F o r m 10-300 ( R e v . 6-72)

f t - .

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U N I T E D S T A T E S D E P A R T M E N T O F T H E I N T E R I O R N A T I O N A L P A R K S E R V I C E

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM

(Type all entries - complete applicable sections)

NAME'

S T A T E :

Virginia C O U N T Y :

Fluvanna F O R N P S U S E O N L Y

E N T R Y D A T E

-.AUG 13 1974 C O M M O N :

Point of Fork Plantation A N D / O R H I S T O R I C :

(2. LOCATtON S T R E E T A N Q N U M B E R :

O-f Col Li.ry\hiA CITY OR TOWN: / I

Columbia vicinity C O N G R E S S I O N A L D I S T R I C T :

Seventh (J. Kenneth Robinson^ > S T A T E

V i r g i n i a C O D E C O U N T Y :

Fluvanna C O D E

S T A T E

V i r g i n i a 51 C O U N T Y :

Fluvanna 065 C L A S S f F i C A T i O N

C A T E G O R Y

(Check One)

• D i s t r i c t B u i l d i n g

• S i te • S t ruc tu re

• O b j e c t

O W N E R S H I P

• P u b l i c

3 P r i v a t e

• Bo th

P u b l i c A c q u i s i t i o n :

I I In P r o c e s s

I I B e i n g C o n s i d e r e d

S T A T U S

PRESENT USE (Check One or More as Appropriate)

3 O c c u p i e d

I I U n o c c u p i e d

I I P r e s e r v o t i o n work

i n p r o g r e s s

• -v","^7T;'?v—

A C C E S S I B L E

T O T H E P U B L I C

Y e s :

• R e s t r i c t e d

I I U n r e s t r i c t e d

E No

[ I A g r i c u l t u r a l

I 1 C o m m e r c i a l

0 E d u c o t i o n o l

1 1 Enter ta i r iment

m Gove rnmen t

m Indus t r ia l

• M i l i t o r y

[31 M u s e u m

• P o r k

1 3 P r i v a t e R e s i d e n c e

I 1 R e l i g i o u s

I I S c i e n t i f i c

l.. 'T"ran»Jji»tqtii<^ Commen ts

APR a 21974 OWNER OF P R O P E R T Y

r-

O W N E R ' S N A M E :

Dr. R. N. Snead S T R E E T A N D N U M B E R :

Point of Fork Plantation C l T Y O R T O W N ;

Columbia 1$^ t O C A T I O N OF L E G A l ^ D E S C R I P T I O N

S T A T E :

Virginia

< >

OP

03 51

C O U R T H O U S E . R E G I S T R Y O F D E E D S . E T C :

Fluvanna County Court House S T R E E T A N D N U M B E R :

C I T Y O R T O W N :

Palmyra ^ ' R E t ^ R E S E N f A t 10 N g XI ST W G SU R V E Y S

Virginia 51

T I T L E O F S U R V E Y :

Historic American Buildings Survey Inventory D A T E O F S U R V E Y : ] _ 9 5 8 [ X F e d e r a l • State • C o u n t y • L o c a l

D E P O S I T O R Y F O R S U R V E Y R E C O R D S :

Library of Congress S T R E E T A N D N U M B E R :

C I T Y O R T O W N :

Washington

S T A T E :

D. C. 11

o hrl 0 I-* C

% \ OJ ^ 3 3 03

m z H

^ 3

31

5' • vo '

-n<' O 73

ml J O n I--<

17. DESCRtPTION

C O N D I T I O N

(Check One)

• E x c e l l e n t E G o o d ( • F a i r • De te r i o ro ted • R u i n s • U n e x p o s e d

( C h e c k One)

• A l t e r e d E U n a l t e r e d

( C h e c k One)

• M o v e d O r i g i n a l S i te

70

D E S C R I B E T H E P R E S E N T A N D O R I G I N A L ( i f k n o w n ) P H Y S I C A L A P P E A R A N C E

Point of Fork Plantation i s located on a wedge-shaped piece of land at the junction of the James and Rivanna Rivers. The plantation house i s set on a ridge overlooking the bottom lands and the r i v e r s . The front f i e l d s are crossed by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad which i s b u i l t on the towpath of the James River and Kanawha Canal. To the west of the house are broad lawns with fine trees. In the southwest corner of the yard are the outlines of formal terraced gardens.

