Uncovering A Plantation's Dark Secret - Kenworthy Hall

Dive into the mysterious world of Kenworthy Hall, a mansion with secrets built into its very architecture. Join Ken as we explore the ingenious designs of Richard Upjohn, crafted to conceal a controversial history amidst the backdrop of the Civil War. From hidden slave quarters to dual-purpose designs, discover how Edward Carlisle's quest for a modern identity was built on a foundation of deception. Witness the transformation from glory to ruin, and the painstaking restoration of this historical gem.
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Location: Marion, AL
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Public Domain Photos from: Library of Congress
CC BY-SA 3.0Photos from: Wikipedia User: RuralSWAlabama
Assets from: Envato Elements
Music from Epidemic Sound

[@gmaddocks]

Having the kitchen separate from the main house was common in the South; it was done because the most common room to catch fire was the kitchen. I owned such a house that dated back before the Revolutionary War.

[@annetheurich507]

It was also common to see a garconniere for unmarried older boys & men. This kept them separated from the young unmarried ladies.

[@RebeccaSurber-vw5wi]

I adore old houses 💜

[@nicolad8822]

And cooler in the summer?

[@robkunkel8833]

@@annetheurich507 .. a GARCONNIERE? Fertile territory for Google research.

[@sharonping3101]

It was also common to have the kitchen not connected to the house in the South. So the whole house wouldn't get hot when you cook dinner breakfast or whatever it helped the main house to stay cool that's the real reason

[@coerfjoe1]

Anytime someone restores one of these unique homes, I sigh greatly, that history was not forgotten.

[@haydeeandujo3923]

How nice someone could restore the house. And love how your videos are short but give us so much information

[@AntonioRivera28]

TBH it currently needs a lot of restoration work. Those color photos are very old

[@yvonnepagan9912]

You’d think that you could take people at face value way back then, but corruption is ALWAYS in the mix somewhere. It certainly is a huge and attractive house. The use of the cross ventilation was totally under-utilised in most houses,but not in this one. I wonder did that first owner ever get caught out about his wicked ways with slaves, false alliances and general money-grubbing. I hope so!

[@megfuchs9425]

Love the winding stairs!

[@CherylSimser]

I loved them too but was distracted by the large freeze placed on the main floor next to them. The archways were amazing!

[@caroleinwv]

Happy to know someone loves this house again.

[@craiggillett5985]

Lovely restoration. Another great save. When looking back at history regardless of what happened, it’s all of our history - it’s where we came from and important to never forget. Societies that don’t learn from their past, and cover up what happens because it’s an inconvenient truth or now makes us uncomfortable because it doesn’t fit with contemporary values and ethics always run the risk of repeating the same mistakes. Great clip, and nice short history lesson.

[@user-mk9kj8yf6r]

CUT THE CHECK🤬

[@craiggillett5985]

@@user-mk9kj8yf6r 😂 ya reckon?? I hadn’t thought of it that way. Noted.

[@raquelgarvin8391]

Okay please educate me on the mistake and how it could accur!?

[@craiggillett5985]

@@raquelgarvin8391 I think that the comment can be taken as a personal criticism, rather than a statement about modern society and our cultural legacy, I come from New Zealand 🇳🇿 and down under we are very young and still coming to terms with the genocidal activity the British Empire conducted 200 years ago against the indigenous people. We are taught in school that if you don’t know and own your history then societies are ‘doomed’ to repeat past mistakes. I know this curriculum is taught all over Europe as well. Learn from the past.

[@thesun-N-moon8885]

@@user-mk9kj8yf6r I wonder if those who are currently enslaved in Africa would love to receive a check from those in America who have been free well over a hundred years. I can imagine it’s a terrible feeling knowing your ancestors left you behind and seemingly never cared about you. Maybe it would help them in freeing themselves from their own people. I don’t know just a thought.

[@sherryreis7951]

I'm always glad to see these old beauties gain a new life.

[@marthahines1979]

What a fabulous house and thank you to the people who restored it. We have lost so many glorious home in this last century +. Thank you for this video. Greetings from Seattle where we have lost so much of our old city.

[@jaygilbreath187]

I’ve been to the house a few years ago. It is massive! At that time it still needed some work.

[@kays749]

Entry and staircase is magnificent.

[@Hobotraveler82]

Beautiful and unique 😊❤

[@alexandercove1194]

Your most unusual walking directions of how we should look at the house is truly phenomenal... Thank you so much forgiving me bearing while viewing the photographs.... You really are a very thoughtful narrator and I don't think you ever saw a box in your life! (As in thinking outside of!)

[@fultondyke]

This house had a ghost story in Katherine Windham Tucker's book "13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffery." Ever kid growing up in Alabama in the 1970s read that book! I am so glad you did this video because I always wanted to explore the inside of this beautiful home.

