FREDERICKSBURG CLUB TOUR
“Caroline County: Historic
Houses, Equine Events and Gracious Grounds”
Sponsored by The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club
Tuesday, April 22, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Chairman:
Kelly Johnson (Mrs. O. FitzHugh, Jr.)
203 Brooke Drive
Fredericksburg, VA 22408
(540) 899-0017
fitzkel@aol.com
Co-Chairman:
Liz King (Mrs. Philip H.)
1011 Albert Rennolds Drive
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
(540) 373-4417
phking4277@aol.com
Group Tours:
Lana King (Mrs. Wallace N.)
1202 Colony Road
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Lana.king@medicorp.org
INFORMATION CENTERS:
Fredericksburg Visitor Center
706 Caroline Street
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
(540) 373-1776 or 1-800-678-4748
Spotsylvania County Visitor Center
4704 Southpoint Parkway
Fredericksburg, VA 22407
(540) 891-8687 or 1-800-654-4118
FULL TICKET: $25 on day of tour; $20 in advance; $10 single-site admission. Children 13 and older, full price; ages 6-12, half price; ages five and under, free of charge. Tickets may be purchased on tour day at featured properties or at the information centers listed above. Children younger than age 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
ADVANCE TICKETS: For advance tickets with brochure, please send a self-addressed, stamped envelope (business size) with a check made payable to “RVGC Garden Week” by April 8 to the Chairman or Co-Chairman listed above. Advance tickets for groups (20 or more), see Group Tours above. For an additional charge, tickets may also be ordered on-line in advance at www.VAGardenweek.org.
LUNCHEON: There are two restaurants near the tour in Bowling Green: The Café on Main Street (804) 633-7336 and Jack’s Café (804) 633-2233. Mattaponi Springs Golf Club is in nearby Ruther Glen (804) 633-7888. Reservations are recommended at all restaurants. Some visitors may enjoy packing picnic lunches.
REFRESHMENTS: Included in the ticket and served all day at Hampton Manor.
DIRECTIONS:
(NOTE: Houses on the tour are within a two-and-one-half-mile
radius of each other and may be visited in any order.)
FROM THE SOUTH: I-95 North to Exit 104, merge onto
VA 207 East. Continue 7.1 mi. turning right on Nelson Hill Rd. Go
2.2 mi., turning right on Antioch Rd. Go 1.3 mi. to Chase’s
End.
#1. Leaving Chase’s End, go east (left
turn) on Antioch Rd. 0.5 mi. to Rte 301 South. Turn right going
0.8 mi. to Sparta Rd. (see #2)
#2. From the intersection of US 301 South and Sparta Rd: Mulberry
Place is 0.2 mi. on the right on Sparta Rd., Hampton Manor
is 0.3 mi. on the left on Sparta Rd. To get to Newmarket
Plantation, stay straight on US 301 South another 0.3 mi., then turn
right on Newmarket Lane. Bowling Green Farm is 2.3 mi.
north (toward the town of Bowling Green) on US 301 North.
FROM THE NORTH: I-95 South to Exit 126 (Spotsylvania/Massaponax). Turn right onto US 1/17 (light #1). Turn left at 5th light onto US 17. Continue on US 17 (5.6 mi.) to the light at VA 2 and merge right onto VA 2. Go 13.2 mi. VA 2 becomes Business Rte 301/VA 2. Continue 0.7 mi. through the town of Bowling Green to Bowling Green Farm on the right. Coming out, turn right and drive south 1.9 mi. on US 301 South to Antioch Rd. Turn right and go 0.5 mi. to Chase’s End. Then see #1 and #2 above.
FROM THE EAST: Follow US 301 to Bowling Green, continuing 0.3 mi. from the intersection of US 301/VA2 and VA 207 to Bowling Green Farm. Follow above instructions when leaving the site.
RESTROOM FACILITIES: Available at Hampton Manor and Chase’s End.
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES: Hunt members and hounds at Chase’s End. Horticultural exhibit at Mulberry Place.