The imposing two-story house is set on a high basement and has approximate ground dimensions of 40' X 50'. Covering the house i s a shallow hipped roof from which project four i n t e r i o r end chimneys. The house's west or land front i s sheltered by a large two-story tetrastyle portico with Greek Doric columns and no pediment. The portico serves to de-emphasize the asymmetry of the west facade which has two windows to the north of the entrance and one to the south. Surrounding the house, as w e l l as the portico, i s a Doric cornice with mutules and d e n t i l s . The r i v e r or east front has a small porch sheltering the entrance. The porch i s supported rn on pairs of fluted Doric columns. Unlike the west front, the east front i s symmetrical with two windows on either side of the entrance. Other notable exterior features include the rectangular white marble window s i l l s and l i n t e l s , and the marble water table. Unornamented white plaster panels are employed between the f i r s t and second story windows on a l l but the west front. A l l four walls are l a i d i n unusually fine Flemish bond brickwork with t h i n l y tooled j o i n t s . The brickwork i s i n a good state of preservatio4.

Point of Fork's i n t e r i o r i s divided into a central h a l l with pairs of rooms on either side. The most outstanding feature of the spacious f i r s t f l o o r i s the beautiful s p i r a l s t a i r which ascends i n the southwest corner of the h a l l against a correspondingly curved w a l l . The h a l l i s divided i n o the center by an e l l i p t i c a l arch supported by Doric p i l a s t e r s with carved osps^ The arch's architrave i s ornamented with an i n t r i c a t e l y carved guilloche.

The f i r s t floor's north rooms were retrimmed i n the early part of the present century. The woodwork around the wide opening between the rooms, as well as the mantels are i n a comparatively heavy Neo-Classical Revival s t y l e , featuring b a s - r e l i e f panels of c l a s s i c a l figures. Aside from t h i s trim, as well as some Corinthian p i l a s t e r s i n the north rooms, most of the remaining woodwork throughout the house i s o r i g i n a l . The house is well maintained and i n a good state of preservation.

Two interesting early outbuildings suirvive on the grounds: a servants house and an o f f i c e . The servants' house i s a two-story, five-bay br i c k structure i n a poor state of repair. The brick o f f i c e i s temple form with a wooden facade i n the form of a somewhat crude Doric portico i n antis. Both buildings are unusual examples of their respective types.

CL

S I G N I F I C A N C E

Z

U J

PERIOD Ccheck One or More as Appropriate)

I I P r e - C o l u m b i o n 1 • 16fh Cen tu ry

• 15th Cen tu ry • 17th Cen tu ry

• 18th Cen tu ry

B 19 'h Cen tu ry

• 20th Centu ry

SPECIFIC DATElS) (It Applicable and Known)

A R E A S O F S I G N I F I C A N C E f C / i e c k O n e or Afore a s A p p r o p r i a f e J

A b o r i g i na l

I I P r e h i s t o r i c

I I H i s t o r i c

A g r i c u l t u r e

[13 A r c h i t e c t u r e

• A r t

1 I Commerce

1 I C o m m u n i c a t i o n s

I I C o n s e r v a t i o n

I I E d u c a t i o n

I I E n g i n e e r i n g

I I Indust ry

I I Inven t ion

K l L a n d s c a p e

A r c h i t e c t u r e

I I L i t e r a t u r e

^ M i l i t a r y

• M u s i c

• P o l i t i c a l

• R e l i g i o n / P h i ­

l osophy

I I S c i e n c e

I I Scu lp tu re

I I S o c i o l / H u m o n -

i t o r i an

• T h e a t e r

I I T r a n s p o r t a t i o n

[ I Urban Planning

• Other (Specify)

S T A T E M E N T O F S I G N I F I C A N C E

The large C l a s s i c a l Revival mansion of Point of Fork plantation is one of two nearly i d e n t i c a l houses erected i n the 1820's by William Gait for his two great-nephews. Born i n Ayshire, Scotland, Gait immigrated to V i r g i n i a i n his early youth and set t l e d i n Richmond where he became a prosperous merchant. He became associated i n business with his niece's husband, John A l l a n , foster-father of Edgar Allan Poe. His successful business ventures enabled him to acquire extensive landholdings i n Fluvanna County where he established two plantations, Point of Fork and Glen Arvon.

