Architecture
The Greek Revival was the most widespread and genuinely popular architectural style in 19th-century America and with its massive, shady porticoes was well suited to the Southern Climate. This architecture derives its form from the classical Greek temple, such as the Parthenon, where columns and beams support a shallow-pitched roof. Like a classical temple, the gable roof faces forward, creating a pediment, or triangle, which is sported by a beam, carried on top of columns. Many of the South's buildings were inspired by the works of Andreau Palladio, the Renaissance Italian architect who used columns, pediments, or projecting pavilions to suggest the giant porticoes of ancient Roman temples.
Owners of the Past
Early nineteenth century Greek Revival houses were made of wood and sided with clapboards that were usually painted white. White has a symbolic importance because it expressed the classical virtues of nobility and purity aspired to by the citizens of the young American republic.
The McWillie-Singleton House has a double portico, two-story gable roofed frame building held up by square cypress pillars. The floors are beautiful heart pine, quarter cut. The house features 14-foot ceilings, antique chandeliers from New Orleans, 10 foot pocket doors, a staircase with hand-turned mahogany, and working gas fireplaces. The white scrolled brackets indicate the transition from Greek Revival to Italianate.
William McWillie (1795-1869) was Governor of Mississippi during the turbulent times leading to the Civil War. He favored secession if Southern Rights could not be protected. His plantation called “Kirkwood” was located in the northern part of Madison County. After Governor McWillie left office in 1859, he retired from public life and spent his remaining years at Kirkwood. He was an active supporter of the Confederacy and his eldest son, Adam, was killed in the first Battle of Bull Run. Governor McWillie died at Kirkwood on March 3, 1869. A member of his family probably owned the house.
O. R. Singleton (1814-1889) was born near Nicholasville, Jessamine County, Kentucky. He attended public schools and graduated from St. Joseph’s College, Bardstown, KY and from the law department of the University of Lexington. He was admitted to the bar in 1838 and began the practice of law in Canton. He was elected to the State House of Representatives in 1846 and to the State Senate in 1848. He was then elected to the United States Congress in 1853. He served until 1861 when he withdrew from Congress upon the secession of Mississippi from the Union, a move that had his full approval. He served briefly in the Confederate army as a captain of a company organized in Canton. However, he was soon elected as a Representative from Mississippi to the Confederate Congress from 1861-1865. After the war he was elected as a Democrat to six straight congressional sessions. During this time he served as one of the first Regents of the Smithsonian Institute. He died in Washington, DC, January 11, 1889 and is buried in the Canton Cemetery.
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