NOTE: This is a walking tour. Please wear appropriate flat-heeled shoes to allow for uneven surfaces. No interior photography, please.
Caroline County
Caroline County is horse lovers’ country. With its rolling pastures and green fields, the landscape is perfectly suited for horses and equine lovers. The five tour properties, three open for the first time, are all tied to equine events from the colonial period to the 21st century. Bowling Green Farm played an important role in the development of colonial horse racing with its importation of famous stud stallion “Diomed.” It also served as host for numerous annual meets of the U.S. and Virginia Jockey Clubs. Newmarket Plantation’s original owner brought “Fearnought” over from England in 1762 and established an important breeding stable and racing social center. Visitors will see a governess cart on display at Hampton Manor and will hear a ghost story featuring an owner returning from the dead to claim his horse. The Woolfolk family of Mulberry Place owned and operated the stage line that ran between Fredericksburg, Richmond, and Charlottesville in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Chase’s End is a center for The Caroline Hunt and home to the Hunt’s foxhounds and masters of the Hunt. All of the houses are located in beautiful settings with expansive grounds. In addition to interesting horse lore, this tour is rich in art, antiques, architecture, history and scenic rural vistas. Enjoy!
Caroline County—Bowling Green Farm
THE BOWLING GREEN FARM, 200 South Main Street, Bowling
Green. Built on land patented by Major George Thomas Hoomes in 1667,
the Bowling Green Farm manor house is a one-and-a-half-story, pre-Georgian
Tidewater colonial. Through dendrochronology, the construction date
of the house was established as 1741 with the rear two-story section added
in 1791. Remarkably, Bowling Green Farm remained in various branches
of related families from the patent date until just prior to Mr. Nicklin’s
purchase of the property in 2003. The house at Bowling Green Farm is exceptional
not due to size or elaborate finishes but because it has remained almost
entirely unchanged. As such, it is one of the oldest houses in original
condition in the Commonwealth. Original hardware, glass and window
sashes, flooring, plasterwork and a colonial basement all remain.
Bowling Green Farm played a major role in the introduction of
purebred horseracing to the colonies, most significantly through the importation
of the English stallion “Diomed.” The Farm was also the site of
numerous visits by President George Washington (as documented in his diaries)
and the Marquis de Lafayette. Early correspondence documents cedar trees
lining the oval drive since the early days of the property. Remnants
of the colonial-era gardens still exist, including massive English boxwood
on either side of the house, estimated to be more than 265 years old, and two
levels of terraces or falls. The Garden Club of Virginia commissioned
a 2002 study of the gardens. Plans are underway to restore the gardens
to their colonial appearance. Bowling Green Farm is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places and The Virginia Landmarks Registry.Mr.
Steven Nicklin, owner.
CHASE’S END, 17237 Antioch Road,
Milford. Fifteen years ago, this charming brick house with its columned
porch was designed by the Ferrers with the help of an architectural firm
in Alexandria. It was built to reflect an early 1800s dwelling whose
foundation still exists just west of the current residence. Chase’s
End is home to Elizabeth and Bob Ferrer, the Joint Masters of The Caroline
Hunt. The Hunt is recognized by the Masters of Foxhounds Association
and is one of 26 recognized hunts in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Three buildings on the property will be open to visitors: the house,
the stables complex and the kennels. The stables complex includes “The
Munnings Room,” an impressive space just under 2,000 square feet which
is used to host hunt breakfasts and other hunt functions. It is named
for Sir Alfred Munnings, the great British sporting artist whose art adorns
the walls. The kennels is a large facility that houses the hunt’s
approximately 40 foxhounds. The private collection of foxhunting art,
both in the house and “The Munnings Room,” is unrivaled in the
area. In addition to the sporting art, visitors will view many fine
paintings and prints by both American and European artists such as Thomas Rossiter,
Thomas Birch and Michele Garinei. The house also features many family
furniture pieces dating from the late-18th century, including an excellent
birdcage tilt-top table made in Philadelphia in the 1780s and a secretary desk
of the same period. Touring the spacious grounds, visitors will see a
working horse farm with gardens, horses and hounds overlooking a pond complete
with a flock of pet ducks. Members of the hunt will be on
site and will ride out with hounds on Garden Day. Open
for the first time. Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. Ferrer, owners.