Upon Gait's death i n 1826, his Fluvanna plantations passed as he intended to his two great-nephews, William and James Gait. Glen Arvon went to William and Point of Fork went to James. Prior to his great-uncle's death James had been sent back to Scotland for schooling,(accompanied on this t r i p by Edgar A l l a n Poe.) Having been born and educated i n Scotland, James Gait was considered by law to be a B r i t i s h subject. Therefore i t was not u n t i l 1828, when he was admitted United States c i t i z e n s h i p , that he was able to take t i t l e to Point of Fork.

Point of Fork derives i t s name form i t s s i t u a t i o n at the junction c the James and Rivanna Rivers. The Point t r a d i t i o n a l l y i s the location of Rausawek, c a p i t o l of the Monocan Indian nation. Captain John Smith made an expedition up the James i n 1607 and found two Monocan v i l l a g e s i n what are now Chesterfield and Powhatan Counties. I t i s not known i f he actuallyl reached Rausawek, but he noted i t s location on his map. I t i s said that one of the Monocan chiefs i s buried near the present gate to the property.

The point was of strategic importance during the Revolution. Established there was one of the Commonwealth's pr i n c i p a l m i l i t a r y installajtions which included a tra i n i n g ground, barracks, supply depot, and an important arsenal. The arsenal s i t e has been placed on the National Register of H i s t o r i c Places.

In March, 1865, Federal troops under General P h i l i p Sheridan occupied the plantation and Sheridan set up headquarters i n the house. The p l a n t a t i m as w e l l as the surrounding area was plundered but the house and i t s contents were untouched. James Gait l o s t slaves, livestock and provisions. Much 'crop land and fencing was burned, and his slaves who iijere not carried off were robbed of t h e i r personal possessions. Gait was pardoned by President Johnson after the war, and was nominated to represent his d i s t r i c t i n the General Assembly. He served i n the 1865/66 and 1866/67 sessions.

In addition to i t s h i s t o r i c a l associations. Point of Fork ranks among the major examples of plantation architecture i n the upper James

0 MAJOR 6IBL10GRAPHICAL REFERENCES

"Dairy of James Gait of Point of Fork," B u l l e t i n of the Fluvanna County H i s t o r i c a l Society. Nos. 13 & 14, October 1971.

"The Gait Family," B u l l e t i n of the Fluvanna County H i s t o r i c a l Society Nos 13 & 14, October 1971.

"Point of Fork - - "Home of the Gaits," B u l l e t i n of the Fluvanna County H i s t o r i c a l Society, Nos. 13 & 14, October 1971.

Fluvanna County Sketchbook 1777-1963, 1963,

Sale, Edith T., ed,, H i s t o r i c Gardens of V i r g i n i a , Richmond, 1923,

10. OEOGRAPHICAL DATA L A T I T U D E A N D L O N G I T U D E C O O R D I N A T E S

D E F I N I N G A R E C T A N G L E L O C A T I N G T H E P R O P E R T Y

C O R N E R L A T I T U D E L O N G I T U D E

Degrees M i n u t e s S e c o n d s D e g r e e s M inu tes S e c o n d s

NW 37° 45 ' 27" 78° l l - 08 • N E 37° 45- 27- 78° 09 • 51 -S E 37 ° 44' 48 - 78° 09- 51 " SW 3 7 » L L - A 8 . 7 » I T O R

A P P R O X I M A T E A C R E A G E O F N O M I N A T E D P R O P E R T Y :

L A T I T U D E A N D L O N G | - ^ J D E C O O R D I N A T E S D E F I N I N G T H ^ L E . 1 N : T E . R P O I N 1 O F A P H O P E R T Y

