w^ ■ Tzrx 1 • S-ts^ M 5^?y2j ^B r, -J -^ Homes of £he Earl^ " presidents'. T^ND PrESENTDAJ^ Dpportunit; orGduntry" Ariu DlVEI^IFiL - * ^ICULTURE 1 T TTTTTTTTT Sempe" HOMES OF the: early PRESIDENTS CJep or. t UNI tie S /or IfOMES ^nd ^^^J^ICUETUJ?E in NOJ^TBEJ^N VIRGINIA COlMPLITvlIMsnrS OF The Southern RailwatGd V JAN s3 VM Copyright 191,!, Soul hern Railway Company /3^ eassBFiw-A'i^i" .t^^l^5^1*li Monlicello, Home ul I'rcsulent Thotniis .IflTfisoii, nu;ii <',h;irlottes\ ill. ORTHERN VIRGINIA, where Washington, Jefferson, Mad- ison, and Monroe made their homes, offers pecuHar attrac- tions to the man of the present day who wishes a home amid dehghtful surroundings, and to the settler seeking the most favorable location to engage in general farming, stock raising, dairying, poultry raising, or fruit growing. Including the Piedmont Section on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the valley of the Shenandoah River, known locally as the V^alley of V^irginia, this is a land of health and plenty. The invig- orating atmosphere and pure waters of this rolling country, as well as its mild climate and natural beauty, combine to make it a location where every attraction of outdoor life may be enjoyed, within convenient and comfortable reach of the great centers of trade and industry, which are only a few hours away. Residence of President James Monroe, near I.eeshurii The fertile soil, rainfall, and equable temperature assure large yields to the farmer and orchardist. The country has all the natural conditions needed for successful live stock breeding, while its nearness to the great cities of the East and the excellent facilities of the Southern Railway Company for quick transportation, give a great advantage to this sec- tion for the favorable marketing of its products. It is a striking fact that, of the first five Presidents of the American Union, four established stately mansions and splendid estates in Northern Virginia — Washington at Mount Vernon, on the Potomac River, fifteen miles below Washington; Jefferson at Monticello in Albemarle County, near Charlottesville; Madison at Montpellier, in Orange County, near Orange Court House, and Monroe at Oak Hill, in Loudoun County, ten miles from Leesburg. Each of these historic places has been preserved practically as left by its illustrious founder. Another \ iew of Residence of President James Monroe, near Leesburii To the list of the homes of Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe might be added Arhngton, the home of General Robert E. Lee, just across the Potomac from Washington, and that of Chief Justice John Marshall near Delaplane, as estates of more than local interest. There are still other stately mansions and many comfortable houses, not so imposing, but attractive, dotting the hills of Northern Virginia, some of which are identified as the theatres of thrilling events in war, even from the time of General Braddock's ill-starred march against the French and Indians at Fort Duquesne. Within recent years those of moderate means as well as men of wealth have recognized the advantages of this section for the location of country homes. Many fine old places have been rehabilitated and restored. Loca- tions just as desirable for the erection of modern buildings have been found by those who preferred to build for themselves. Whether it is Hunit; ut Pretiidem James Madison, near Orange Court iiou.se desired to purchase a site for the construction of a home, or a home itself, opportunities abound throughout this section, which is now more attractive than ever before. Nature has especially favored Northern Virginia in her gifts of climate and healthfulness. Protracted extremes of temperature are unknown, making this a delightful all-the-year-round climate, with an early spring and a glorious autumn which keeps pastures green until mid-winter. The mountains that divide the Piedmont section from the valley run into ridges which break the country into rolling hills of sufficient eleva- tion to give a perfect natural drainage, making it one of the healthiest countries in the world. Life in Northern Virginia is not all work. Its people still cultivate the invigorating pleasures which the nature of the country and the abun- dance of fine horse flesh offer them. Fox hunting is the king of sports. Reur \itju, lluiiic of I'rc^idciit James MaUisuu, iicu Oraii^ic Cuiiri Uou^e There are numerous hunt clubs, but the sport is not confined to their members, for some farmers maintain private packs of hounds, and during the winter welcome their friends to join them in the chase. Of the fifty-seven American hunt packs recognized by the National Hunt and Steeplechase Association, seventeen are located in Virginia, namely: the Albemarle, the Blue Ridge, the Castle Hill, the Cobbler, the Deep Run, the Gaston, the Keswick, the Loudoun, the Lynchburg, the Middleburg, the Oak Ridge, the Piedmont, the Remlik, the River- side, the Tomahawk, the Warrenton, and the Casanova, thus attesting the premier position of this section in American fox hunting. At important points horse shows are held annually, which not only furnish entertainment to the large crowds which they collect, but inspire healthy competition among horse owners and raisers and have been largely instrumental in