- Rosewell Plantation
Rosewell Plantation in
Gloucester County, Virginia ,USA for more than 100 years was the home of members of the Page family, one of theFirst Families of Virginia . Begun in1725 , the huge brick Rosewell mansion overlooking the York River was one of the finest in Virginia. Through much of the 18th century and 19th centuries, and during theAmerican Civil War , Rosewell Mansion hosted the area's most elaborate formal balls and celebrations.Rosewell Mansion and part of its history were described by author James Joseph McDonald in "Life In Old Virginia" (The Old Virginia Publishing Co., Norfolk, Va., 1907) thusly:
:"The mansion is substantially built of brick, three story and basement. The foundation walls are three and one-half feet thick. The reception hall is large, the ceilings lofty, and the whole mansion is indicative of refined taste and wealth. From the upper windows, a magnificent view is had of the surrounding level lands and the waters of the creeks and the York River.:"During the life of Governor Page,
Thomas Jefferson was a frequent and welcome visitor there. While on one of his visits he wrote the rough draft of theDeclaration of Independence in what is now known as the 'Blue Room,' situated on the northwest corner of the second story of this house."The elaborate Flemish bond brickwork, the towering three stories, and the siting of the mansion were all meant to recall elaborate London homes of the era. In that sense, Rosewell was among the most sophisticated early buildings built in America.
The Rosewell Mansion was destroyed by fire in 1916. Today, a largely undisturbed historic ruin, the site has been the subject of archaeological work which has revealed many artifacts and shed light on some aspects of colonial life and architecture previously unclear.
=Rosewell Hours=Currently the Plantation is opened until 4 daily. It is 4 dollars for adults, 2 dollars for kids(12 & under), and 2 dollars for students.
Ghost Stories
Stories have been told at Rosewell. Everything from slaves burried in the Cellar walls, to a mysterious lady who walks the front steps. Workers agree that the best time for people to come to try and see a ghost is 3:30-4:00. They also agree that the place gets a different feeling later in the day.
Page family of Virginia
Governor of Virginia John Page (1744-1808) was the grandson of Rosewell's first owner, Mann Page (I). He grew up there, and was a classmate ofThomas Jefferson at theCollege of William and Mary in nearby Williamsburg where he graduated in 1763. John Page fought during theAmerican Revolutionary War , attaining the rank of colonel. He also served multiple terms in theU.S. Congress and theVirginia General Assembly .Other notable members of Virginia's Page family also include Governor Page's brother Mann Page III, his great grandfather, Colonel John Page of Jamestown and
Middle Plantation , author and U.S. Ambassador to ItalyThomas Nelson Page , andVirginian Railway builderWilliam Nelson Page ; Confederate GeneralRichard Lucian Page .External links
* [http://www.rosewell.org/ Rosewell Foundation webpage]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.