Historic Frogmore Lost to Fire

“This is my 30th year, and this has been my terror all those years — this house catching fire,” Cothren said. “We don’t have fire hydrants out here.”

Cothren said his men, with assistance from Sandy Lake, Jonesville, Ferriday, Vidalia and Monterey fire departments and Tensas Fire District 1 tried to fight the blaze for several hours.

Tanner and her husband bought the property in 1960 and lived in the house, which wasn’t part of the Frogmore Plantation tours, Tanner said, adding the remainder of the grounds would remain open.

“The house really wasn’t part of the tour,” she said. “Just the cotton field and the surrounding buildings are. The house was just our home. We’ll have the rest open for tour for a group on Sunday.”