I just returned form a stay in historic Natchez, Mississippi.  My stay
in Dunleith Plantation was marvelous and highly recommended.  They have
a nice restored Chickering Grand in the parlor.  All of the old homes
have interesting, mostly pre-civil war pianos, some more than one.

Chickering was the preferred brand, with one noteworthy Steiff (with
its original packing crate ca. 1859) at Longwood, the unfinished
octagonal mansion.  Santon Hall has three pianos in its double parlors.

Several nice music boxes were noticed in other homes.  I saw a
unrestored Fischer Ampico in an antique mall in central Mississippi
but, at $3500.00, I imagine it will be there a while.

The local people were delightful, the food excellent, and the art of
conversation far from dead.  A great getaway from the hassle of life
in Atlanta.

John McClure
Marietta, Georgia