Highlands/Perkins in Baton Rouge in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)

Sick House

c. 1840

December 28, 2017

1. Sick House Marker

Inscription.
Slave purchases represented large monetary investments for plantation owners. Returns on investments were possible only when the slaves were healthy and able to perform their duties. Most planters arranged for a doctor to tend to the sick on a regular basis as well as emergencies.

Many plantations were equipped with a slave hospital or "sick house," which in most instances consisted of at least two rooms, one for examination and another for confinement or "lying in." This building was originally a slave cabin on Welham Plantation in St. James Parish and continued as a residence until the early 1960's. The cabin is now furnished to depict a typical Louisiana plantation hospital.

Donated: L. Keller and Company

Caption: Sick House on museum grounds shortly after its move from Welham Plantation in 1971.

Erected by LSU Rural Life Museum. (Marker Number 17.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Agriculture • Science & Medicine • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1971.

Location. 30° 24.625′ N, 91° 6.92′ W. Marker is in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in East Baton Rouge Parish. It is in Highlands/Perkins. Marker can be reached from

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Essen Lane (State Road 3064) south of Interstate 10, on the right when traveling south. Located on the grounds of the LSU Rural Life Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4560 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge LA 70808, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Bagatelle Kitchen (a few steps from this marker); Double-Pen Slave Cabin (a few steps from this marker); Overseer's House (a few steps from this marker); Smokehouse (a few steps from this marker); Schoolhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Blacksmith Shop (within shouting distance of this marker); Mound Place Pigeon Cote (within shouting distance of this marker); Single Pen Slave Cabin (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baton Rouge.

Also see . . . LSU Rural Life Museum. (Submitted on December 31, 2017, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana.)

December 28, 2017

2. Sick House Marker

Sick House interior image. Click for full size.

December 28, 2017

3. Sick House interior

Welham Plantation House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By David Seibert, 1968

4. Welham Plantation House

The original site of the Sick House was at Welham Plantation. The plantation house was built in 1835, and was located in St. James Parish near Hester, on the River Road (Ga 44). The Marathon Oil Company acquired the property in 1975, and tore down the house in 1979. A house trailer now stands on the site.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 31, 2017, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 388 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 31, 2017. 4. submitted on January 1, 2018, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia.