NATCHEZ — Robin Person’s first thought Friday night was hole-y cow — literally.

Person, branch director at Historic Jefferson College, was watching television Friday night when she heard a “whomping” sound behind her house located at the historic site.

“All of the animals were in the room with me so I didn’t give it much thought,” Person said. “But about 10 minutes later I heard it again but that time the house shook, too.”

The shaking house, which is owned by the state, prompted Person to go outside to investigate. What she found was a bit of a surprise. A cistern located behind the house had collapsed leaving a 12-foot wide hole in the ground.

“I grabbed a flashlight and came out here to look around,” Person said. “I didn’t know what I was going to find, but this is it.”

A cistern is an underground receptacle used for collecting and storing water. The roof of the cistern collapsed at Jefferson College.

Person said there are four other cisterns on the Historic Jefferson College Property.

“There are two that we are planning on filling in now,” Person said. “Before this, I don’t think we gave them much thought.”

The hole from the Friday night collapse has already gotten larger as part of the sides are beginning to sink and cave in.

Person said she is working now to find a way to fill in the cistern. In its current state, Person said it creates a danger for visitors on the Jefferson College site.

“We have a ton of animals — deer, raccoons — that are on the property,” Person said. “It is definitely dangerous for them.”

The animals aren’t the only thing left in danger by the hole.

The cavern left by the collapsed cistern is also dangerously close to a tree that’s root support has been undermined by the void.

“I’m hoping if we can get it filled in quickly enough, the tree can be saved,” Person said. “If it comes down, I just hope it doesn’t come down unexpectedly because it will likely fall on the house and right on my kitchen.”