NEWMARKET PLANTATION, 17352
Newmarket Lane, Milford. This unusual 1850 Gothic Revival residence
is the third home to be built on the Newmarket Plantation site, a 12,000-acre
land grant to John Baylor III in 1726. The first house dated to the
mid-1730s. When Colonel Baylor purchased the prize stud stallion “Fearnought” from
England in 1762 for one thousand guineas, Newmarket became one of the foremost
breeding and racing centers in the state. (The original horse barn had 100
stalls.) After Colonel Baylor’s death, his principle heir, John
Baylor IV, began to build “Baylor’s Folly.” An imposing
edifice, it was started in 1800 using bricks made on the premises. Unfortunately,
Baylor IV died debt-laden in 1808 and the house was never completed. In
1850, John Ray Baylor constructed the third house (the existing house) re-using
timbers from the first and bricks from the second. An old brick slave
quarter is visible from the house as well as several of the brick barns. The
house features many original Gothic Revival elements: diamond-paned
casement windows, inset lancet panels in the doors, Gothic arches on the
beautiful staircase and mantels. The entry vestibule displays original
stained glass and tile flooring in a polychromatic scheme.
The current owners, Robert and Ada Caruthers, purchased the estate
in 1999 and undertook an 18-month restoration. Robert Caruthers currently
farms the property and provides hay and straw to the horse industry while Ada
Caruthers, an equine veterinarian, operates an equine veterinary clinic located
on the plantation. The family is very musical, as noted in the “music
room,” which also features a Sidney King painting of “Baylor’s
Folly.” Furnished with many family pieces, including an extensive
collection of silver in the dining room, this home is a charming mixture of
past and present.
The most prominent landscape feature of Newmarket Plantation is the
circle of 16 oaks. These were transplanted as saplings in 1730 and planted
22½ degrees apart along a circle 100 feet in diameter. Eight of
the trees, now more than 60 feet high, remain today. Within the circle
is a memorial stone listing the members of the family believed to be buried
under the oaks. Open for the first time for Garden Week. Mr. Robert
Caruthers and Dr. Ada Caruthers, owners.
MULBERRY PLACE, 18204 Sparta Road, Milford. This
beautiful Federal house commands the end of a mile-long gravel driveway and
features Flemish bond brick and interesting dog’s tooth dentil trim
on its historic exterior. Built by Jourdain and Elizabeth Woolfolk
in 1827 and inhabited by the Woolfolk family until 1972, the house nestles
in a park-like setting, several acres of lawn punctuated by mature trees
of many different varieties. The current owners purchased the property
of 447 acres in 1988 and took on the renovation process. Remarkably,
seven outbuildings still remain, dating from 1793 to 1880. One of these
outbuildings, the summer kitchen, will be open for the tour. The fireplace
and oven have been restored to working condition and feature an unusual spit
jack made by Ball and Ball.
Antique maps, including several Civil War campaign maps, are displayed
in the foyer. A secretary once owned by Robert Lewis (George Washington’s
nephew, son of Fielding and Betty Washington Lewis), a china cabinet signed
by Josiah Cummings and a French plate-warmer are just a few of the exceptional
antique furnishings. The walls display family portraits, some Woolfolk,
and a wonderful assortment of notable artwork. Dr. Trahos is a hunter
who is also interested in Civil War history, and one parlor displays African
hunting trophies along with such Civil War memorabilia as a ribbon from the
1905 reunion of John Singleton Mosby’s men in Fredericksburg. The
basement holds the old winter kitchen restored to its original form and the
family den.
