One Of Mississippi's Most Historic Sites Is Almost Completely Hidden From The Naked Eye
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published September 23, 2018
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Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for more than 30 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as the Mississippi-based Parents & Kids Magazine. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
Mississippi is full of incredible sites from the past. Some, like the antebellum homes of Natchez and Vicksburg National Military Park, are widely known. But not every historic site is so popular. Take the Hermitage in Picayune, for example. Almost completely secluded, most residents have no idea the historic home exists. Take a look:
Dating back to the mid 1800s, Hermitage is Pearl River County’s most historic site. The 12-acre estate includes three structures and more than 20 rooms in the main house.
The land it sits on was once inhabited by the Choctaw Indians. Stephen Jarrell eventually came to the area and formed the first white settlement on the edge of Picayune.
Throughout its existence, the home has been owned by notable residents. In the early 1900s, it was purchased by Lamont Rowlands, who named it Hermitage.
Eliza Jane Poitevent is also among the prominent list of home owners. Better known by her pen name, Pearl Rivers, she was the first woman publisher of a major newspaper (the Times Picayune).
In 1937, the Crosby family took ownership of Hermitage and had it completely renovated. The family completed a second renovation in 1952, which included the addition of a pool.
Luckily, new owners came along in 2009 and began restoring Hermitage. Their hard work paid off, and by 2016, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, making it one of only two sites in Pearl River County on the list.