[@tracesprite6078]

Perhaps the ghosts come from the poor slaves who were trapped in that awful servitude.

[@fultondyke]

Plantation homes are very haunted because of the evil enslavement of human beings, without a doubt. The best construction elements still display the skill of enslaved artisans. Rather than letting plantation homes rot into dust, they should be saved like Kenworthy Hall was. African American historians can be guides and provide historical interpretations for those which are opened to the public

[@marcyjensen8127]

The Grant house info Galena Illinois has a separate kitchen and is said info the summer it kept the heat from cooking from heating the rest of the house.

[@Blbear2000]

They appear to have done a wonderful job on the restoration. This is not a criticism but now, they need to work on furnishing and accessorizing it to the right period. These rooms would look dramatically different. Probably the great majority of these big plantation homes are completely gone. It is nice to see this one saved and restored despite its dark ownership past.

[@chrisbgifford7387]

Beautiful woodwork throughout. thankfully someone purchased it to care for it.

[@lizlittle1641]

I love the tower and the design of the house.

[@kenbyker6696]

Beautiful restoration!

[@kareemsmith1632]

Gorgeous home. My mothers family descends from Marion and are still there on the family land. There are many intact former homes from that era. You could probably have a weeks worth of content from Marion and nearby Selma alone.

[@simon-oy6um]

Im glad this national treasure was saved from destruction considering the skills that went into building it that nobody seems to have nowadays 😊😊😊

[@kristiesutton6103]

I agree it's gorgeous

[@pavelow235]

Cool as always !

[@seltexmx]

Nice to get a happy ending for one of these old masterpieces. As always, good job.

[@pameladulany1457]

Love the oak woodwork and ceiling beams.❤

[@gfmikols]

Thank you for saving that home!! That wood work over the archways is amazing!! I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything quite like that before.

[@danielkoher1944]

This is a wonderful job of restoration.

[@user-be7oh5uc7n]

What a beautiful home

[@cellalong9694]

This house has been featured in at least three books. One is “thirteen Alabama Ghosts and Geoffrey” by Katherine Tucker Wyndham. I visted the home when it was in a deplorable state.

[@andrewbrendan1579]

Edward Kenworth Carlilse: a businessman and he was a real bit of business himself.

[@drealake3281]

Such a beautiful & interesting design.

[@rhondabuce8348]

Oh, how I would love a house like this. A real treasure.

[@jerrys9226]

I like the woodwork, especially the staircase.

[@thesun-N-moon8885]

You did a great job. This home is beautiful.

[@brigidmccarthy5800]

I always thought that was called a summer kitche that way when you were cooking the heat wouldn't create in the whole house🎉

[@vickicook7258]

So interesting! The estate is very beautiful! but what intrigues me is the story of the original people involved. TY

[@lisadolan689]

Thank you again Ken 🙏☺️

[@SpanishEclectic]

This house was definitely a change from the Federal and Greek Revival (the first one) plantation homes of those areas. I had to laugh when you said the kitchen was not used as such when the photo was taken; most people don't keep bags of ammonium nitrate in the middle of the floor, lol. We see sleazy business people today, and it's nothing new as history shows us. Interesting layout of the home. Glad this one has been restored, even if it's not open to the public. Too many historic buildings have met the wrecking ball.

[@ThisHouse]

I didn’t want to say anything about that in the video because KZbin would probably flag the content, but I was waiting for someone to point that out! Good eye!

[@user-ux9dk3mc2o]

Thank you Ken I really enjoy these videos.

[@vixtex]

Beautiful and freakin haunted.❤️

[@suzanneeberle3791]

Beautiful ❤

[@lostribe5130]

It's a crime how many families and beautiful homes were just sacrificed in that war.

[@Mej_Javiky]

Many of the features that you described seem to be common occurrences.: Servants staircases, servants quarters tucked away in the attack, a separate wash house. The fact that the wash house was connected to the main house by a covered walkway hardly supports the idea that it was hidden for the sake of secrecy.

[@user-bu7wj1gx4d]

Seeing these plantations, reminds me of Joyner Castle in Omaha, Nebraska & the museum, today's architecture is not the same today

[@julieduchek2969]

I think the hall is absolutely beautiful. Ken, you are the best narrator and I love your presentations. You make the presentation about the house, not about you. Thank you.

[@jacquetow9914]

Beautiful he had an awsome talent🎉😮

[@mimigee117]

Interesting! Thanks!

[@kendranewton9071]

Love those staircases!

