Melrose in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)
African House and Clementine Hunter's Murals
Photographed By Cajun Scrambler, July 2, 2023
1. African House and Clementine Hunter's Murals Marker
Inscription.
African House and Clementine Hunter's Murals. .
How was African House built?. This hut-like structure was constructed by skilled slaves in the 1820s. Their toil included digging clay, shaping it into molds and firing to create bricks for the first floor. The second floor was crafted with carefully hand-hewn cedar logs dovetailed without the use of nails. A hip roof of cedar cypress shingles crowns the building with a 12-foot overhang. Though the materials and techniques resemble French-style construction, the architecture is reminiscent of a sub-Saharan African building.,
Why is the building named African House?. Records show the building was known by several different names-Casa Barn- until receiving its permanent name in 1941. In that year, a team from the Historic American Buildings Survey arrived to document the building. A surveyor asked writer and long-time resident Francois Mignon for the building's name. The ever-inventive Mignon responded "African House.",
The Murals of Folk Artist Clementine Hunter. The second floor of African House features nine murals depicting the early 20th century landscape and scenes of daily life at Melrose by folk artist Clementine Hunter (1886-1988). Francois Mignon encouraged Hunter to create the series which she said was "something she wouldn't mind doing." By this time Hunter, who worked at Melrose as a farm-hand, maid and cook, had been painting for 15 years, creating thousands of paintings. Painted in 1955, the murals are among the most famous of her works, drawing scenes from Hunter's memory including a baptism, funeral, wedding, a church revival and cotton picking.
How was African House built?
This hut-like structure was constructed by skilled slaves in the 1820s. Their toil
included digging clay, shaping it into molds and firing to create bricks for the first
floor. The second floor was crafted with carefully hand-hewn cedar logs dovetailed
without the use of nails. A hip roof of cedar cypress shingles crowns the building with a 12-foot overhang. Though the materials and techniques resemble French-style
construction, the architecture is reminiscent of a sub-Saharan African building.
Why is the building
named African House?
Records show the building was known
by several different names-Casa
Barn- until receiving its permanent name in
1941. In that year, a team from the Historic
American Buildings Survey arrived to
document the building. A surveyor asked
writer and long-time resident Francois
Mignon for the building's name. The
ever-inventive Mignon responded
"African House."
The Murals of Folk Artist
Clementine Hunter
The second floor of African House features nine
murals depicting the early 20th century landscape and scenes of daily life at Melrose by folk artist Clementine Hunter (1886-1988). Francois Mignon
encouraged Hunter to create the series which she said
was "something she wouldn't
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mind doing." By this time
Hunter, who worked at Melrose as a farm-hand, maid and
cook, had been painting for 15 years, creating thousands
of paintings. Painted in 1955, the murals are among the
most famous of her works, drawing scenes from Hunter's
memory including a baptism, funeral, wedding, a church
revival and cotton picking.
Location. 31° 36.005′ N, 92° 58.015′ W. Marker is in Melrose, Louisiana, in Natchitoches Parish. Marker can be reached from Route 119, half a mile south of Louisiana Highway 493, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3533 LA-119, Melrose LA 71452, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Yucca Plantation (within shouting distance of this marker); Clemetine Hunter Home and Studio (within shouting distance of this marker); Yucca House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bindry (within shouting distance of this marker); Weaving House (within shouting distance of this marker); Big House (within shouting distance of this marker); Melrose Barn (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ghana House (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Melrose.
Photographed By Cajun Scrambler, July 2, 2023
2. African House and Clementine Hunter's Murals Marker
sectionhead>More about this marker. Located on the grounds of the Melrose Plantation. Admission required for either a self walking grounds tour, or guided tour of entire complex.
Photographed By Cajun Scrambler
3. African House
Photo taken c. 2006
Photographed By Cajun Scrambler
4. Clementine Hunter's Murals
One section of Mural. Photo taken c. 2006
Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 9, 2023, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 61 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 9, 2023, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana.
