Kenmore Plantation House
The Kenmore Plantation House is an historic plantation located four miles north of Maringouin, Louisiana. The house was constructed on a cotton plantation of the same name by David Barrow in the 1850's. By the time the Barrows moved in, they were one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in the south. Time passed, and their interest in the house waned. In 1913, the house and plantation were acquired by Dr. William Archie Holloway of Plaquemine, who was also the owner of the Evergreen Plantation below Plaquemine. Over the next several years the house was neglected as Dr. Holloway maintained his own comfortable residence in the city of Plaquemine. It was not until his son, James Madison Holloway, took over the plantation and made it the residence of his young family that the house was finally attended to.
The plantation's historical significance lies mostly in the petroleum deposits discovered beneath the grounds of the plantation. However, the house is also of a fairly unique design compared to other large houses built in the same era. Originally designed as a raised cottage with a typical four large rooms/central hall plan, the house has Undergone renovations several times since construction. Upon construction, the mansion was oriented towards Bayou Grosse Tete. However, for practical purposes, the house was reoriented to face the current blacktop highway in 1918. Later renovations saw the addition of bathrooms, and removal of the prominent central dormer, due to leakage. The house also saw the addition of a large service wing. The original structure, originally only four rooms, now contains three bedrooms, one bathroom, immense dining and living rooms, and a sun hall running across the back side. In the early 2000's, the house underwent a major renovation.
Kenmore House remained the center of an ACTIVE sugarcane plantation until the holdings of the Holloway Planting Company were sold to a railroad company in 1981. However, the Holloway family continued to inhabit Kenmore House until the year 2000. At that time, the railroad company wanted to sell the parcel of land the house sits on back to the family. By this time the rapidly-deteriorating house needed a complete overhaul, and it was decided that it would be best to pass up the offer and leave Kenmore House, yet they still retain mineral rights over the land.
Kenmore Plantation is now home to Triton Farms, a registered brahman cattle operation.