Remnants of three terraces can be seen behind Mulberry Place. The
owners’ daughter once counted 465 boxwood on the property. Many
are in a series of boxwood parterres
behind the house which will be next on the renovation list. This picturesque
landscaping from an earlier era complements the home and its serene setting
beautifully. A horticultural display of flowers and shrubs used
in the lovely arrangements in houses on today’s tour will be featured
here. Dr. and Mrs. Michael Trahos, owners.
HAMPTON MANOR, 18243 Sparta
Road, Milford. Built by John Hampton DeJarnette on land gradually
accumulated by his family since 1820, Hampton Manor was completed in 1852. With
an assessed value of $7,000, it was by far the most highly valued building
of the 269 buildings assessed for 1852 taxes in Caroline County. This
was a plantation on the grandest scale, constructed in the Greek Revival
style from bricks made on the property with Ionic columns across the front. It
served as a refuge for displaced families during the Civil War and later
as a refuge for some displaced artists during World War II. The owner
at that time was Mrs. Caresse Crosby, a niece of J.P. Morgan and wealthy
art lover and book publisher. She created an informal artists’ colony
at Hampton, and novelists Henry Miller, Anais Nin, and artist Salvador Dali
spent time there. Dali completed five paintings and published his memoirs
during the two years that he and his wife lived at Hampton Manor. The “Dali
Room” in the basement displays one of his original mannequins (found
in the attic) and also features an adobe fireplace, out of place in the house
but reputedly installed to make him feel more at home.
This impressive home is beautifully furnished. An
original portrait of John Hampton DeJarnette graces the stairwell, while a
walnut armor chest from the 15th century guards the front hall. Antique
rugs accent the floors, and much of the dining room silver is Austrian, hidden
by Germans in coal mines and later found by Allied Forces. Seventeenth
century Belgian tapestries cover many walls.
A lovely boxwood garden, enclosed by allees of dogwoods,
was installed by Mr. Piland’s mother. The current owners have added
Chippendale benches and statuary to complement the formal plantings. Mrs.
Piland has planted a shade garden by the pool. Refreshments
will be served on the lawn. Mr. and Mrs. M. Raymond Piland
III, owners.
OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST:
Please note the four gardens in the Fredericksburg area that have
been restored by The Garden Club of Virginia with Historic Garden Week funds: Belmont,
Kenmore, the Mary Washington House, and the Mary Washington Monument.
BELMONT, GARI MELCHERS HOME AND STUDIO, 224 Washington Street, Falmouth. A National Historic Landmark, Belmont crowns a hill overlooking the falls of the Rappahannock River. The elegant white frame house was the home of the renowned American artist Gari Melchers and his wife Corinne. Mrs. Melchers became a member-at-large of The Garden Club of Virginia in 1931 and was a founding member of The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club. She was involved in the restoration of the grounds at Kenmore and the gardens at Stratford Hall. In 1993, The Garden Club of Virginia returned the favor and restored Mrs. Melchers’ garden at Belmont with proceeds from Historic Garden Week. The central portion of the house dates from the 1790s. The Melchers collected rich and varied antique furniture, carpets, china, pottery, paintings and prints. Virtually all of their personal possessions remain. In 1955, the entire estate was left to the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is administered by the University of Mary Washington. Open Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: Adults, $10, children 6-18, $5. Telephone (540) 654-1015.
CHATHAM, 120 Chatham Lane. George Washington and Abraham Lincoln were both guests at this magnificent Georgian house, built between 1768-71 by William Fitzhugh. During the Civil War, the Union army used the house as a headquarters, field hospital and communications center. Clara Barton and Walt Whitman attended the wounded here after the Battle of Fredericksburg. Heavily vandalized during the war, the house was eventually restored, and today it remains one of the most beautiful in the state. Chatham’s glory, however, is its grounds. The riverfront terraces offer a splendid view of the city of Fredericksburg and the Rappahannock River, while a formal garden on the other side of the house features a brilliant array of roses and other flowers. The last owner of the property, John Lee Pratt, willed Chatham to the National Park Service in 1975, and it is now headquarters for the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County National Military Park. Admission is free.
