Greenwood in Caddo Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)

Dunn Home

Historic Site

Photographed by Wesley Harris

1. Dunn Home Marker

Inscription. Built circa 1840. Used as a hospital for Confederate wounded following Battle of Mansfield in April, 1864. Several soldiers who died here are buried on the grounds.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1840.

Location. 32° 26.599′ N, 93° 58.486′ W. Marker is in Greenwood, Louisiana, in Caddo Parish. It is at the intersection of Greenwood Road (U.S. 80) and Nixon Street, on the left when traveling west on Greenwood Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9371 Greenwood Road, Greenwood LA 71033, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Louisiana.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States

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of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Site of Bethany (approx. 6.4 miles away in Texas); Former Site of Old Concord Methodist Church and Concord Masonic Lodge (approx. 9.4 miles away in Texas); Swanson's Landing (approx. 9.9 miles away in Texas); Mt. Zion Cemetery (approx. 10.8 miles away in Texas); Keithville Methodist Church (approx. 11.1 miles away); Commemorating First Oil Well in Caddo Parish, LA (approx. 11.2 miles away); Mad Money (approx. 11.3 miles away); Louisiana State Exhibit Bldg. (approx. 11.3 miles away).

Regarding Dunn Home. The Dunn House is a c. 1850 single story log dogtrot sheathed on the exterior with weatherboards and on the interior with flushboards. It is impossible to determine from the visible architectural evidence if the sheathing and the house's simple Greek Revival woodwork are original or if the house was updated a few years after construction. The latter scenario is often the case, and, in this instance, is supported by oral tradition. In the late nineteenth century one of the rooms received

Photographed by Wesley Harris, August 9, 2024

2. Dunn Home Marker

decorative paintwork and a few other modifications were made. To prevent it from destruction, the house was moved in 1996 from a location on the edge of the rural hamlet of Greenwood to its present site in the heart of the community. Despite the replacement of some of its materials, other alterations and the move, the house was eligible for admission to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Dunn House has two log rooms with a wide corridor between which was originally open. Deep galleries are on the front and rear. (The latter is a reconstruction.) A wedding announcement indicates that the house was constructed and in place by 1853. It is well crafted with logs fitting fairly tightly together. The house's simple Greek Revival features are found in the parlor and include door and window surrounds with pediment shaped tops and an aedicule style mantel with a decorative faux marbre treatment in the entablature. Notably, the house features floor-length (non-slip head) windows in both rooms. Walls and ceilings are sheathed in wide tongue and groove boards (except for one wall of the west room, where sheetrock has been installed).

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The exterior is sheathed in clapboards.

At some point later on in the nineteenth century the ceiling in the parlor was raised about two feet, as can be determined by a set of now empty beam notches at the lower level in the log walls. It was probably at this time that the parlor received its decorative paint treatment. Discovered after the move when sheetrock was removed, the paintwork has a folk, handcrafted look and should probably be viewed within the context of the Italianate taste. The predominant colors are a medium green (walls) and brown (ceiling), with dark green and a reddish brown used for accents. Tiny flecks of paint on the walls create a stippled effect (possibly intended to resemble granite). A wide entablature (green and then brown as it nears the ceiling) is treated with a draped vine with pink and white flowers, blue tassels and dark green leaves sparingly placed. The ceiling is predominantly brown with darker, reddish brown decorative bands outlining the edges. Each corner is defined by a decorative section featuring a cream background with a floral motif at its center. At the center of the ceiling is a large, similarly styled painted medallion with a cream background and a prominent dark green wreath with flowers. Both the ceiling medallion and corner sections are accented with sinuous reddish brown bands.

Also, at some point in the nineteenth century a staircase was added in the old bedroom and the attic was finished with tongue and grove boards. This created three upstairs rooms. The fact that this attic work was a later renovation is evidenced by empty notches atop the log walls that show where two beams were removed from the ceiling of the bedroom to accommodate the staircase.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2024, by Wesley Harris of Ruston, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 548 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 25, 2024, by Wesley Harris of Ruston, Louisiana. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.