History of Nottoway
John Randolph and his family wanted to build a huge house by the beautiful Mississippi River, which was also a major source of transpotation at the time. John brought together some of the best construction workers around at the time to fulfill his vision of the big mansion. The construction of Nottoway was completed in 1859 at a total cost of apporximately $80,000. John and Emily Randolph lived in the house along with their eleven children and the slaves who worked on the plantation.
The house was built to have three floors with 64 rooms. Back in the day, when electricity was unavailable, methods of getting light into the house were different. John installed gas lighting throughout the big mansion, which was not a method of lightin many people had at this time. Also, there was hot and cold running water that was installed in the house so that the family can take warm baths, etc. John ordered solid granite steps to go in the front of the Nottoway home, which remain today. The ladies went up the steps on the left side of the house, while the gentlemen went up on the right as a sign of respect for the women. The staircases in front of the house also had iron railings with a layer of cypress wood over it to keep from burning the hands of those who touched it when the heat outside was unbearable. These railings originally cost John $1,998 to install. The freezework that was installed into the rooms remains today and was hand-made and crafted. John also wanted to install a way to make it easier for slaves to communicate in the house and to know where they were needed, so John put in a bell system so that the slaves could report to areas of the house by the sounds of the bells.
Nottoway went through a tough period in the Civil War. The house was saved by a friend of John and Emily's who ordered that the house not be destroyed. During this time only Emily, her children, and a few older slaves remained at the home while John and the rest of his stronger and younger slaves went to Texas to make a profit off of his crops. Nottoway was shot at, but very little damage had been done. One shot can still be seen today located on the front of the Nottoway home.
The house was built to have three floors with 64 rooms. Back in the day, when electricity was unavailable, methods of getting light into the house were different. John installed gas lighting throughout the big mansion, which was not a method of lightin many people had at this time. Also, there was hot and cold running water that was installed in the house so that the family can take warm baths, etc. John ordered solid granite steps to go in the front of the Nottoway home, which remain today. The ladies went up the steps on the left side of the house, while the gentlemen went up on the right as a sign of respect for the women. The staircases in front of the house also had iron railings with a layer of cypress wood over it to keep from burning the hands of those who touched it when the heat outside was unbearable. These railings originally cost John $1,998 to install. The freezework that was installed into the rooms remains today and was hand-made and crafted. John also wanted to install a way to make it easier for slaves to communicate in the house and to know where they were needed, so John put in a bell system so that the slaves could report to areas of the house by the sounds of the bells.
Nottoway went through a tough period in the Civil War. The house was saved by a friend of John and Emily's who ordered that the house not be destroyed. During this time only Emily, her children, and a few older slaves remained at the home while John and the rest of his stronger and younger slaves went to Texas to make a profit off of his crops. Nottoway was shot at, but very little damage had been done. One shot can still be seen today located on the front of the Nottoway home.