FREDERICKSBURG AREA
Stafford and King George Counties
“Where Eagles Soar”
Sponsored by The Rappahannock Valley Garden Club
Tuesday, April 20, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Chairman:
Tricia Garner (Mrs. William E.)
Pine Grove, 200 Kings Highway
Fredericksburg, VA 22405
Telephone: (540) 310-0265
E-mail: virginiagarners@aol.com
Co-Chairman:
Mary Elizabeth McManus (Mrs. Patrick J.)
12 Derby Drive
Fredericksburg, VA 22405
Telephone: (540) 899-9485
E-mail: pjmcmns@aol.com
Group Tours Chairman:
Lana King (Mrs. Wallace N.)
1202 Colony Road
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Telephone: (540) 371-0999
E-mail: Lhking2@verizon.net
INFORMATION CENTERS:
Fredericksburg Visitor Center
706 Caroline Street
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Telephone: (540) 373-1776 or 1-800-678-4748
Stafford County Visitor Center
224 Washington Avenue
Falmouth, VA 22405
Telephone: (540) 654-1844
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 visitor 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 Historic Garden Week” by April 9 to the Chairman or Co-Chairman listed above. Advance tickets for groups (15 or more), see Group Tour Chairman above. Tickets may also be ordered online in advance at www.VAGardenweek.org.
LUNCHEON: The Episcopal Women of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (open for the tour) will offer sandwiches, salads, desserts and drinks which may be enjoyed at the church or taken along as picnic lunches. Lunch is $10, payable on the day of the tour, and is available with advance reservations only. For reservations, please contact: Mary Ellen Arthurs, kgeslab@yahoo.com or (540) 446-5785. Other dining options are within driving distance of the tour. Information will be available at the hostess ticket tables located at properties open for the tour.
REFRESHMENTS: Included in the ticket and served all day at 7702 Fitzhugh Drive, King George, VA 22485
DIRECTIONS: All tour sites are located off of VA 218 and do not have to be visited in the order described.
North/South I-95: Take Exit 133A toward Falmouth. Merge onto US 17 BR S/Warrenton Rd. Continue 2.1 mi. (Note: US 17 becomes Butler Rd. and then White Oak Rd./VA 218.) Little Whim is on your left. Please park in the neighborhood across White Oak Rd. Upon leaving the Little Whim parking area, turn right onto VA 218 and continue east for approximately 12.6 mi. to Potomac Landing on your left. The homes on Potomac Landing Drive and Marineview Drive will be here. Leaving Potomac Landing, turn left and continue east on VA 218 approximately 2.5 mi. to Eagles Nest Lane on the left. Follow Eagles Nest Lane for 1.3 mi. to Fitzhugh Drive (a gravel road) on the left. Follow this road, bearing left at the fork, until you reach 7702 Fitzhugh Lane. Please note that 7426 Little Chatterton is accessible only from Fitzhugh Lane. Once back on VA 218, continue east to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, at the junction of VA 218 and VA 206.
Route 301 from Maryland: Follow Rte 301 into King George County, turning right onto VA 206. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is located at the junction of VA 206 and VA 218. Continue west on VA 218 to Eagles Nest Lane on the right, approximately 5 mi. Follow Eagles Nest Lane for 1.3 mi. to Fitzhugh Drive (a gravel road) on the left. Follow this road, bearing left at the fork, until you reach 7702 Fitzhugh Lane. Please note that 7426 Little Chatterton Lane is accessible only from Fitzhugh Lane. Once back on VA 218, continue west for approximately 2.5 mi. to Potomac Landing on your right. The homes on Potomac Landing Drive and Marineview Drive will be here. Upon leaving Potomac Landing, continue right (west) on VA 218 for approximately 12.6 mi. into Stafford County to Little Whim on your right. (Note: VA-218 becomes White Oak Rd.) Please park in the neighborhood across the street from Little Whim.
RESTROOM FACILITIES: Available at St. Paul’s Church 5486 St. Paul’s Rd., 7702 Fitzhugh Drive, 6011 Marineview Drive, King George, VA 22485 and 375 White Oak Rd, Fredericksburg, VA 22405 (Stafford County).
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES: Horticulture exhibit at 7426 Little Chatterton Lane (all day); floating flower arrangement demonstration (10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.) at 6062 Potomac Landing Drive; oyster gardening at 7702 Fitzhugh Drive (all day), King George, VA 22485.
NOTE: THIS IS A DRIVING/WALKING TOUR. PLEASE WEAR APPROPRIATE FLAT-HEELED SHOES TO ALLOW FOR UNEVEN SURFACES, INCLINES, AND DEMONSTRATIONS NEAR THE WATER. NO INTERIOR PHOTOGRAPHY, PLEASE.
