Wednesday, April 25, 2018
10:00am – 4:00pm
The Garden Club of the Northern Neck presents “Historic Gems Shine On” as part of the Garden Club of Virginia’s Historic Garden Week. Located in the Northern Neck, between the Potomac and Rappahannock rivers, Richmond County is home to a rich history dating back 300 years. Visitors experience a multi-faceted tour of five private properties: the unique preservation of Menokin, the eighteenth-century gardens of Sabine Hall, the home of a former congressman, an original Georgian plantation and the Mount Airy renovations recently featured on HGTV.
Mount Airy (361 Millpond Road).
Mount Airy (361 Millpond Road)
This imposing stone edifice was built by John Tayloe II in 1761 on land the Tayloe family acquired in 1682. The home includes a main house connected to symmetrical dependencies on either side by curved passageways, and a formal forecourt facing a deer park and terraced gardens. In 2011, the tenth generation of the Tayloe family took up residence and began work to maintain the historic character of the house while balancing the needs of modern family life. In 2014, the family began an extensive renovation that was documented in a 10-episode series on HGTV called “American Rehab: Virginia.” Many of the new spaces will be featured for the first time during Historic Garden Week. Mount Airy is both a Virginia and a National Historic Landmark. Mr. and Mrs. John Tayloe Emery, owners.
Menokin (4037 Menokin Road).
Menokin (4037 Menokin Road)
Former home to Francis Lightfoot Lee, Menokin (c.1769) is the only house of the seven Virginia signers of the Declaration of Independence that is not fully protected and saved. Rather than being reconstructed, new preservation and display techniques highlight the historic fabric of the building. The exterior is partially encased in structural glass. Indoors, plans include a glass catwalk and transparent floor to allow visitors to see from the third floor to the basement. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971, the Foundation is currently working on Phase 1 of the Glasshouse Project. Menokin Foundation, owner.
The Jones House (5705 Richmond Road).
The Jones House (5705 Richmond Road)
This striking three-story Victorian home was built by Congressman William Atkinson Jones in 1887. At the age of fifteen, Congressman Jones fought for the Confederacy as a VMI cadet. He is best known for authoring the Jones Act of 1916, which provided for the independence of the Philippines. The house is located on four acres in the town of Warsaw. Portraits dating to the colonial days tell the story of the Jones family and its prominence in our nation’s history. Original woodwork and family antiques contribute to the overall elegance of the home. The Jones Family Trust, owners.
Grove Mount (755 Grove Mount Road).
Grove Mount (755 Grove Mount Road)
Robert Mitchell and his wife, Priscilla Carter, eldest daughter of Robert “Councilor” Carter of Nomini Hall, built a fine example of a Georgian plantation home, Grove Mount c. 1787. It is constructed of frame and brick nogging with a full cellar and foundations laid in English bond. The original dairy still stands and is next to the site of the original kitchen. Grove Mount remains basically unchanged since it was built. This beautiful property features spectacular views toward the Rappahannock River Valley, terraces, gardens, a lily pond and mature plantings. Grove Mount is a Virginia Historic Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Mr. and Mrs. M. Kirwan King II, owners.
Sabine Hall (1604 Sabine Hall Road).
Sabine Hall (1694 Sabine Hall Road)
A fine example of a colonial Georgian house, Sabine Hall was built in 1738 by Landon Carter. Originally a classic Georgian brick structure, Sabine Hall reflects alterations by both the builder and later generations. The landscape includes six terraces sloping toward the Rappahannock River and a garden with its original eighteenth-century design. The house has always been owned and occupied by direct descendants of Landon Carter and is both a Virginia and a National Historic Landmark. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Carter Wellford IV and Mrs. Peter Drayton O’Hara, owners. Carter Wellford and Mercer O’Hara are siblings.
TOUR Information
Tickets: Advance tickets: $25 per person via www.vagardenweek.org or by mail until April 16. Make checks payable to The Garden Club of the Northern Neck. Send a stamped, self-addressed, legal envelope to: Cindy Lloyd, 5011 Richmond Rd, Warsaw, VA 22572. Day of tour tickets $35 per person, available at all locations.
Lunch: Box lunches from The Daily ($15 each) will be served at Menokin. Payment is required by April 16. Vegetarian options are available. Contact Sandra Clements (804) 761-8774, or email sclements719@gmail.com for more information.
Parking and Shuttles: Parking at all locations. Shuttles available at Menokin and Rappahannock Community College, 52 Campus Dr., Warsaw. Shuttles will run from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.