Epps, Edwin, House - Bunkie, LA
N 31° 10.517 W 092° 24.883
15R E 555772 N 3449174
Epps House now located on the Louisiana State University - Alexandria (LSUA) campus off US 71 on Water Tower Ave. "Twelve Years A Slave" book was written about this home.
Waymark Code: WM6BW3
Location: Louisiana, United States
Date Posted: 05/10/2009
Views: 5
I have been looking for this structure for over a year. I finally found it! It was moved from Bunkie, LA to its present location in 1999. While in Bunkie, it was a museum and was on the "Solomon Northup Trail" a trail that stopped at places mentioned in his book "Twelve Years A Slave". It now stands vacant in an open field under the LSUA water towers. There is alot of history on Mr. Northup about his book, but not alot on the Epps House. It was named for the "owner" of Mr. Northup, Edwin Epps. The book is also an extremely interesting read. The State Historical Marker (Moved with house) has a really good condensed history, I'll post here. For a more complete history, check the secondary website, listed below.
Marker text reads:
"Built in 1852 by Edwin Epps. Originally located near Holmesville on Bayou Boeuf about three miles away. From 1843 to 1853, Epps, a small planter, owned Solomon Northrup, author of famous slave narrative Twelve Years A Slave.
"
I am listing it as if it were still in Bunkie, although it is now about 20 miles north in Alexandria. The parish (county) is also different, originally being Avoyelles Parish, now in Rapides Parish.
Street address:
Hwy. 71
Bunkie, LA USA
71322
County / Borough / Parish: Avoyelles
Year listed: 1984
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event
Periods of significance: 1850-1874
Historic function: Domestic. Sub - Single Dwelling
Current function: Vacant
Privately owned?: yes
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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