LYNCHBURG
Sponsored by Lynchburg Garden Club and Hillside Garden Club
Tuesday, April 20, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For information or directions, contact:
The Lynchburg Chamber Visitor’s Information Center
216 12th Street
Lynchburg, VA 24504
Telephone (434) 847-1811
Tour bus groups please call (434) 384-8651, Robyn Johnsen, Transportation Chair.
Co-Chairmen:
Kay Halpin (Mrs. John J.)
3821 Peakland Place
Lynchburg, VA 24503
Telephone (434) 384-6739
E-mail: Johalp2004@msn.com
Maureen Bendall (Mrs. Richard A., Jr.)
116 Linden Avenue
Lynchburg, VA 24503
Telephone (434) 384-1644
E-mail: mobend@comcast.net
Lea Barksdale (Mrs. William R. IV)
1050 Greenway Court
Lynchburg, VA 24503
Telephone (434) 384-0644
E-mail: hslae@aol.com
Cathy Sackett (Mrs. Matthew C.)
2003 Link Road
Lynchburg, VA 24503
Telephone (434) 384-5395
E-mail: mssackett@yahoo.com
DIRECTIONS:
From the North: US 29 South, onto Rte 210 West, Historic Downtown Lynchburg. Stay on 210 West until it dead-ends into Rte 163. Turn left at the stoplight and cross the John Lynch Bridge, then follow the garden tour signs.
From the South: US 29 North to the Lynchburg Expressway; follow signs for 501 North. At the intersection of 501 North, 501 South Business, Irvington Springs and Boonsboro Rd., look for the garden tour signs.
From the East: US 460 West to the Lynchburg Expressway; follow signs for 501 North. At the intersection of 501 North, 501 South Business, Irvington Springs and Boonsboro Rd., look for the garden tour signs.
From the West: US 460 East to Lynchburg Expressway; follow signs for 501 North. At the intersection of 501 North, 501 South Business, Irvington Springs and Boonsboro Rd., look for the garden tour signs.
From Lexington: 501 South to Lynchburg. Follow garden tour signs.
All houses are within zip code 24503. Houses may be visited in any order.
There is no bus service, so carpooling is encouraged.
PARKING: Parking is available at the following locations: First Christian Church, across from the Perkins home; First Presbyterian Church, near the Bendall home; and Peakland United Methodist Church, near the Barksdale home: there is no parking on Greenway Court. There is no parking on Woodridge Place (Basten home): parking is available on Sunset Dr.
HEADQUARTERS: Peakland United Methodist Church, 4434 Boonsboro Rd. is the tour Headquarters with parking, handicapped-accessible bathrooms and lunch by reservation.
TICKETS: Advance tickets $20, day of tour tickets $25, single-site admission $8. Full ticket for minors 6-12 years old: $10 and $4 for single-site admission. Children 5 and under admitted free of charge. Tickets are available at the Visitors’ Information Center, 216 12th St., the Pharmacy at Krogers on Boonsboro Rd., The Farm Basket on Langhorne Rd., The Silver Thistle at Boonsboro Shopping Center, The Columns at Jefferson Crossing in Forest, and Aylor’s Farm and Garden in Forest. The day of the tour, tickets will be available at Headquarters and each home. Advance tickets may be ordered with a credit card at an additional charge by accessing www.VAGardenweek.org.
LUNCHEON: Box lunches will be provided by Cook’s Alley. Eat-in or carry-out lunches are available at Peakland United Methodist Church 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at a prepaid cost of $10. Advance reservations are required by calling (434) 384-1927.
REFRESHMENTS: The Lynchburg Historical Foundation will serve refreshments at the Miller Claytor House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
NOTE: Please wear flat-heeled shoes. Cameras and video equipment, including camcorders and cell phone cameras, are not permitted in the houses. No smoking is allowed in the houses or gardens. No baby backpacks or strollers allowed in the houses.
