunday, December 7, 2 - 5 pm
$15.00 one ticket ($25 two tickets)
The Van Court Townhouse was built in 1835 for James Ferguson by the Natchez contracting firm of Neibert & Gemmel. It is a rare combination of Federal and Greek Revival architecture. Both styles blend at the front entrance, where a beautiful Federal style fanlight crowns the front door, which is framed by Grecian pilasters. The lacy cast iron porch was probably added in the 1850s. The rooms are arranged in a side hall plan. Note the graceful hallway staircase extending with unbroken handrail from the first to the third story.
This Spanish Colonial style cottage predates 1817, with later additions through the1870s. Named for the high bank where it stands, it has a raised basement encircled by brick pillars. In 1835, Alfred and Eliza Cochran bought Myrtle Bank from George Overaker for $3000, enlarging it to its present classical one and a half stories with a wide front gallery.
Maywood, located on historic Elm Street between Airlie & Riverview, was built by Fredrick and Marian Brown, circa 1928. Although new by Natchez standards, this home incorporates many recycled architectural elements in its Colonial revival style. These include the front entrance, interior stairway from the foyer, fireplace mantles, and some windows. Over the years, the home has been expanded to add a master bedroom wing, an enlarged kitchen, and family dining area. Beautiful granite counters grace cabinets and large cooking island alike.
