This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

---

%
*
. *	.	THE CLAIBORNE PLANTATION
by
Guy C. Kraus
The Claiborne Plantation and the Surrounding Native American sites located in the extreme southwest comer of Hancock County around Ansley, Mississippi were once some of the most priceless pre-historical and historical jewels of the county that were lost to development which took with them the chronology of literally thousands of years of ' human secrets. There are certain places on this earth that are recognized as mysterious as was this area, the gateway to the Pearl River and surrounding swamps. You could have sensed it here at that time driving through the dark woods, overlooking the swamps from the bluffs, and a visit to the empty house. It permeated the air. The raised hairs on the knap of your neck told you that time may have passed this place by up until that time.
My parents had a summer home in Clermont Harbor on Poinsettia Avenue from 1937 to 1958. We lived on the coast every weekend and during the summer vacation. Many of my friends and acquaintances were full time residences of that beautiful hamlet and on one occasion they took my brother and I on a visit to the plantation around 1957.
What I recall was the approach to the plantation on the two-tire dirt road that wind around swamps under the dark canopy of ancient oaks and pines pass a ravine and the outcropping of a shell midden when suddenly in the sunlight you came upon the house.
In front of the big house to the south was the swamp and between the two were a line of old cedar trees planted along the dirt road. The inside of the house was in excellent condition but dusty. The house was build on raised brick square pillars at least sbc. o*. seven foot high resting on two-foot heart of pine beams. There were no iron cage arrangements between the brick columns at that time. The ground level was open and cattle would feed under the house, as there was a large feed box for the storage of grain. The foundations of the chimneys were exposed. Walking up the front stairs lead to the porch, which wrapped around the front, east and west sides. There may have been stairs on the back but I don’t recall any. On the right back end side was located a rather large