STAFFORD AND KING GEORGE COUNTIES
WHERE EAGLES SOAR
This tour features homes along Route 218, which leads from Stafford County into King George County. Running parallel to the Potomac River, Route 218, also known as Ridge Road, once led to the seats of the Fitzhugh, Washington, Lewis, Tayloe and other prominent Colonial families. Formed in 1660, Stafford County was the boyhood home of George Washington, our first president, and takes its name from Staffordshire, England. Carved from Richmond County in 1720, King George County (named for King George I) was the birthplace of James Madison, “Father of the Constitution” and our fourth President.
Perhaps it is fitting that eagles, long the country’s symbol of freedom, have chosen this area to make their homes and can be seen soaring in and around the water and trees. King George County was also the area to which John Wilkes Booth first escaped after assassinating President Abraham Lincoln. One of the homes on the tour, on Chatterton’s Landing, is located near the site of the 1873 sinking of the steamer the Wawaset, described as the worst maritime disaster on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, with 100 lives lost. Local residents still pick up china along the beach, rumored to be from the elegant steamer.
Fredericksburg Area—375 White Oak Road
375 WHITE OAK ROAD, Fredericksburg 22405. Known as “Little Whim,” this Greek Revival home with strong Victorian influences dates to 1852. A heart-shaped drive lined with cherry trees leads to a pillared double-portico porch, serving as the entrance. The landscape contains several old specimens including enormous boxwoods and a black walnut tree, all more than 60 years old. Union General Ambrose Burnside reportedly commandeered this property during the Battle of Fredericksburg.
Inside, architectural interest abounds with plaster ceiling medallions, double-swing kitchen doors with copper hinges, and four impressive pocket doors. The stately house retains original historic glass in its windows featuring unusual mullions, a staircase with extensive wood carvings and original heart-pine flooring. Displayed throughout the interior are pieces from the owners’ collection of antiques, including an elaborate sideboard believed to have been salvaged from a shipwreck in the Potomac. Open for the first time for Historic Garden Week. Dr. and Mrs. James B. Schwartz, owners.
6062 POTOMAC LANDING DRIVE, King George 22485. Situated directly on the Potomac River, the Charleston double-porch style house provides stunning views of the water from every window. A whimsical, holiday atmosphere is created inside by colorful artwork from Greece and other fun beach-art objects collected by the owners in their travels. The interior features a selection of Virginia antiques such as a lovely jelly cupboard from Wythe County and an old tavern piece, serving as a desk. Other highlights include a collection of pre-World War II Chinese cloisonné vases and artwork and sculptures by local artists.
Outside, an iron gate marks the entry to a spacious courtyard containing a lovely swimming pool and the front entrance to the house. The landscape is lined with sea grasses, tulips and other native plantings designed to withstand harsh weather along the river. This is the property’s first appearance on a Historic Garden Week tour. Mr. and Mrs. John Janney, owners.
6011 MARINEVIEW ROAD, King George 22485. Built in the Greek Revival tradition, this river house is graced with four porches to take advantage of Potomac water views from two sides. The flow of the interior also ensures water views from most of the windows. Highlights of the traditional style decor include the owners’ collection of blue and white china and an antique Morbier clock dating from the 1860s.
An amazing array of mature sea grasses lines the approach to the entrance of the house. Designed by the owner, extensive informal gardens are filled with native plants that were placed to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. The rear of the house features a horseshoe-shaped garden looking out onto a large pond populated by eagles, ospreys, herons and migratory ducks. Eagle nests can be glimpsed in the trees beyond the pond. This home is a first-time addition to the Historic Garden Week tour. Mr. and Mrs. Mark Adrian, owners.
7426 LITTLE CHATTERTON LANE (accessible only from 7702 Fitzhugh Drive, King George 22485). Situated at the end of a tree-lined drive, this Southern-style house rises above the Potomac River. Wrought-iron railings surround a patio overlooking the sandy beach, pool and lush flowerbeds, which fill every available space around the home. Inside the pool house, walls are colored a bright ocean blue and hung with neon palm trees, painted fish and other festive decorations for an island feel.
A casual yet sophisticated beach tone is set inside with the owners’ collection of shell-encrusted objects and other finds from the shores of the Potomac. The entire first floor will be open, including the master suite overlooking the water. A stunning sunroom lined in Mexican stone accents one end of the house. Window moldings in the room are all made of stone, and a compass is inset in the floor. A guestroom wallpapered with real nautical maps of the Potomac will also be open. The house is open for the first time for Historic Garden Week. Mr. and Mrs. William Middleton, owners.
