Deborah Chan
Rowan Oak, the historic home of Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner in Oxford, Mississippi, has been the site of at least one wedding. The house, which was built in 1844 and purchased by Faulkner in 1930, served as his residence until his death in 1962 and is now owned and maintained by the University of Mississippi. The house features an early antebellum garden and an eastern red cedar tree that Faulkner placed in the 1940s, providing a unique and historic setting for a wedding ceremony and reception.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding venue | Rowan Oak, Oxford, MS |
| Home of | Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner |
| Year purchased by Faulkner | 1930 |
| Year Faulkner renamed it "Rowan Oak" | 1931 |
| Year of Faulkner's death | 1962 |
| Current owner | University of Mississippi |
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What You'll Learn
Rowan Oak hosted a wedding
Rowan Oak, the historic home of Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner, hosted a wedding for Anna and Brad. The couple chose the venue because they wanted "the most Oxford wedding possible" since it is where they first met and lived together.
The house, built in 1844, was purchased by Faulkner in 1930 and served as his residence until his death in 1962. The author was fascinated by its history and made several renovations to the property, including adding plumbing and electricity in the 1930s. He also renamed it "Rowan Oak" in 1931, after two trees: the rowan tree of Scotland, symbolising peace and security, and the live oak, symbolising strength and solitude.
On the morning of the wedding, there were scattered showers, but the skies cleared about an hour before the ceremony, making way for sunshine. The groom, Brad, even had time to chug a beer at a frat party before the ceremony, a story that later went viral on Twitter. The couple's wedding officiant, Carl Levenson, was Brad's advisor during his undergrad at Idaho State, and he tailored his words to the couple's lives and experiences, tying in the venue of Faulkner's estate.
The reception was held in the garden, which Faulkner liked for its Gothic nature. The author had left it largely untouched because the previous owner, Judith Sheegog, threatened to haunt the house if he "messed" with her garden. The garden features an early antebellum design with a circle of eastern red cedar trees at its perimeter, believed to "cleanse the air".
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The house was owned by William Faulkner
The Faulkner House in Oxford, Mississippi, also known as Rowan Oak, was indeed owned by the Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner and his family for over 40 years, from 1930 until his death in 1962. The property, built in 1844, had been unoccupied for seven years before Faulkner purchased it. In 1931, he renamed it "Rowan Oak" after two trees: the rowan tree of Scotland, symbolising peace and security, and the live oak, symbolising strength and solitude. Interestingly, neither of these tree species can be found on the property, and there is no such tree species known as a "rowan oak".
Faulkner made several significant renovations and additions to the home and its grounds. For instance, in the 1930s, he installed plumbing and electricity, added brick terraces, a porch off the dining room, a porte-cochère on the west side, a fourth bedroom, a butler's pantry, and a kitchen. He also built a stable for his horses, which he kept for riding, jumping, and occasionally fox hunting. In the 1950s, he oversaw further updates, including enclosing porches and adding a private closet, bathroom, and office on the ground floor. It was in this office that Faulkner spent the last decade of his career writing, producing works that earned him both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award in 1954.
The house holds a wealth of personal history for Faulkner and his family. He settled there with his wife, Estelle, and her two children from a previous marriage, Malcolm and Victoria. They later welcomed their daughter, Jill, whose wedding reception was held in the garden. The garden itself has a unique history, as Faulkner appreciated its Gothic nature and left it largely untouched due to a local legend. According to the tale, the ghost of Judith Sheegog, a previous resident, would haunt the house if he altered the garden.
After Faulkner's death in 1962, Rowan Oak was purchased by the University of Mississippi in 1972. The university has carefully preserved the home, which contains 90% of the original furnishings, to promote Faulkner's literary legacy. It is now open to the public year-round, attracting visitors interested in exploring Faulkner's creative environment and the history of the site. Rowan Oak has also served as a memorable wedding venue, providing a unique and personal setting for couples like Anna and Brad, who celebrated their special day there.
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Faulkner renamed the house in 1931
The Rowan Oak, a primitive Greek Revival house, was built in 1844 for Robert B Sheegog, an Irish immigrant enslaver from Tennessee. The house was purchased by William Faulkner in 1930, and he resided there with his family until his death in 1962. In 1931, Faulkner renamed the house "Rowan Oak", which was inspired by two trees: the rowan tree of Scotland, symbolising peace and security, and the live oak, symbolising strength and solitude. Interestingly, neither of these trees can be found on the property, and there is no such tree species known as a "rowan oak".
