Shaw Homestead

The Shaw homestead was built in the 1880s under the conditions of the Federal Homestead Act, which encouraged adventurous settlers to move to Southern Mississippi. The original “dogtrot” house with detached kitchen was constructed by Jules Ladner, but by the turn of the century, Melvina and Gilbert Shaw settled there, and they made some small additions to the building.

Although the kitchen was central to homestead life and several family members shared the limited living quarters, many daily activities took place outside on the grounds and on the house porches. The yard immediately around the house was fenced for chickens, and outbuildings dotted the property including a smokehouse, jar house, corn crib, barn, sweet potato house, outhouse, garage, well and tractor shed. Many of these outbuildings remain.

The house had no electricity, plumbing or running water until 1951. Four generations of the Shaw family lived in the house until 1969, when the last occupant evacuated for Hurricane Camille. The house remained unoccupied and largely untouched until 2006, when it was donated to the Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain. Since then, some improvements have been done to stabilize the house and outbuildings, but more work remains to be done.

We are delighted to announce a partnership with Coast Electric, who is sponsoring this property to make some improvements and help with annual maintenance.

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