The Legend of The Gentlemen
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the month of October is always filled with stories of ghost sightings and haunted places. Houmas House has its fair share of stories told from past owners, visitors and current staff. But are they true? I guess you'll have to visit and see for yourself.
But one of the most famous stories passed down for generations is The Legend of the Gentlemen. In the days before the levee, Houmas House's oak alley ran across the grand lawn, through the batture, and on to the river's edge. The perfectly formed and heroically erect trees spread their branches arm-in-arm to welcome visitors to the property, all of whom approached from the River Road. John Burnside, a colorful bachelor who presided as owner during the late 1800s, lovingly referred to these giant, leafy sentinels as "The Gentlemen." The reference prevailed through generations of stewardship until progress, in the form of flood control, came to the Great River Road.
The legend and the irony begins with the
Great Flood of 1927
when the area around Houmas House was inundated for weeks and weeks........ Continue the Story Here
Princess Maggie
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