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Many famous and interesting people have had brushes with me that served to skyrocket their careers to new heights. If they hadn't met me, chances are you never would've heard of them. Sure, many of them were famous before they met me, but that's just how awesome I am: I can improve your career before you've even met me!
Many famous and interesting people have had brushes with me that served to skyrocket their careers to new heights. If they hadn't met me, chances are you never would've heard of them. Sure, many of them were famous before they met me, but that's just how awesome I am: I can improve your career before you've even met me!
Next on my list is Leyland French, owner of the McRaven House in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Leyland was my mom’s favorite employer, and giving guided tours of the house was her favorite job. I got to meet him back in around 1995 or so and get a tour of the house for free! (It pays to have connections!)McRaven House also hosts an annual Civil War reenactment, and the actor who plays General Grant is very studious of the man, never breaking character, and has his mannerisms down pat.
Leyland has recently (2009) put up the house for sale, and it’s a shame, because he has a considerable collection of incredible, historic antiquities on display, many of them hard to find anywhere else. It’s unlikely he’ll be passing along such an interesting collection with the house for a mere 2 million dollars. I haven't been down there in quite some time, but I've heard my mom telling me about how several times, antique collectors would tour the house and be shocked at how many antiques were on display. I suggest you get down there post-haste to see it before he rolls it all up!
Went to Vicksburg yesterday (7/16/2011) McRaven closed no more tours! :(
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update. It's a shame, it was a wonderful place to visit.
ReplyDeleteWe met Leyland in the late 1990's, as well as his parents, so very nice; have heard that they have both passed away and that Leyland has moved to Houston to be near his brother. We loved the house and the many stories he would share with us. I never saw or felt anything on my visit, but our friends did feel the "cold" in several rooms. Leyland and I corresponded for a while, but we both got busy and just lost touch. My husband and I stopped by the house today returning to Ft Worth area from visiting Buckhead GA. I so badly wanted to climb the short fence, but if Leyland was having trouble with angry ghosts, I sure didn't want to stir them up so just stood there trying to see beyond the overgrown plants... Leyland gave so much of himself to that piece of history, it's such a shame he was driven from it, or that's what we were told today, by some of the men at the Old Court House... please give Leyland our regards, we will always remember our visit to the "Raven House" also known as the McRaven House...
ReplyDeleteThank you for the update, Deberah. I had no idea the details surrounding his decision. The most I knew was that he'd been thinking about selling the place not too long after I visited, so I thought that was all there was to it. I'm sorry to hear he hasn't been able to find a buyer yet. It's a wonderful house, full of history.
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