"I made it a priority in life to try and instill in each of my children a sense of the importance of historic preservation," Theodosia Nolan wrote in a letter to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. "Historic preservation is important not only because we live in these homes, but because of the pleasure it gives people to actually see our homes and their history."
That letter closes out "Cherokee Plantation on the Cane River," by Diny Nolan Landen and Tom Whitehead, a bookend to one of many chapters of historic preservation undertaken by members of the Murphy and Nolan families.
Cherokee Plantation, located in Natchitoches, Louisiana and originally built sometime before 1839, became a far-flung part of the Murphy estate in 1891, when Robert Calvert Murphy purchased it. Robert C. Murphy farmed the land at Cherokee for 40 years; Diny Nolan Landen said the farm was known for cotton and indigo crops.
Robert C. Murphy's son was Charles Haywood Murphy, who would go on in 1921 to strike oil here in El Dorado. After his death in 1941, his four children worked together to build the Murphy Oil corporation, which was originally known as the C.H. Murphy Co.
Wealthy of her own accord at this point, Theodosia Nolan (by now she'd married William Nolan, a businessman from El Dorado) began giving back to the community, both in El Dorado and wherever else the Murphy estate touched by then. In 1972, she began her restoration of the Cherokee Plantation.
"It's a Creole cottage style of architecture that is unique to the area, that part of Louisiana," Whitehead said. "These are all raised cottages because — it used to be on the Red River, but the Red River has since changed course — but there would be spring flooding, so it's a really different style than you see along the Mississippi River."
Two years ago, Diny Nolan Landen and Tom Whitehead started a preservation project of their own, this time working to compile and curate the history of Cherokee Plantation, the Natchitoches community and the Murphy/Nolan family.
Yesterday, they presented their efforts with a book signing held at the Newton House through the South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society. Members of the Murphy and Nolan families were in attendance, as well as other members of the community.
Bob Nolan, Theodosia Nolan's youngest son, named after Robert Calvert Murphy, said seeing his family's history preserved through the book is very special to him.
"It's very special for all of us. It all started with Theodosia Nolan and her great commitment to preserving this beautiful, really modest home [but so full of memories]," Bob Nolan said. "What she told us, you know, in seminal meetings, is that apart from our family's involvement, it had such architectural significance and that we must preserve it. She gave us no choice. It's very special to all of us."
Diny Nolan Landen said she decided to work with Tom Whitehead, the community representative for the family's nonprofit through which they published the book, the Cherokee Plantation Foundation, to write the book because her grandmother, Theodosia, had always loved sharing the farm with anyone who was interested in it. The Cherokee Plantation is the only privately-owned residence on the Cane River that allows public tours.
"She loved sharing Cherokee, not only with family, but also with the community and with anyone from the public," Diny Nolan Landen said. "She loved sharing Cherokee with as many people as she could."
The book explores the early history of Natchitoches, including when the Cherokee Plantation was originally built sometime before 1939 and information about the property's first owner, Emile Sompayrac. It also includes stories from throughout the farm's history, including a recounting of the "last legal duel" in Louisiana, when a political argument between Whig Gen. F. Gaiennie and Democrat Gen. P.E. Bossier, also a state representative at that time, escalated first to denunciations in the local newspaper and eventually to a rifle duel. Bossier won the duel.
Philip Gould, a premiere photographer based in Lafayette, Louisiana, provided his eye and camera to fill the book's pages with full-color photographs of Cherokee Plantation and its surrounding grounds. Including in the book is a room-by-room walk through of the plantation house.
"She's done two things here: one is preserve history of the place. It's been authentically restored," Whitehead said. "But it's also a story of family. It's not one of these plantation homes like you see along the Mississippi River, where everything is just perfect. It's really nice, but it's lived in — it has a sense of home."
For Diny Nolan Landen, the work of writing the book — perusing historical archives, interviewing family members, poring over photo albums — was well worth the two years it took, as it gave her the opportunity to follow in the foot steps of her great-grandmother Theodosia.
"It's really special. I think that my grandmother would be so pleased," she said. "I think she would be pleased to know that more people can experience the history and heritage and beauty of Cherokee through the book."
Diane Alderson, chair of the South Arkansas Historical Preservation Society said the SAHPS plans on highlighting other historically significant families and events in El Dorado in the future.
An annual tour of Cherokee Plantation is held during the second week of October every year. "Cherokee Plantation on the Cane River" can be purchased in the gift shop at the South Arkansas Historical Preservation's Gallery of History, 412 E. Faulkner, for $35. It is also available at Jefferson Street Books and cherokee1837.com.
Caitlan Butler can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].