3116 RIVERMONT AVENUE. This handsome Georgian Revival house was built on three acres of land in 1921 from designs by Lynchburg architect Stanhope S. Johnson. It was remodeled and added to in 1921 by Mrs. William R. Perkins, Jr., the present owner’s mother. Landscape architect Charles F. Gillette designed several features outside, including the terrace. Well-known interior designer Otto Zenke is responsible for the lovely interiors. Throughout the house are objects acquired during Mrs. Perkins’ extensive travels. The entry hall features an Iranian rug with a tall carved giraffe that seems to stand guard over the gracefully curved stairway. Russian porcelain figurines are found in the dining room along with portraits by Douglas Chandor of the owner’s grandparents, for whom the Perkins Library at Duke University is named. With wallpaper from Hong Kong, the card room houses a Buddha from Thailand along with a Pierre Daura carving.
On the glassed-in porch, a pair of large Indonesian Dodo birds is protected by two small Chinese dragons. With its surrounding wisteria, magnolia and pyracantha, this area creates the sensation of being in an elegant tree house. The terrace room, a veritable museum, shows off Ethiopian Coptic crosses, carved Roman Catholic Santos and Eastern Orthodox icons. Five paintings by Mrs. Perkins are displayed just off the terrace room. Views of the terraced boxwood gardens, featuring a statue of Pan, can be enjoyed throughout the house. Sarah Perkins Smither, owner.
1031 LANGHORNE ROAD. Built in 1938, this handsome brick Georgian was just what the Olmsteds wanted when they acquired it in 2001. A wrought-iron fence frames the front yard, with native magnolia, river birch and dogwood trees shaping the landscape. Boxwoods and camellias add beauty with splashes of color from bulbs and other perennials. A fish pond graces the front with native water plants and soothing sounds of running water. In 2006, the Olmsteds remodeled and expanded using architectural elements from his great-grandfather’s design for Dr. Olmsted’s grandparents’ home. Some of these features include Rumford fireplaces, built-in bookcases and coffered beams. At the entrance, a series of 18th century medicinal herb and botanical engravings complement the foyer stairway. The interior Doric columns and arches and the white barrel vault leading from the foyer to the great room are designed to complement the home’s original design. A gourmet kitchen boasts Italian carrara marble and black honed granite, truly a chef’s delight. Upstairs, the master suite has a two-tiered tray ceiling edging this grand room. Throughout the interior are many family antiques, including a white pine chest and empire mirror both from the early 1800s. Much of the artwork throughout has family history including framed architectural drawings by Dr. Olmsted’s grandmother.
Outside, the landscape offers garden delights. A Pennsylvania bluestone terrace guides the eye toward a classic quadrant-shaped formal garden with an exquisite fountain as the focal point. Hedged boxwoods enclose daffodils, roses and peonies. Continue wandering in the backyard to discover a delightful tree house, snowdrops, daffodils, roses, more perennials, evergreen trees and irises directly from Mrs. Olmsted’s great-grandmother’s garden. Open for the first time. Angela and John Olmsted, owners.
Lynchburg—3328 Woodridge Place
3328 WOODRIDGE PLACE. Southern charm and whimsy abound in this handsome white brick home built in 1932. From the stately oak-tree swing gracing the front lawn, the delightful playhouse and its gardens nestled in the side yard, to the stunning retreat of the pool and terrace area with its lush natural canopy, the grounds reveal two of owner Narcissa Basten’s great loves: her five grandchildren and entertaining family and friends. The interior is equally appealing. Visitors will immediately note the extensive art collection, including portraits by Ms. Basten’s mother and former owner, Rosalie Basten, countless works by local artists and many that were purchased during travels abroad. Highlights include abundant family photographs, an exquisitely decorated dollhouse that is decidedly the living room’s focal point, and a beautifully remodeled kitchen that masterfully integrates much of the main level of the house. Other enchanting features not to be missed are the upstairs playroom, which includes Ms. Basten’s own wedding gown for dress-up, the basement game room featuring European-inspired murals painted by Rosalie and “The Bahama Room,” a guestroom chock full of jewel-toned mementos from past island adventures: any child’s delight, young or old! Ms. Narcissa Basten, owner.
