NATCHEZ, Miss. – City aldermen closed the public out of their discussions Wednesday about leasing city-owned Auburn to the Historic Natchez Foundation so it can maintain the Duncan Park mansion that was recently shut down for tours.
The foundation “is ready to move forward with what I think will be an exciting strategy” for the 210-year-old structure, Mayor Dan Gibson said before the closed-door meeting.
State law allows government boards to keep the public out of discussions concerning property leases. The board took no action on the terms of the lease with HNF, Gibson said.
Built in 1812, Auburn is one of the earliest mansions constructed in Natchez and the first with classical designs, according to historical accounts. The Federal-style house has been designated a National Historic Landmark (one of 10 in Natchez). The Duncan family that owned Auburn since 1820 donated it to the city in 1910 along with the adjoining 210 acres that’s now Duncan Park.
City officials and the HNF have been working on plans to reopen Auburn for tours and keep it maintained. A private volunteer group — formerly known as the Auburn Garden Club — had operated it as a tourist attraction for decades. It ceased doing so in October. A dwindling number of tour guides and a decrease in visitors forced Auburn to close as its curators struggled to pay the bills.
Preserving and restoring the house has been a constant and costly process. A recent project is for repairing the front columns and renovating the billiard hall next to the main house. This was funded earlier this year with about $300,000 from the city and the state Department of Archives & History.
from www.auburnmuseum.org
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