Faulkner made several renovations and additions to Rowan Oak throughout his time there. In the 1930s, he installed plumbing and electricity, added brick terraces, a porch off the dining room, a porte-cochère on the west side, a fourth bedroom, a butler's pantry, and a kitchen. He also made structural changes to the original L-shaped layout, which originally included a 450-square-foot centre hall connecting a parlor, dining room, and library.
Faulkner's years at Rowan Oak were creatively productive, resulting in him winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1949, and the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award in 1954 for his novel "A Fable". The house holds remnants of his creative process, including scribblings and outlines for "A Fable" on the walls of his small study.
After Faulkner's death, his wife Estelle and their daughter Jill continued to live at Rowan Oak until Estelle's death in 1972. The property was then sold to the University of Mississippi, which has maintained the home and its furnishings much as they were during Faulkner's lifetime. Rowan Oak was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977 and is open to the public year-round.
Today, Rowan Oak serves as a memorable wedding venue, offering a unique and historic setting for couples seeking a memorable Oxford wedding.
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The house was built in 1844
The Faulkner House, also known as Rowan Oak, in Oxford, Mississippi, has been the site of at least one wedding. The house was built in 1844 and was purchased by Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner in 1930. The property had been unoccupied for seven years before Faulkner bought it, and he lived there with his family until his death in 1962.
The house has a rich history and has been carefully preserved. In 1972, the University of Mississippi purchased Rowan Oak and has maintained the home in the same condition as it was at the time of Faulkner's death. The house is open to the public year-round and contains 90% of the original furnishings, offering visitors a glimpse into Faulkner's life and creative environment.
The grounds of Rowan Oak feature a Gothic garden, which Faulkner admired and left untouched. He was fascinated by the history of the property and even incorporated its name into his own, renaming the estate "Rowan Oak" in the 1930s. The name combines the rowan tree of Scotland, symbolizing peace and security, and the live oak, symbolizing strength and solitude.
Over the years, Faulkner made several renovations and additions to the house, including installing plumbing and electricity, adding brick terraces, a porch off the dining room, and a fourth bedroom. He also built a stable for his horses, which he kept on the property for riding, jumping, and occasionally fox hunting.
The house has been the setting for at least one wedding, that of Anna and Brad, who chose Rowan Oak as their ceremony venue. Their wedding photos capture the beauty and uniqueness of the historic home, making it a memorable and personal experience for the couple and their guests.
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The University of Mississippi purchased the house in 1972
Rowan Oak, the historic home of Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner, has played host to weddings in Oxford, Mississippi. The property, which was built in 1844, was purchased by Faulkner in 1930 and served as his residence until his death in 1962.
The house and its grounds hold a great deal of significance for Faulkner's family and his creative work. The author made several renovations and additions to the home, including installing plumbing and electricity, adding brick terraces and a porch off the dining room, and constructing a private closet, bathroom, and office on the ground floor. It was in this office that Faulkner spent the last decade of his career writing, including the outline of his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "A Fable", on the office walls.
The property has been the site of at least one wedding reception, with the sunken patio built for Faulkner's daughter Jill's wedding celebration. The house also features a barn, which was built in the 1840s and used by Faulkner to house his horses, including his favourite, Tempy. The garden, with its Gothic character, was of particular interest to Faulkner, who was fascinated by the property's history.
Today, Rowan Oak stands as a testament to Faulkner's life and work, attracting visitors and writers alike, including notable names such as John Updike, Richard Ford, and Alice Walker. The University of Mississippi's acquisition of the property ensures that Faulkner's legacy is preserved and accessible to those seeking inspiration or a glimpse into the author's private world.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can. The Faulkner House, also known as Rowan Oak, is a popular wedding venue.
The University of Mississippi owns and maintains the property.
Yes, the house has hosted wedding receptions in the past. In fact, the sunken patio was built for Jill's wedding reception.
The house was built in 1844 and was purchased by Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner in 1930. It served as his residence until his death in 1962.
