  Built in 1812, a full century and a quarter ago, by Dr. Stephen Duncan, “Auburn” mansion is noted today as in bygone historic days for its architectural beauty and the natural beauty of its surrounding acres. Auburn is a magnificent red brick structure with great white columns supporting its broad front galleries. The bricks were made on the premises by slave labor. On the first floor are spacious drawing rooms, a large dining room, a family dining room, library, smoking room, and two hallways. Above stairs are six huge bedrooms with high ceilings. In the rear of the main mansion is a two-storied brick kitchen which is connected with the main building by a flagged patio. The servants’ quarters are above with the kitchen and pantries on the ground floor. The kitchen has the giant fireplace with cranes and pots and the old-time “spit” where meats were roasted. Entrance to Auburn is through a classic doorway which has been aptly called “an architect’s dream of beauty”. Classic Entrance Doorway Grand Hallway Inside the house there is a majestic spiral stairway rising to the grand high hallway, without support except at its base. This amazing feature intrigues the imagination. In early days Auburn entertained many celebrities, among them Henry Clay, Edward Everett Hale, and John Howard Payne. The same gracious hospitality maintains today. Auburn is the property of the city of Natchez by deed of gift from Stephen Duncan, and is used as the deed stipulates for the “amusement, entertainment, and recreation, without cost or monetary consideration, of Natchez citizens”. It is the handsome headquarters of several distinguished local clubs. The women’s clubs of Natchez have undertaken the task of furnishing the lower floor with valuable antiques of the period of its original furnishings. The acreage surrounding it is known as Duncan Park in compliment to the Duncan family who gave it to the city. It contains huge, aged, moss-draped oaks, alluring sweet olive trees, famous magnolias, shrubbery and vines, old-fashioned gardens, a golf course, and playground with swings and merry-go-rounds used every day in the year for the health and frolic of children. The Unsupported Spiral Stairway Rises to the Grand Hallway. (unlabelled) Old Milk House. Slaves pumped cool cistern water into long zinc vats providing Auburn’s cooling system for its crocks of milk. Food prepared in the kitchen below the servants’ quarters was carried in hot urns to dining rooms by servants stationed along “the ways”. |
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