A few miles north of Venice, Louisiana on Highway 23 I spotted a sign stating..."Only remaining Plantation in the Mississippi Delta". A short drive off the highway lead me to Woodland Plantation.
Woodland Plantation was built in the 1830's by one of America's first chief river pilots, Captain William Johnson. Captain Johnson and his partner, George Bradish, were sea captains/pirates from Nova Scotia who had come down to the Deep Delta in the late 1700's. Captain Johnson and his four sons built a thriving sugar cane plantation with one of the most modern mills of its time. Johnson was also in partnership with the famous pirate, Jean Lafitte.
Lafitte would bring slaves up Grand Bayou, which was a short cut to the Gulf of Mexico from Woodland, holding them at the slave quarters. From there Captains Johnson and Bradish would pick up the slaves and trade them up and down the river. Over the years, Woodland withstood the torment of several hurricanes and saw many changes, including serving as a haven for bootleggers during the prohibition.
Since 1934 Woodland Plantation has graced the label of Southern Comfort continuing it's early prohibition history.
In 1997 the Creppel family rescued this formerly neglected landmark. Woodland stands today as the only remaining plantation home in the Delta on the west bank of the Mississippi.be strong, be safe, Carlan
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