3814 SHERINGHAM PLACE. Picket fencing surrounds this charming 1950s stone cottage. Once part of a larger estate, the quarter-acre parcel was given to architect Frewen Wilson by his mother to build a house next door to hers. While wild honeysuckle and trumpet vine climb the fencing, boxwood propagated with cuttings from Mrs. Bendall’s great-grandmother line the yard’s interior. As a fourth-generation garden lover, Mrs. Bendall has incorporated both old and new plantings on her enchanting property. Daffodils and lenten rose inherited from the past and scilla, resurrection lilies, peonies and hydrangea of the present abound. Not to be outdone by the delight and creativeness of her garden, Mrs. Bendall shows off colors and collections inside this attractive home. A Civil War-era Repousse silver service, given as payment to Mrs. Bendall’s grandfather from a railroad company, graces an English chest in the dining room. Mrs. Bendall was introduced as a child to art and porcelain and has acquired a lifelong passion for the hunt. Antique botanicals from France, Japanese and Chinese Imari, Majolica, Rose Medallion, including the rare Bok Choy pattern, and French Quimper can all be found among the treasures in this house. Macon, the adored family dog, holds a place of honor in a vivid portrait in the den.
The relaxed garden, once covered in ivy, is now prospering with camellia, lilac, azalea, euphorbia, double jasmine and a gorgeous pink locust tree. Open for the first time. Carter and Richard Bendall, owners.
1050 GREENWAY COURT. Now back in the Horner-Barksdale family after 20 years, this graceful pale yellow brick residence was built in 1964 by the homeowner’s grandfather. A white post-and-rail fence adorned with climbing antique roses appeals to visitors from the start. Inside this colorful house, the entry hall boasts framed bookplates from The Sleeping Beauty and Other Fairy Tales from the Old French that belonged to Mr. Barksdale’s grandmother. Seashells collected on vacations have been used by Mrs. Barksdale to create accessories such as a mirror, a headboard and boxes, and add a distinct and personal touch throughout. Several 1810 Salesman Sample pieces inherited from Mr. Barksdale’s grandfather can be spotted and include a rare English miniature mirror. A Chinese wall hanging of the Forbidden Stitch serves as a focal point in the master bedroom. The den and sunroom look out over a wall of picture windows into an appealing garden. Bright and inviting, these rooms are home to a collection of antique Britons, cherished British toys. With a palette of periwinkle, raspberry, pinks and greens, the interior provides a backdrop for a lovely and diverse combination of both fine and decorative arts.
Outside, a circular formal garden with a sundial statuary in the center displays a beautifully designed plan of peonies, daffodils and hydrangea. Winding slate steppingstones lead to a tranquil space under the shade of an old oak tree carpeted by lily of the valley. Mr. and Mrs. William R. Barksdale IV, owners.
POINT OF HONOR, 112 Cabell Street. Sited on Daniel’s Hill overlooking the James River, Point of Honor is an outstanding example of Piedmont Federal architecture. Built c. 1815 for Dr. George Cabell, the house is distinguished by its octagonal façade and finely crafted interior woodwork. Dr. Cabell (1766-1823) was a prominent Virginia surgeon and Patrick Henry’s close personal friend and physician. He married Sarah Winston, Henry’s cousin, in 1792. Point of Honor has been the home of some of Lynchburg’s most prominent citizens. Inherited by William Lewis Cabell upon the death of his mother in 1826, the mansion was renovated in 1828. He and his wife, the former Eliza Daniel, lived at Point of Honor until their deaths in 1830. Eliza’s father, Judge William Daniel, then inherited the property. The mansion has been restored to its original appearance and is being furnished with appropriate pieces of the period. In 1977-78, with proceeds from Historic Garden Week tours, The Garden Club of Virginia restored the grounds of this remarkable, sophisticated example of early 19th century architecture. A Virginia Historic Landmark, Point of Honor is administered by the Lynchburg Museum. Open 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Admission is free of charge on Lynchburg’s garden tour day.
SWEET BRIAR HOUSE, located on Rte 29, 12 mi. north of Lynchburg. The plantation house for the 8,000-acre Sweet Briar Plantation was once the home of Indiana Fletcher Williams, founder of Sweet Briar College and her father, Elijah Fletcher, who purchased the property in 1831. The central portion of the house was built in the early 1790s, and the towers on each side were completed in 1852 to create the Italianate villa we see now, among the finest country Tuscan buildings in Virginia. The house today contains many original and period furnishings and is home to the president of Sweet Briar College.
