The Forks of Cypress

The Forks of Cypress plantation was built in 4 years. For such a short time constructing this beautiful home no one knew what a huge role this house would have in history. From 1816 to 1820 the workers and slaves put their blood, sweat, and tears into this Greek revival house. The frame was topped with a sheet metal roof. And the exterior walls were made of weathered poplar wood. All interior walls were plaster. All sides of the plantation were built the same except for the front, which had a Roman archway over the front doors. And the stairs in the right rear of the hall were larger in the back to make them look bigger.


(1935 HABS Photo)
The very broad colonnade was supported by  23 columns made out of brick and horse hair, that were added at a later date. They got smaller as the went up to make they look larger. The columns were the only thing left standing after the house got struck by lightning in 1966. The horse hair made the columns flame resistant.  The plantation also had a smoke house, blacksmith's shop, carpenter's shop, in the slave quarters because they made plows and wagons on the grounds.

Courtesy of Historic Alabama Building Survey

James Jackson was born in Ireland and moved to America in 1799. He settled in Nashville Tennessee and later opened up his own store Jackson's General Merchandise. He became a respected and prominent citizen. Jackson later married Sarah "Sally" Moore McCulloch of the Carolina Moores. Sarah was a widow was considered very beautiful. Sarah's great-grandfather, James Moore, was a royal governor of Carolina. Her grandfather, Roger, commonly known as "King Roger" founded the famous Orton Plantation on the Cape Fear River near Wilmington. Sarah's first husband Samuel McCulloch drowned on a trip to buy land. James and his new bride would have nine children four of which they raised in Nashville. James moved his family to Lauderdale County when his house was finished in 1820. Jackson would later become apart of  both houses of the Alabama Legislature. And in 1839, Jackson was named president of the state Senate. At one time Jackson was political advisor to Andrew Jackson, but would later split and join the whig party in Alabama. James was a sportsman and a thoroughbred horse breeder. horses from the Forks of Cypress were nationally recognized as bloodstock for the famous Kentucky thoroughbreds. To write the story of the Forks without horses would be to write Hamlet without the royal dane. Several famous slaves also came from the Forks. James Jackson, Jr and his slave Easter grew up together and their relationship would develop into a romance. After his father James Jackson Sr died,  James went to the weaving house where Easter lived. A couple of months later Easter tells James she is carrying his child. But James mother Sarah Jackson is pushing him to marry Elizabeth Perkins. On April 8, 1841, Easter gives birth to Queen. The very next day James proposes to Elizabeth. They later married at Forks of Cypress. James moved Queen inside the big house when she was about five. He wanted her to become a ladies' maid. It wasn't untill the civil war Queen finds out that James is her father. Queen and Easter served the ladies of the house, Elizabeth, and elderly Sally Jackson while James was away fighting.  During a epidemic, both Easter and Jane get sick. Elizabeth sends for the family doctor, but it was too late for Jane. Jane died, and soon after Easter becomes sick. James returns from battle,  and Easter dies with Queen at her side. After that the Jacksons kick her out and Queen leads a very hard life afterwards. Queen's story is later told in Queen: The Story of an American Family. This is just one of the many brave stories of the brave men and women who worked for the Jacksons.

  Ghosts? The Forks is reported to be very haunted. Before the house burned down it is said that all the visitors to Forks of Cypress had some sort of an experience. A reporter who stayed at the house three days before it burned is said to have heard gun shots, a women scream, foot steps, and a very loud bang. The ghost of a former slave is said to still be seen traveling to visit his wife that lived at a different plantation. And those who go to the Jackson family cemetery report seeing a women moving around looking for a lost loved one.

  No matter if you love history or a good ghost story the Forks of Cypress is for you! This once beautiful home for sure will always have it's foot in the doorway of history and of people's minds and hearts. If you just so happen to be visiting Florence or drive by, PLEASE go see the Forks of Cypress! It is well worth the visit.

Article by Chad Dean