[@lorrainehilgendorf2165]

Beautiful ❤️

[@califdad4]

Beautiful home that thankfully was saved

[@mcraig1969]

Great tour. I'd never heard of this place. It was definitely a deviation from the simple usual federal styles that had the Greek Rivial porticos added in the 1850s and 60s.

[@glynislailann9056]

Whilst the history of the house is both intriguing and sad, it is wonderful that it eventually got restored to its almost former glory.

[@robkunkel8833]

I’m very used to the idea of a “great house” in the Virgin Islands. Whim Plantation in St, Croix is a great example. We see so much of this type of functional use in this latitude, such as the cistern and separate cooking area for fire prevention concerns. Nice narration. The original owner certainly walked a fine line between North and South. A true hypocrite he was but Northern soldiers left it alone to save it for the modern restoration. Thank you everybody. It is worthy as a true historical archive.

[@newellbate]

Amazing.

[@user-sg6ji2kk3u]

This is a beautiful home . Love the color photos of that staircase and the floor to ceiling window at the landing . Also the in wall bookcases that are glassed in are really great . Would love those in my own home . It’s really heartbreaking when teenagers destroy such historic places with parties that include vadalism , graffiti , smashing windows and just total disregard for a lovely property . When a home like this one is left to disrepair and neglect it’s an open invitation to teenagers and vandalism . Really glad a family purchased the property and restored the home . Love these Historic homes . ❤😊👍🏻💯🇨🇦🇨🇦🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@mz.jackson3760]

As much as I enjoyed the tour and the details regarding it's fascinating history and the uncanny peculiarities of its founding owner, I must confess I am quite disappointed that you failed to share any photos of the slave quarters - inside or out. While I realize that the majority of shacks and cabins that had once housed enslaved African-American families on plantations all throughout the South are no longer standing - due largely to a collective sense of apathy, shame and negect on part of owners, as well as, of course, the general wear and tear of time -I would Imagine that the interior quarters had remained relatively intact -or at least insomuch as to merit a head peek during tours. As an historian, scholar and teacher of Black American history and Black diasporic studies with a heavy concentration in Southern Antebellum Studies, I have witnessed the ebb and flow of America's oftentimes tumultuous albeit ever-changing relationship with slavery and with race in general throughout my lifetime, and I've attained a remarkable deal of insight into the constant shifting trends in America's beliefs and attitudes and overall concern or regard surrounding Antebellum Southern society and culture, American slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the African-American experience throughout it all. And what I've discovered is seemingly rather disheartening and discouraging as far as our immediate situation is concerned, however, based on past trends both within the academia and within society itself at large, the American people possess an unfettered and uncompromising commitment to uncovering and preserving the truth of our nation's history - the good, and the bad, the glorious and the sorrowful, the honorable and the shameful. It is my sincere hope that you please take the initiative to tell the WHOLE story, particularly in this day and age where teachers are getting ARRESTED and charged with FELONIES for teaching our children about Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks, or for refusing to teach their students fantastical LIES surrounding the cause of the Civil War constructed by members of the Daughters of the Confederacy beginning in 1891 in attempt to write Black people out of our nation’s history altogether. They say history repeats itself. Well, Governor DeSantis can certainly attest to that.

[@ThisHouse]

I showed every picture I have. It is possible that they were never photographed.

[@brucebananto8092]

Love your videos ❤

[@janetpitts7302]

I loved the video! Thank you, new sub!!¡

[@buckwheatINtheCity]

A very historical and forward looking design. It would require a lot to maintain and keep up. I see a great Air B and B home.

[@debbralehrman5957]

Thanks👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@sherrimarston860]

WOW I would love to visit that house Beautiful...

[@lynnshepard4643]

Where is the dark secret?

[@sandrabarton3459]

Glad that someone was able to restore it.

[@shawnathon60]

So,, I think it was Ken-wothy! good job!

[@adapoole4515]

I would love to go see it.

[@DLeadVox]

Excellent use of the floor plans! It's the difference between GPS and hand written directions when "touring" a house! Thanks Ken 💛💛💛

[@user-zz6wb5de8p]

Love this house

[@kathleenpenny9388]

That's the one I want to live in! Love the stairs! Love the exterior! Wow

[@wendybutler1681]

Kills me to see these glorious old buildings rotting away.

[@AntonioRivera28]

My mom's friend owns the house. All the restoration work was done in like the 50s or 60s and needs to be redone. But its a great house. She bought it for the land to breed horses. And I'm not a fan of the current paint colors in it

[@nancyjackson9026]

Beautiful old house

[@paulpierron1815]

nice job.

[@CenturyHomeProject]

This house reminds me of the Barnsley Gardens ruins in the Georgia mountains.

[@amelias.2509]

Don't know if I've ever told you but I *love* your channel!!!❤❤❤❤❤

[@amymaki2918]

No dark secrets, but it's a beautiful old mansion.