Of great interest are the boxwood circle in front of the house and the extensive boxwood gardens surrounding it, among the best such plantings in the country. Complementary gardens also contain a giant magnolia grandiflora tree, an unusually tall and shapely holly, two deodoras, weeping hemlock, black walnuts, horse and Chinese chestnuts, catalpa, mimosa, Chinese varnish trees and other ornamental trees and shrubs. The grand gardens continue to flourish and bear testimony to the Fletchers’ love for their stately and romantic family home. In 2005, the Garden Club of Virginia restored the arrival court in front of Sweet Briar House with funding from Historic Garden Week tours. Open 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Lynchburg’s garden tour day. No admission fee.
OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST:
MILLER CLAYTOR GARDENS, 2200 Miller Claytor Lane. The Miller Claytor House is Lynchburg’s only remaining 18th century townhouse. Originally located in downtown Lynchburg, the house was moved to Riverside Park in 1936. The garden was designed by noted landscape architect Charles F. Gillette and is typical of the period in which the house was built. The gardens are a project of The Lynchburg Garden Club.
THOMAS JEFFERSON’S POPLAR FOREST. Thomas Jefferson designed Poplar Forest as his year-round retreat. He began his octagonal house in 1806 and called the Bedford County plantation “the most valuable of my possessions.” The house and grounds underwent many changes after leaving the Jefferson family in 1828. In 1984, the nonprofit Corporation for Jefferson’s Poplar Forest rescued the site. Award-winning restoration and archaeology continue. Open April through November (except Thanksgiving Day), 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Special landscape tours offered for Historic Garden Week guests on April 20 .For more information, call (434) 525-1806.
AWARENESS GARDEN, 1700 block Langhorne Road. The Awareness Garden is located at the Ed Page Entrance to the Black Water Creek Trail and honors the families, friends and caregivers whose lives have been touched by cancer. There, “Lalla’s Bell” rings to celebrate the end of treatments, to remember a loved one or to bring hope for a cure for all. We invite you to experience this beautiful gateway to nature, remembering the blessing of good health.
SANDUSKY, 757 Sandusky Drive. Sandusky was built c. 1808 by Virginian Charles Johnston. It is named after the area in Ohio where he was captured by Shawnee Indians and narrowly escaped execution. Thomas Jefferson was a guest at Sandusky in December 1817. Union Gen. David Hunter used the house in the June 17-18, 1864, Battle of Lynchburg. Two union officers who were at Sandusky later became U.S. presidents, Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley. Sandusky exists as one of the finest examples of Federal-style architecture in Virginia’s Piedmont region. The house is undergoing restoration and is open on Lynchburg’s Garden Week tour day.
THE ANNE SPENCER GARDEN, 1313 Pierce Street. Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer lived in the house on Pierce Street from 1903 until her death in 1975. Hillside Garden Club, under the leadership of Jane White, adopted the restoration of her garden as a project in 1983. The restoration program received statewide recognition in 1984 with the Common Wealth Award from the Garden Club of Virginia. Today, the landscape continues to flourish. Both the garden, which is open free of charge to the public, and the Spencers’ recently restored garden cottage, Edankraal, (normally open only by appointment) will be open on Lynchburg’s Garden Week tour day.
OLD CITY CEMETERY, Fourth and Taylor Streets. History and horticulture abound in the recently restored 200-year-old cemetery. Numerous interpretive brochures are available at the entrance Gatehouse, which was a Garden Club of Virginia Common Wealth Award project. Visit the cemetery’s four museums: the Pest House Medical Museum, the Hearse House and Cemetery Caretakers Museum, the 19th century Mourning Museum, and the 100-year-old reconstructed Station House Museum. Described as a “grave garden” more than 100 years ago, the cemetery is actually an arboretum of 19th century plants and all are botanically labeled. Included are the 200 antique roses, medicinal herbs, a water garden, shrub garden, antique daffodils and hundreds of native and ornamental trees. The cemetery, a Virginia Historic Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places, is open to the public daily, without charge, from dawn to dusk.