7702 FITZHUGH DRIVE, King George 22485. This ornate Mediterranean-style house looks over the Potomac River to Maryland. Informal gardens lead down to a sandy beach and peninsula crafted from the wreck of a sunken World War I-era barge. A free-form pool and pool house add more outdoor interest to the extensive backyard. In front, a four-tiered fountain surrounded by flowers crowns the center of a circular drive.
French Country design dominates the inside of this serene and spacious home. The whole first floor will be open, complete with a sumptuous master suite and the grandsons’ pirate-themed bedroom with personalized treasure-chest murals. The formal dining room features an antique cabinet and a hand-painted nature scene on the walls. Throughout, the interior is accented by arches, columns and spectacular coffered and tray ceilings. The river is glimpsed from almost every room. Opened for the first time for Historic Garden Week. Mr. and Mrs. Perry R. Sisson, owners.
ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 5486 St. Paul’s Road, King George, 22485. St. Paul’s has been the parish church for St. Paul’s Parish since its beginning in the late 1660s. The congregation first met at Mr. Robert Townsend’s house near Choatank Creek, and the first church building was erected shortly thereafter. In 1725, a new church was constructed at the present site, and in 1766, the current building was erected. The structure is a fine example of Colonial architecture and is in the form of a Greek cross. Walls are laid in Flemish bond with locally produced brick. In 1802, under the Glebe Act, the building and land were taken over by the Virginia General Assembly and the church became an academy. The current interior reflects the “Academy Era.” In 1816, St. Paul’s was reorganized and the building was returned to the congregation in 1830, when the academy failed. The church has changed very little since 1831.
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 22405. 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 daily, except Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: Adults, $10, children 6-18, $5. Telephone (540) 654-1015.
CALADON NATURAL AREA, 11617 Caledon Road, King George, VA 22485. Caledon Natural Area has two major goals: protection of the American bald eagle through proper management of an important eagle habitat area and education about eagles and other native plants and animals. Topics include ecology, conservation, aquatic life, wildlife and plant life. Seasonal hours. Picnic area open for Historic Garden Day. Caledon@dcr.virginia.gov
CHATHAM, 120 Chatham Lane, Fredericksburg, 22405. 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 is housed in two exciting buildings: the historic 1816 Town Hall/Market House and the newly opened Catherine W. Jones McKann Center, a beautiful former bank building dating to 1927. Seven permanent exhibitions are dedicated to interpreting the region’s history. New exhibitions include Fredericksburg at War; Portal, Passage, Power: An American River Town; Railways and Roadways; Our Community; and Not So Current Currency. Additionally, the Museum now features three galleries dedicated to changing exhibitions, a Learning Center and an expanded Museum Store where visitors can shop for unusual gifts and souvenirs. The Museum is located at 1001 Princess Anne St. and open Monday, Thursday- Saturday from 12 to 5 p.m.; Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. The Museum Store is open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 – 5 p.m. Telephone (540) 371-3037 or visit www.famcc.org for more information.
FREDERICKSBURG/SPOTSLYVANIA 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, 701 Caroline Street. The Visitor Center is in the heart of the city’s Historic District, adjacent to many of Fredericksburg’s fine historic attractions, chef-owned restaurants, art galleries and studios, and unique shops. The center offers a free 14-minute orientation video and touring, shopping and dining 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 build 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 new paint and wallpaper reflect the Lewises’ taste. A refurnishing plan is underway and a 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 Garden Week tickets to the Fredericksburg tour. Regular adult admission $8 and $4 for students; children under 6 free; some discounts apply. Group rates are available. Kenmore is owned and operated by The George Washington Foundation, owners of George Washington’s Boyhood Home at Ferry Farm in Stafford County. Please call (540) 373-3381 or visit www.kenmore.org for hours of operation.
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. Seasonal hours. 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.preservationvirginia.org. Owned by Preservation Virginia.
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.; Sundays at 1 p.m. Admission: Adults $5, children $1. AAA and group rates are available. Free admission to holders of Garden Week tickets to the Fredericksburg area tour. 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. Seasonal hours. 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.preservationvirginia.org. Owned by Preservation Virginia.
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 the most recent restoration completed in 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. Seasonal hours. Closed: Thanksgiving, Dec. 24, 25, 31, and Jan. 1. Admission: Adults $5, children $2. For group rates, call (540) 371-1494 or visit www.preservationvirginia.org. Owned by Preservation Virginia.
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 Preservation Virginia 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.preservationvirginia.org.
GEORGE WASHINGTON’S FERRY FARM, 268 Kings 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 archaeology sites including the site of the Washington house and farm buildings. 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 The George Washington Foundation (also owners of Historic Kenmore). Admission: Free to Garden Week ticket holders to the Fredericksburg area tour. Regular admission: Adults: $5, Students: $3, children under 6 free. Some discounts apply. Group rates are available. Please call (540-370-0732) or visit www.ferryfarm.org for hours of operation.