This beautiful home, built in 1879, is situated on 1.87 acres and completely fenced with a tall brick fence and picket fence in front. The gates are ornamental wrought iron from the 1830’s and have the legendary phoenix birds on them. This architectural treasure is one of only 3 Second Empire homes remaining in Mississippi.

Bella Vida was built by Joseph Eckford, and sold in the late 1880’s to Mississippi State Senator George Leftwich, who lived there with his family for many years. Bella Vida has been restored to its original grandeur and reigns as Queen of Aberdeen’s “Silk Stocking Row [S. Franklin Street].”

Bella Vida has been featured in a number of publications, including “Southern Living,” “Mississippi Magazine,” “Victorian Homes of Mississippi,” and “Romantic Aberdeen.” Bella Vida is a two and a half story, framed structure with a striking three and a half story tower placed diagonally at the corner of the east and south elevations.

A dramatic Mansard roof sheathed in patterned slate crowns the tower and house. Porch roofs were new as of 2006. There is lavish use of lacy wrought iron. Jib windows open from bays onto balconies with wrought iron railings, and also open to the first floor veranda. These contiguous porches run along three sides of the house. Nineteen elegant Italianate posts support the porch roofs and are connected by handsome arched spandrels.

The yard is spectacular, with a myriad of Southern flora: bulb plants, azaleas, magnolia trees, camellias, forsythia, wisteria, pear trees, and pecan trees. There are two separate gardens in addition to a brick patio and ponds. The carriage house is heated, cooled, insulated. There is a 7-car carport, high enough to house an RV.

The front entry and parlor fireplace are inset with red Bohemian glass. The unusual etched design of the fireplace panel is said to be a representation of the Tombigbee River, as seen from Bella Vida’s third floor tower balcony. Tradition holds that the glass had been ordered from Italy and shipped up the Tombigbee to Aberdeen.

The home’s interior woodwork, opulent fireplace mantle pieces, and fine staircase are of the period and have been sensitively restored. There are 12 total rooms. Ceilings are 12 ft. Window treatments are custom made; walls are solid wood with wallpaper (480 rolls total); floors are original hardwood. There are two security systems.

There are five beautiful mantles (one with gas logs), pocket doors, cranberry glass transoms, two bay windows, four bedrooms (3 upstairs with 1 master bedroom downstairs), four baths (2 upstairs, 2 down). Also, there is a large entry hall (10x21ft.) with a gorgeous mural on the wall ascending the staircase. The parlor is 17x19ft. The formal dining room is 14’ x 24’, or 336 sq. ft. The library is 18x19ft. and has a fireplace.

The master bedroom (15x16.5ft.) has a door to the porch, with private sitting area. The kitchen (15x18ft.) has a breakfast area, new cabinets (some with glass fronts), an island with sink, ceramic counter tops, stove, dishwasher, refrigerator, disposal, and microwave. There is a sun porch off of the kitchen downstairs and a large sleeping porch overlooking the back yard and patio upstairs.

Bella Vida has two Trane central heat/air units (gas heat). Average utilities for the entire home are: electric, water, sewer, trash--$300.00 per mo.; gas average is $140.00 per month.

In the midst of her beautifully landscaped grounds, among her gardens and ponds, Bella Vida stands as a beautiful testimony to Aberdeen’s burgeoning prosperity in the Post-Reconstruction period and one of the jewels in Aberdeen’s crown of historic older homes.

For more information call our office at (662) 369-2200 or Marsha Ballard at Southern Realty & Management Co, (662) 369-7061.