Category: Virginia Historical Homes

When George Washington was in Pennsylvania with Brad-dock, he became attracted to a young Scotch physician named Hugh Mercer, who he induced to come to Fredericksburg. The building which Dr. Mercer is said to have used as an apothecary shop and office has been restored. It stands on the corner of Amelia and Caroline Streets. […]

The Revolutionary War was over, and the Westmoreland County lad, James Monroe, who had some years before left William and Mary College to fight for American liberty, found himself at the age of twenty-one a full-fledged lieutenant-colonel with no profession. He chanced to be a father-less boy, and in his extremity it seemed natural for […]

One of the famous pre-Revolutionary gathering places of Northern Virginia was the Rising Sun Tavern on Caroline Street, known more familiarly to the men of that day as Weedon’s, after its proprietor William Weedon-friend of George Washington-who became a general in the Continental army, was wounded at Brandywine and later led the Virginia troops at […]

Federal Hill was built by Sir Alexander Spotswood, a colonial governor of Virginia. Tradition says it was constructed for state purposes and by order of Queen Anne. It is a fine example of Queen Anne architecture with a severely plain exterior. The interior contains exquisitely carved wood-work of great dignity, and the stairway is quite […]

MODERN progress has touched Fredericksburg, some-times ruthlessly, but it has not entirely obliterated all traces of the old village that had such an intimate touch with colonial history. There will be found spots that are remindful of the grace and elegance of the past; of candlelight, and shadows cast by blazes from logs burning in […]

MOTORING through Washington with a famous English etcher we were pleased to note the admiration our Capital inspired in one to whom were known the natural and architectural beauties of the Old World, and the passing and permanent forms of art by which these have been recorded. Strongly the Potomac in its loveliest mood registered […]