keeping up the high standard for which the horses of this Mount Vernon — Residence i)f President (.Jeorge Washingion Slone Marking Birthplace of President Zachary Taylor near Oranfte Chief Justice Marshall's Residence, Oelaplane 10 section are famous. Excellent shows are usually held at Leesburg, Upper- ville, Culpeper, Manassas, Orange, Charlottesville, Front Royal, Berry- ville, and Warrenton. The people of Northern Virginia are highly cultured and most hos- pitable in their nature. There is always the warm welcome for the stranger. The large number of excellent educational institutions in Northern Virginia make it particularly attractive for the man with a family. The University of Virginia at Charlottesville is in easy reach of the whole section, and there are numbers of other schools and colleges of good reputation for both sexes located at convenient points through- out this region. In the midst of the evidences of activity and prosperity of the present day, there is ever the lure of the historical and romantic interest in North- ern Virginia. At Manassas the first great land battle of the war between the States was fought, and later another desperate engagement took place View from Home of President James Monroe, near Leesburg II Rotuutla, University of Virjiinia 12 r..iii Kuiiiiui.i i .isl ixnd West I .t \s n , li upon the same field. Both the Piedmont section and the Valley were the scene of many valiant struggles, of which the plough turns up the leaden testimonies, and it was at Appomattox, just on the lower edge of the Piedmont section, that the curtain was rung down on the four years' tragedy. The influence of the old-time life in Virginia is still felt, and the associa- tions and memories of the past contribute largely to the charm of the present in this beautiful land and among its open-hearted and kindly- natured people. Mount Vernon, the home of Washington, has been so often portrayed, and its history and its beauty are so widely known, that any more than a mere mention of it here would seem superfluous. Oak Hill, the home of President James Monroe, located in Loudoun County, near Leesburg, is one of the^how places of Virginia, the hand- some residence and splendid estate combining historical interest with 13 . i). Viexandria. General Washington's and General Lee's Church Interior of Christ Church I6 Residence, near Chiirioi tesville the most favorable conditions of present-day country life. The estate was bequeathed to Mr. Monroe by an unmarried uncle, and the family for some years occupied a small cottage on the spot now occupied by the stately mansion, the foundations of which were laid in 1817, the year in w^hich he was inaugurated as the fifth President. It was completed in 1820. One of the most notable events connected with Oak Hill was the enter- tainment of Lafayette, who came to the United States in 1824, at the invitation of President Monroe. After his tour of the country, he re- paired to Oak Hill, being escorted from Leesburg by a guard of honor consisting of the youth and chivalry of Virginia. He was charmed with the beauty of the place, and subsequently sent to it several mementos of his visit, among them the mantles of two of the principal apartments. Upon the death of President Monroe, Oak Hill passed into the pos- Residents. Ipperville Residence, Upperville session of his son-in-law, Samuel L. Gouveneur, who, in 1852, sold it to Col. John W. Fairfax, father of the Hon. Henry Fairfax, the present owner. One of the most interesting places in all the Piedmont region is Mont- pellier, the home of President James Madison. It is situated about four miles from Orange, in Orange County. The original house was erected by James Madison, Senior, in 1756. It was wholly reconstructed however, in 1809, after James Madison and Dor- othy Todd were married. The architect was William Thornton, who prepared the first accepted designs of the United States Capitol. The plans were an adaptation of the English renaissance of the Grecian style of architecture to the needs of our own Southland. This adapta- tion resulted in the type now known as "Colonial." Montpellier is recognized as one of the purest specimens of this style of architecture in 19 Culoiiial tiliiirch near Leesburji lience, VVarrenton Residence, Warrenton America. In President Madison's time the house was arranged for two establishments, one for his mother and the other for himself and his wife. Dolly Madison took especial pride in the Montpellier gardens. They were laid out by Major L'Enfant, the French engineer who drew the original plan of the City of Washington, and consisted of a series of ter- races in the form of horse-shoes designed to represent, in formation, the hall of the House of Representatives in Washington. They are considered to be today one of the finest examples of Colonial garden designs in America. It was Dolly Madison who, in 1809, erected at Montpellier what was probably the first ice-house in Virginia. It was a subject of wondering comment among the people of the community, who declined to believe that ice cut in winter could be kept for use in the summer, until Mrs. Madison demonstrated the feasibility of the project. The ice- house was constructed on the lines of a Grecian temple, and is now used as a summer house. \ jIIl*} oi \ iri;ini;i fn i \ ie\v fruni C^hief .1 1- 24 il. near Strasburg s Home. Dela plane 26 Residence, Charloltesville Madison's tomb may be seen on the estate in an exquisite setting of blue myrtle and English ivy, with roses in bloom on all sides during the spring and summer. The present owner of Montpellier estate is Colonel William DuPont. Monticello, known throughout the United States as the home of Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States, author of the Declaration of Independence, champion of religious liberty, founder of the University of Virginia and of a great political party, is a fine type of Colonial architecture. It was designed by Jefferson himself and con- structed under his supervision. It stands on the highlands of Albe- marle County, in Piedmont Virginia, not far from the interesting city of Charlottesville. This favored region held in the affections of the "Sage of Monticello" the place that Mount Vernon had in the heart of George Washington. The house happily endures today in much the same H.cNiU*;ate, Manassas f^'^^' uleiite. Oranjie 28 Residence, Leesburii condition it was in when its original owner closed his eyes upon it. Monticello is now owned by Hon. Jefferson M. Levy, of New York. As an agricultural country, Northern Virginia has great advantages. General farming, stock raising, and fruit growing are all successfully pursued. In the department of staple farm crops wheat is still exten- sively grown, but it is from hay that the Northern Virginia farmer has his largest opportunity by reason of the peculiar advantages of this section with respect to markets, having equally easy access to the large commercial and manufacturing centers of the East and the rapidly de- veloping states of the Southeast. Another important crop of the country is corn which is largely fed on the land to live stock. 29 Kesiileiicc, Ucl.tpLiiie Residence, Front Ruial 31 KesiilL-me. Warrenton Gurtlen, Warrenroti 32 KcsiUuiicc, Harrison bury ■■ i0 Li m Li '^ ^ ■iffii'if.^M ] KesiUcnLC, U arrenioii Uourway, Ravt-n^ worth ResidtMicf, Plains .>4 Residence, Charlottesville The variety of live-stock feeds which are grown in Northern Virginia is notable. Among the forage crops are blue grass, timothy, orchard grass, and the various clovers. Alfalfa is also grown successfully. Cow- peas and soy beans are generally cultivated for soil improvement as well as for hay and ensilage. The use of legumes is increasing, as is possible on most of the good farms, as a consequence of the practice of liming the land. The saving of grass seed is attaining commercial importance. The live stock industry in Piedmont, Virginia, is important, and is becoming more so. Figures from the United States Census of 1910 in- dicate an increase in the number of cattle, horses, sheep, and hogs on farms along the Southern Railway in this part of Virginia of more than 75 per cent, since 1900. The increase in value of the animals was nearly 150 per cent. In 1910 there were on Virginia farms live stock valued at 35 KcsicJcntc. W arrcnlon K cs i ( I f lu- c , \V ar r (• II t o n Residence, Warrenton IB? ^P^ m WV, Residence, Marshall 39 ['arm v lew 42 \\ In-. 11 I'iilil almost $75,000,000, of which $37,000,000 represented horses and more than $10,000,000 beef cattle. The counties of Northern Virginia stand highest as stock-owning communities, and they are rapidly developing in importance as stock-raising communities. Northern Virginia owes to its natural blue grass its premier product, the horse. Nowhere is the horse raised to better advantage or held in higher esteem. Many of the best and most successful steeds exhibited at American shows have come from this section, particularly hunters, for the Virginia horse seems naturally endowed with the ability and inclina- tion to gallop long and jump high, and nowhere are there lighter hands or better seats in the saddle for the schooling of a colt. Of recent years much attention is being paid also to the raising of draft horses. While Percherons have been most generally bred, all the recognized breeds may 43 3-. •■» "i^-. - - ' .■.- J " ''' ' " 'v->-':5*.''- ^-S^ ..;^iJii9^-.''^.- "■ ■^ ;,ri>"i I filh<.rii Clii.lu-n I .iriii m i*Yf "' J* -15 Apple Orchard antl Resultricc, near W'arrt'ii ton 46 Turkeys and Corn 'Xr 47 .-^ ■'^-ij*?*^> I ni;r (;<»iiiil > 1 1 mil ( 1 48 be seen at the horse shows, including the Suffolk Punch, the red cart horse of old England. The United States War Department has recently recognized the ad- vantages of Northern Virginia as a horse-raising country, by the estab- lishment of a cavalry remount station in Warren County, near Front Royal. For this purpose a large estate has been secured, and it is planned to have a great number of horses on it at all times. In addition to the cattle raised in Northern Virginia, many more are brought here from other sections to be fattened for market. The "feeders" are purchased in the autumn, brought to Virginia, fed over the vvmter on Virginia grown corn, either in the form of meal or ensilage, and when summer comes are finished on the Piedmont pastures. The rich herbage, pure water, and good air increase their weight rapidly, and they are placed on the market for export in high condition, while their feeding on almost 49 View at Markham ^-^. t^f '^'* 4 (-utile in Paslur -m^ Farm V'iew licirii r(»nh, MoiiLpeiliii ■i- 5.? Resilience. Delaplane, showing C^hampion lUil 5V°'.' 