THE FREDERICKSBURG AREA MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER, 907 Princess Anne Street. This 1816 building was once the city’s town hall and market house. For hours and admission rates, call (540) 371-3037 or visit www.famcc.org. AAA and AARP discounts and group rates offered.
FREDERICKSBURG/SPOTSYLVANIA NATIONAL MILITARY PARK. Retrace some of the history of the Civil War at four battlefields: Fredericksburg, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House and Chancellorsville. Admission is free. For information, call the Chancellorsville Battlefield Center at (540) 786-2880 and the Fredericksburg Battlefield Center at (540) 373-6122.
FREDERICKSBURG VISITOR CENTER, 706 Caroline Street. The Visitor Center is in the heart of the city’s Historic District, adjacent to many of Fredericksburg’s fine historic attractions. The center offers a free 14-minute video of the city’s history, free parking passes for visitors, and tour information. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Telephone (540) 373-1776 or toll-free 1-800-678-4748.
HISTORIC KENMORE PLANTATION AND GARDENS, 1201 Washington Avenue. Kenmore, one of Virginia’s finest 18th century houses, was built by patriot Fielding Lewis and his wife Betty, sister of George Washington. The house contains some of the most elaborate plasterwork to survive from colonial America, made by the same unidentified “stucco man” who worked at Mount Vernon. The house has recently undergone a major restoration and the refurnishing is underway in 2008. Part of the Kenmore collection of fine Virginia-made furniture is displayed in the museum gallery. The grounds were the first restoration project of The Garden Club of Virginia with funds from the first Historic Garden Week. Free admission is offered to holders of Fredericksburg Garden Day tickets. Regular adult admission $8 and $4 for students; children under 6 free; $1 off general admission for seniors, 60 and older, AAA, and active military. Group rates available. Telephone (540) 373-3381 or visit www.kenmore.org. Kenmore is owned and operated by George Washington’s Fredericksburg Foundation. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last tour starts at 4:15 p.m.); closed Jan.1, Thanksgiving Day, Dec. 24, 25, and 31.
HUGH MERCER APOTHECARY SHOP, 1020 Caroline Street. Silver-coated pills, a rosewater “still” and hand-blown glass apothecary jars painted from the inside are only a few of the items in the 18th and 19th century doctor’s office and apothecary shop, the forerunner of the modern drugstore. The shop depicts Colonial life in terms of the medical problems and treatments. Dr. Hugh Mercer came to Fredericksburg in 1761 to practice medicine and to open an apothecary shop. He left his medical practice to join the Revolutionary cause. Mercer became a brigadier general in the Revolutionary War and was killed at the Battle of Princeton. The shop is on the National and Virginia Landmarks Registers. Open daily Mar.-Oct., Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Nov.-Feb., Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sun. noon to 4 pm. Closed: Thanksgiving, Dec. 24, 25 and 31 and January 1. Admission: Adults $5, children $2. For group rates, contact (540) 373-3362 or visit www.apva.org. Owned by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.
THE JAMES MONROE MUSEUM AND MEMORIAL LIBRARY, 908 Charles Street. James Monroe came to Fredericksburg in 1786 as a young lawyer with his new bride, Elizabeth Kortright. From Fredericksburg, he continued an illustrious career that carried him to the White House. The Museum exhibits furnishings from the Monroe White House, and the collection also features lovely jewelry, silver and many other personal possessions of President and Mrs. Monroe. The Memorial Library includes thousands of books and manuscripts and is available for research by appointment. The walled garden contains shrubs and plants of Colonial times, framing a bronze bust of James Monroe by Margaret Cresson. The building is a National and Virginia Historic Landmark. The Museum’s shop features many Monroe-related items. Open daily Mar.-Nov., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Dec.-Feb. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: Adults $5, children $1. AAA and group rates are available. Free admission to holders of Fredericksburg Garden Day tickets. Telephone (540) 654-1043, FAX (540) 654-1106.
