What
She's All About
Over the years, many wonderful and fascinating individuals have
had a hand in shaping a dream for Oak Alley ... some tried and
won , some tried and lost, others just tried and gave up. Still,
they all had one thing in common ... they CARED enough to try.
Most
of them are gone now, leaving only bits and pieces of the whole
story ... yellowed documents in parish archives, remembrances
shared from generation to generation, a letter or two, a faded
photograph yet, most important of all, Oak Alley herself.
Oak
Alley's adaptive restoration in 1925 by her new owners, Mr. and
Mrs. Andrew Stewart, was the first example of ante-bellum restoration
along the River Road. Through the years, Oak Alley was the scene
of many events affecting those who had given her a second chance
at survival in the struggle against time and the elements. Josephine
Stewart outlived her husband by 26 years and, shortly before her
death on October 3, 1972, created a non-profit foundation, which
would be known as the Oak Alley Foundation, in order that the
home and 25 acres of ground would remain open for all to share.
The
Foundation Years
High Hopes, Hard Work, Faith
When Zeb Mayhew, Jr. came to the plantation, he brought visions
from his own past into future plans for Oak Alley. As a boy growing
up in New England, he had spent many vacations at the plantation
with his Aunt Josephine, and in New Orleans with his Grandmother
Julia, and considered Louisiana his second home.
He
chose Tulane University as his alma mater and, upon graduation,
put down permanent roots on the banks of The Mississippi River.
When an opportunity arose to take over the reins of Oak Alley
Foundation, he jumped at it.
The
challenge was enormous, operational funds minimal, and a great
deal of work crucial to the preservation of the house, grounds
and out buildings. There was no doubt of the historic value attached
to the beautiful treasure bequeathed to The Foundation, but there
had not been funds for an endowment for operation and maintenance,
and the whole undertaking had to start from square one!
Undaunted,
Zeb dug in, working one day at a time. In addition to the Foundation's
25 acres accommodating the antebellum manor, the overseer's house
and an office building, the remaining plantation acreage had been
willed by Mrs. Stewart to her nieces and nephews and their children,
including Zeb.
The
responsibility of supervising this legacy also fell to Zeb, and
his efforts at successfully managing one entity without compromising
the integrity of the other are clearly manifest in the self-maintaining,
well organized Oak Alley Plantation of today.
Even
more of the dream was realized in 1998 when Zeb became the sole
owner of all but The Foundation's historic 25 acres, the antebellum
manor and stately grounds. The door was finally opened upon a
breathtaking future full of possibilities and endless opportunities
for visitors to Louisiana's River Region to share her golden past
while experiencing the enjoyment of her many faceted present.
Credit: Oak Alley Plantations
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