Life and Labor at Magnolia Plantation: Betty Hertzog Remembers ‘The Place’

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about spending time with Ms. Betty Hertzog out at Magnolia Plantation, which has been owned by her family since its founding two centuries ago. This time, we’ll take an even closer look at the place—and its people—as seen through her eyes.

Some of Ms. Betty’s most vivid memories of Magnolia stem from “working to keep the place up.” Ms. Betty and scholars alike attribute much to the dozens of folks who were the plantation’s lifeblood through their everyday labor and dedication to the Magnolia community.

A Place Shaped by Work and Memory

Magnolia and other plantations and farms were often referred to as “the place,” a tradition that still survives as a remnant among locals in the area today. Though my grandfather passed in 1996, we still refer to his 40 acres of farmland at Bayou Bourbeaux as “the place.” Multiple generations of Magnolia plantation inhabitants–both planter and labor class–worked side by side on “the place.” Collectively, they contributed significant cultural influence to the story of “the place” over two centuries while maintaining their own distinct heritage.

The human resources labor of such plantations was referred “the Help” or “Hands,” terms that typically constituted day laborers, tenant farmers, overseers, range riders, and other hired assistance. Sometimes these folks were descended from the plantations’ original enslaved community. But they could be of any race. Whether it be stories of good times and bad or testimony to the collaborative process of making their way, “the Help” is always attributed with ingenuity, leadership, and insightfulness that often times saves the day.

Work at the Mill and in the Fields

Ms. Betty often visited the gristmill to watch the workers. Corn meal and grits were everyday staples at Magnolia and were also a source of income. To support the large number of people living there, grinding these products was a continual event. She still owns the gristmill, a cherished piece curated at the Magnolia Big House.

During Ms. Betty’s childhood, manual and draft animal-based tools were the only option for the help, before the End of the Plantation Era heralded widespread use of tractors. Workers wrangled with mules for this difficult work until tractors came along.

Magnolia was a diversified plantation with both plant and animal-based agribusiness. On any given day, one may have observed chickens, geese, pigeons, guineas, cattle, hogs, and sheep all playing their role at Magnolia. Of course, horses were used by the family for riding enjoyment as well, and prize race horses including “The Flying Dutchman” had roots at Magnolia.

Cowboys of Cane River

As the shift toward large-scale cattle farming began, horses were necessary for managing the herds. Though we may think of cowboys as a western concept, there exists a strong cowboy culture in the Cane River region as well. “Cowboying” crossed class and race as people worked together to get the job done.

Mr. James Scarborough, a Magnolia cowboy of the recent past and Ms. Betty’s contemporary lands manager, sometimes recalls his crew’s role throughout Cane River. He managed herds exceeding 400 in number along with unique personalities including Mr. Isaac “Ike” Dupree. Mr. James’ experiences with traditional cattle range operations, dealing with natural disasters such as driving cattle to safety during the floods of 1945 & 1953, and natural resources management in the Cane River Valley provide much insight to our perception of the changing landscape.

Songs and Community Life

With all the hard work, it’s difficult to surmise how they made it all work at Magnolia. A common thread that helped to make hot, hard labor palatable were songs.

Sometimes “the help” sang songs with spiritual meaning. Beyond the enjoyment of music, songs including “Calling the Press” would help maintain the tempo of these monotonous chores. The plantations in the area also had baseball teams, and Magnolia’s was a source of pride for the entire community.

What kept the Magnolia plantation community together for so many years following the Civil War, Emancipation, and through the hardships of the Great Depression and numerous natural disasters was strong inter-cultural respect and common morals. Thanks to people like Ms. Betty Hertzog, we can rediscover the traditions and heritage of special places like Magnolia Plantation.