MARY WASHINGTON HOUSE, 1200 Charles Street. This popular tourist attraction was originally purchased in 1772 by George Washington for his mother, Mary Ball Washington, who resided there until her death in 1789. The house contains several pieces of original Washington and Ball memorabilia. In the garden, recreated by The Garden Club of Virginia in 1968-69, are found some of the original boxwood planted by Mary Washington as well as her sundial. The house is on the National and Virginia Landmarks Registers. Open daily Mar.-Oct., Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Nov.-Feb., Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sun. noon to 4 p.m. Closed: Thanksgiving, Dec. 24, 25 and 31 and January 1. Admission: Adults $5, children $2. Telephone (540) 373-1569 for group rates or visit www.apva.org. Owned by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.
MARY WASHINGTON MONUMENT, 1500 Washington Avenue. Mary Washington was buried here in 1789. In the early 19th century, the Gordon family, who gave Kenmore its name, established their family burial ground here as well. In 1833, President Andrew Jackson dedicated the first monument to the “Mother of Washington.” That monument, never completed, lay derelict and in pieces for almost 60 years. It was removed in 1893 when the cornerstone for the present monument was laid. This was dedicated by President Grover Cleveland in 1894. The Garden Club of Virginia first planted the grounds in 1938 and has done additional work over the years with more planned for 2008.
RISING SUN TAVERN, 1304 Caroline Street. Constructed around 1760 as a private residence by Charles, youngest brother of George Washington, the building became a tavern in 1792 under the name of the Golden Eagle, later changed to the Rising Sun Tavern. Costumed guides tell of 18th century tavern life. A taproom, complete with bar cage, gaming tables, musical instruments, innkeepers’ storeroom and office are all on view, as well as many other accessories to run “a proper tavern.” A National and Virginia Historic Landmark. Open daily Mar.-Oct., Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Nov.-Feb., Mon-Sat. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sun. noon to 4 p.m. Closed: Thanksgiving, Dec. 24, 25, and 31 and January 1. Admission: Adults $5, children $2. For group rates, call (540) 371-1494 or visit www.apva.org. Owned by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.
ST. JAMES HOUSE, 1300 Charles Street. This is a splendid example of an 18th century gentleman’s small home. George Washington bought the property in 1761 and later sold it to James Mercer, Mary Washington’s attorney. The interior is furnished with 17th and 18th century antiques, including a grandfather clock owned by Daniel Webster. The property and contents of the house were willed to the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities by the former owners, William H. Tollerton and Daniel J. Breslin. Open 1 to 4 p.m. during Historic Garden Week and the first week of October. Admission: Adults $3, children $1. Also open by appointment: (540) 373-1569 or visit www.apva.org.
GEORGE WASHINGTON’S FERRY FARM, 268 King’s Highway. A National Historic Landmark, this farm is the boyhood home of George Washington and the site of the legends about the cherry tree and the stone toss across the river. Ferry Farm was Washington’s home from the age of six until the age of 19. Later named for the ferries that operated between its shoreline and Fredericksburg in the 18th and 19th centuries, the property includes Rappahannock River frontage, ferry landings and early 18th century building sites. The landscape features walking trails through fields, forests and wetlands, and riverfront views of the town. The Ferry Farm staff welcomes visitors to a colonial-style garden filled with cotton, tobacco and other flowers and vegetables indigenous to Virginia. The raised border garden is organized into exhibits illustrating how early Americans and American Indians farmed. The Visitor Center houses artifact displays and exhibits. George Washington’s Ferry Farm is owned by George Washington’s Fredericksburg Foundation: www.kenmore.org. Admission: Free to Fredericksburg Garden Day ticket holders. Adults: $5, Students: $3, children under 6 free. $1 off for seniors, AAA and active military. Group rates available. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving, Dec. 24, 25, 31, and Jan. 1.