History
Construction
The famous architect Henry Howard was in charge of the building the "White Castle". The plantation has 400 acres of highland and 620 acres of swamp land. It has an outstanding 64 rooms, 3 floors, 6 interior staircases, 3 modern bathrooms, 22 massive columns, 165 doors, and 200 windows. Nottoway cost 80,00 dollars once completed. He hired 40 carpenters and brick masons to live on site while the home was being built. One of the most beautiful features of the home is the extraordinary plaster frieze work on the second and third floors. A combination of mud, moos and horse hair was used to make the plaster. The home also includes some modern day conveniences such as gas lighting throughout the home and hot and cold running water. This home really was the most extravagant homes in the Southern states at the time.
During the Civil War
Three of the Randolph male children went to the war. When the word came that the enemies were nearing their home via the Mississippi River, John took some slaves and fled to Texas leaving his wife and family at the home. Emily had hidden her jewelry in the post of her bed so the soldiers were not able to steal it. During the war both Confederate and Union soldiers occupied the home. John took the oath of loyalty to the Union in order to keep Nottoway. Luckily the home made it through the war just fine as did the family, except the oldest son was killed in battle. But eventually John came back home and they continued all of their lives in the spacious mansion.
Facts about Nottoway
- The home is completely out of Cypress wood and home made bricks.
- Randolph had a bowling alley installed for his children in the home and the bottom floor.
- Each of the 11 Randolph children had their very own slave attendant.
- Randolph had a building for Episcopalian services.
- The home had a call bell system, which was when each different bell rand it notifies a particular slave to go to the room that rang the bell.