54 every farm is steadily increasing the fertility of the land. In 191 o more than 500,000 beef cattle, valued at ^10,000,000 were pastureci in Virginia. Three-fourths of these were reported from the Piedmont region. During the last decade many dairies have been established in Northern Virginia because of its proximity to large milk consuming communities. Along the line of the Southern Railway there are scores of large dairies which ship milk and cream to Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and even to New York City. The raising and feeding of hogs as a by-product of cattle is a profitable industry, and may be made more so. The demand for Virginia hams far exceeds the supply of the genuine article, but there is no reason why all V^irginia hams should not come from Virginia. In this there is an opportunity as yet only half developed. Virginia ranks high among the states in the number of its sheep. .Shetland Pony Ranch 55 U. S. Army Renij 56 lOk "^fr*^. -* ill, 1 r.iTU K. ■4^'4 « on. 1- roui Ro\ .il Cross Country Run 58 rriffi^in Horse Show Hunt Ruce 59 Fux Hounds 60 1 iuni Ko>at .md National Hii^h»av In 1910 sheep to the value of $3,000,000 were on the farms of the state. The raising of lambs for the early spring market is increasing in the Piedmont region, on account of the proximity of the territory to the large cities of the North, in which high prices are obtained for unseason- able shipments. Poultry raising is another industry of opportunity in this country. One of the largest duck farms in the world is located at Riverton, \'a., and is successfuly conducted. Northern Virginia is one of the most favored fruit-growing sections of the United States, having advantages of abundant yields, excellent quality, and a wide variety. Apples, peaches, pears, cherries, quinces, plums, and grapes are all produced commercially, as are also the small fruits, such as strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and currants. Apples, however, constitute the principal fruit crop, Mrginia ranking 61 Govern men 1 Government Stullion. "Marshall Kini^," Front Royal fourth among the states hi apple-growing. The foothihs of Northern Virginia, both in the Piedmont section and in the Valley, are especially suited for apple-growing, fruit of finest flavor and shipping qualities being produced. Within recent years apple-culture has attained large commer- cial proportions in this section. To its justly-famed pippin Virginia is, in large measure, indebted for the reputation enjoyed by its apples. Sixty years ago Hon. Andrew Stevenson of Albemarle, then minister from this country to Great Britain, presented a barrel of Albemarle pippins to Queen Victoria, and since that time this apple has been said to be the favorite in the British Royal household. Its fame has spread through- out Europe, and large shipments are annually made to the markets of the Continent as well as to England. Orchardists are by no means con- fined to the production of the pippin, many other well-known varieties being grown commercially. 6,5 The number of commercial apple orchards is increasing at a very rapid rate but there are still opportunities in this industry in Northern Virginia. There are great areas of suitable land which have not yet been set to trees. The Southern Railway Company, realizing the great advantages of Northern Virginia as a place for homes and for agriculture has under- taken to present, in a conservative way, the attractions of this favored region. The main line of the Southern Railway trav^erses the heart of this region made famous by the homes of the early Presidents from Washington, D. C. to Charlottesville, Va., through the counties of Alexandria, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Culpeper, Orange, and Albemarle. A branch leaving the main line at Manassas, in Prince William County, traverses Fauquier, Warren, Shenandoah, and Rockingham Counties to Harrison- burg, and another branch, leaving the main line at Calverton, in Fau- quier County, extends to Warrenton, in the same county. In addition to the towns already mentioned, there are located in this region, Alex- andria, Culpeper, Orange, Fairfax, Remington, Front Royal, Riverton, Woodstock, Strasburg, Newmarket, Mount Jackson, Broadway, Lees- burg, Haymarket, The Plains, Middleburg, Marshall, Markham, Upper- ville, and other progressive towns. To those who dwell in the most densely populated region in the United States, extending along the Atlantic Seaboard from the Potomac River to the northern boundary of Massachusetts, the Southern Railway affords convenient passenger and freight service to and from this attractive region, where there is still room to stretch oneself. Passenger schedules are arranged with special reference to travel to and from the Eastern cities, adding to the attractiveness of this region as a place for country homes for residents of those cities. For full information, address Passenger Traffic Manager, Southern Railway Company, Washington, D. C, or Land and Industrial Agent, Southern Railway Company, Washington, D. C. 64 prrp ^5 1945 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 014 443 655 6