Somerset Place, human settlement in United States of America
Somerset Place is a historic plantation in Washington County beside Lake Phelps with dozens of buildings from the 1800s. The grounds include the mansion with double-row rooms, farm buildings like mills and storage structures, worker housing, and specialized buildings for daily tasks.
The plantation was created in 1816 when Josiah Collins Sr. purchased his partners' shares in the original land company from the 1790s and renamed it Somerset Place. His son and later his grandson expanded the estate significantly until the Civil War halted operations in 1862.
The name Somerset Place comes from Josiah Collins' birthplace in England. The plantation shows the architecture and layout of a large farm from the 1800s, with separate areas for the mansion, worker housing, mills, and storage buildings.
The site is open to visitors from Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and sits within Pettigrew State Park with walking trails. Admission is free, and guided tours are available for a modest fee to learn more from a knowledgeable guide.
In 1986, the Somerset Homecoming took place, where descendants of enslaved workers gathered to celebrate their roots and share their history. This event later inspired a book publication and shows how the site continues to maintain connection to its residents.
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