[@chucksuter6551]

Clifton in Baltimore would be a cool house to look at. Since it’s today in a medium state of restoration

[@BS-qr5es]

Please do the daily mansion in Montana, he was americas cooper king! Very amazing property that’s being taken care of by a trust.

[@tamekaswindle3473]

Kenworthy Hall is not too far from where I live. Sometimes you can see it from the road if the trees are cut.

[@SmokyMountainBlessed]

wow interesting history

[@billolsen4360]

I wouldn't be proud to have founded the American Institute of Architects, AIA, which should be known as the Anti-Innovation Association.

[@judithdavis7437]

It’s a beautiful place

[@sandrashevel2137]

Beautiful.

[@randyboglisch137]

An absolutely beautiful house. Thanks for always sharing such fine homes with us.. I am sure a lot of research goes into these. Thank you

[@Ggdivhjkjl]

Where may we find the floorplans for this house please?

[@latishashuler]

So how many people lived in this plantation home after the war? The slave owner never freed them.

[@michellemhessman4364]

Great house

[@francesbernard2445]

That house looks a lot like the house one of my cousins owns from the rich side of my family after he obtained a law degree whilie working in only business law. After he witnessed what I went through in divorce courts if he could at all help it - Wanted nothing to do with the family court and the criminal court rooms in the court house in this city ever. So far so good. Him and his wife have never divorced. Nor has any of their children ended up in a whole lot of trouble so far. Very intelligent. Always has been. He nor his parents have ever been slave owners.

[@karenroot450]

What a fantastic home. Love the main entrance. Love that porch. What a love to take 23 years to restore this magnificent home. I hope they adore it. I would. Thanks Ken. Hopefully your all healed up and working on your house again!

[@garryferrington811]

The owner was...quite an opportunist. Beautiful house, though.

[@ml3110]

That was a pretty place.

[@user-jk2hb5qq8r]

Thanks, Having grew up in a large city, I lived in a lot of big houses, but none like that, 😂😅😂. I love the grandor that they have. But I'm left wondering three things? 1. Why did it set empty for so many years, was it ever for sale then? 2. Where they asking to much money for it then, considering the shape it was in? 3. What did it sale for?? Thanks

[@jppurves7837]

Somewhat odd that there was (is?) a chest freezer in the entrance hall.

[@marcuscicero9587]

what do I think? an utterly gorgeous building

[@richardbuckner4400]

Hopefully more plantation homes will be saved. This is a magnificent place.

[@savinghistory642]

plantation houses are as hated by some as statues of Confederate soldiers.

[@avashnea]

@@savinghistory642 Only brainless revisionists hate them and want to rewrite history. Don't act like slavery wasn't just as common in the North.

[@mrbear1302]

Am I seeing eight bedrooms with only two bathrooms?

[@nicolad8822]

Why would that be unusual? It was that long before they would have been using tubs in the bedrooms and have servants bring up hot water.

[@carolyn8271]

The home is beautiful but it is hard to enjoy when you know someone so awful lived there.😢

[@savinghistory642]

go snivel somewhere else

[@Jbeanz2023]

It was a lovely house whose inhabitants perpetuated the horror and disgrace of one human being forcibly enslaving another. A house where people worked from dusk to dawn with no pay and no guarantee that they wouldn't be sold away from their children or loved ones. So while some are able to focus on the historical aspect of architecture and large rooms, I cannot overlook the day-to-day of the oppressed people who cleaned those rooms without freedom or hope to live their lives as their enslavers did.

[@alaynebyrd2564]

YES, thank you for saying this! So many in this comment section (that clearly did not pass the vibe check) are choosing to overlook this.

[@mikebacherl2490]

Why wasn't it transferred by "will" to the descendents of the "slaves" who had suffered the "hardships" and "drudgery" of, most likely, very short lives there!!!

[@esmith407]

Can you do the Tom Pendergast house in Kansas City? It’s beautiful. Might be a little too new though.

[@ThisHouse]

I’ll look it up, cheers!

[@stephenolson532]

Nice hanging tree's all around 🎯🤑

[@MegaVthompson]

🥰Beautiful

[@violethouseworth5943]

I would love to own it

[@fugu4163]

Seems like Edward Carlisle priorities was style above functionality and that he was a hippocrite to say the least. What i know of it wasnt exactly unusual to keep slaves where noone could see them after the civil war. You might change the laws but you cant change people.

[@savinghistory642]

do you weep so copiously for the slaves being held and traded around the world today?

[@alaynebyrd2564]

​@@savinghistory642You and this same question. Op may or may not feel a certain way about modern day slavery, but the fact of the matter is that Op is absolutely correct!