Because of New Madrid's location along a bend in the Mississippi River it was a thriving port prior to the Civil War. It is because of this that William and Amanda Hunter chose to live here.
They were very successful business owners. They owned a dry goods store - the Crystal Palace - in town and a floating store that served many towns up and down the river. They also owned large quantities of land amounting to 15,000 acres in 4 states.
The yellow cypress that was used to build their mansion was likely processed in a mill they owned. Some of the slaves (up to 36) they owned were no doubt used to build the home.
The Mansion exhibits Georgian, Greek Revival and Italianate features popular during the period. The mansion took nearly a year to build and was completed in May of 1860.
Tragedy struck the family prior to the home's completion when William died of yellow fever in April of 1859. Despite this the construction was completed and Amanda, along with her seven children moved into the home in 1860-61.
Amanda, her sons and her brother continued running the family businesses. During the Civil War New Madrid was distinctly Southern in its character. The Hunter boys served in the Confederate forces.
According to Amanda's grandson, Bud, the Hunter home was occupied by Union troops under Gen John Pope during the Battle of Island No 10 and the Siege of New Madrid. There is no written documentation to prove this, but, it is clear that the Hunter family and their home survived the conflict relatively unscathed.
In 1874 Ella, the Hunter's youngest daughter, married William Dawson. Upon Amanda's death in 1876 Ella and William moved into the mansion.
Dawson served three terms in the Missouri State Legislature. In 1884 he was elected to the US House of Representatives. In addition, he served on the planning committee of the 1898 World's Fair in Chicago.
The home did suffer damage during the Great Flood of 1937. (There is a spot in the house where you can see the water mark on the wall.) Descendants of the Hunter family occupied the home until 1958.
In 1966 it was purchased by the city of New Madrid. A year later the city donated the site to the state to use as a state historic site. The home now stands as a testimony to the grand lifestyle of the successful businessman prior to the Civil War.
The home contains many of the original furnishings owned by Amanda Hunter herself. It is believed that the home houses one of the largest collections of Mitchell and Rammelsburg furniture in the nation.
The home has been restored to its 1860-1880 glory. It features 15 rooms with 9 fireplaces situated on a shady 18 acre site. Tours are available for a small fee. (The above description does little to express the beauty of the house. Seeing it in person is well worth the time and cost).
The cache is not located within the fenced in yard on the property. This area, along with the house itself, is only accessible when the office is open. Please stop in at the office and one of the staff will be happy to provide you with a guided tour.
Visit the Hunter-Dawson Park Information Page for hours and more information.