O F L E S S T H A N T E N A C R E S

L A T I T U D E L O N G I T U D E

D e g r e e s M i n u t e s S e c o n d s

O > . D e g r e e s M i n u t e s Seconds

o t »

265 acres.

m

I L I S T A L L S T A T E S A N D C O U N T I E S F O R P R O P E R T I E S O V E R L A P P I N G S T A T E O R ^ ^ O U ^ N ^ y ^^<^ LI.IMD A R I E S

C O U N T Y

C O U N T Y : REC5JEO APR 2 2 1974

C O U N T Y : —

NATIONAL COUNTY: f'X HbGlSTER 'y./

II. FORM PREPARED BY N A M E A N D T I T L E :

V i r g i n i a H i s t o r i c Landmarks Commission Staff O R G A N l Z A T I O N

V i r g i n i a H i s t o r i c Landmarks Commission S T R E E T A N D N U M B E R :

221 Governnr Street

D A T E

March, 1974

n

o z

C I T Y O R T O W N :

Richmond n . STATE LIAtSON OFFtCER CERTIFICATION

V i r g i n i a 51 NATIONAL REGISTER VgRlFICATION

As the designated State Lia ison Officer for the Na­

tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law

89-665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion

in the National Register and certify that it has been

evaluated according to the c-iteria and procedures set

forth by the National Park Service. The recommended

level of significance of this nomination is :

National • State ^ L o c a l •

Name

Junius

I hereby certify that this property is included in the

National Register.

Director, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation

i^ i rg in i Tit le

Date

tor mmission

A T T E S T :

D a t e Date

G P O 931.89 4

Form 10.300a (July 1969)

UNITED S T A T E S D E P A R T M E N T OF THE INTERIOR N A T I O N A L P A R K SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM

(Continuation Sheet)

STATE

V i r g i n i a COUNTY

Fluvanna FOR NPS USE ONLY

E N T R Y N U M B E R

AUG 1 3 1974 (Number alt entriea)

8. region. The handsomely proportioned house has highly sophisticated architectur|al d e t a i l i n g , and i l l u s t r a t e s the t r a n s i t i o n of the Adam sty l e of the Federal period to the Greek Revival s t y l e . The large portico i s one of the early uses of the Greek Doric order i n V i r g i n i a . The house also exhibits unusually fine craftsmanship i n i t s d e t a i l i n g . The very even Flemish bond brickwork i s out­standing, and wood features such as the exterior Doric cornice and the s p i r a l s t a i r on the i n t e r i o r are exceptional.

^ 2 1974

N A T I O N A L R E G I S T E I : .Z^^-

•^-.LiAy-^'"

CL

G P O 9 2 1 . 7 2 4

Form No. 10-301 Rev. 7-72

OO

Z

O

u =)

K-«/> Z

IU

UJ 1/1

UNITED STATES D E P A R T M E N T O F THE INTERIOR NATIONAL P A R K SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

PROPERTY MAP FORM

(Type all entries •• attach to or enclose with map)

IT. KAME

S T A T E

V i r g i n i a C O U N T Y

F l u v a n n a FOR NPS USE ONLY

E N T R Y N U M B E R D A T E

—JkUfi U COMMON: P o i i i t o f Fork P l a n t a t i o n A N D / O R H I S T O R I C :

2.. LOCATION S T R E E T A N D N U M B E R :

C I T Y O R T O W N :

Columbia v i c i n i t y

V i r g i n i a 3. MAP REFERENCE

51 COUNTY:

Fluvanna 065 S O U R C E :

^ ' ^ - G . S . 7 1/2' quadrangles Columbia & Lakes ide V i l l a g e . V i r g i n i a 1:24000 ~ ~~Z~^ 1970

4. R E Q U I R E M E N T S 1969

T O B E I N C U U D E D O N A L L M A P S

1. P r o p e r t y b r o u n d a r i e s w h e r e r e q u i r e d .

2 . N o r t h a r r o w .

3 . L a t i t u d e a n d l o n g i t u d e r e f e r e n c e .

<.i\yyj ly

* U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING O F ^ C « \ l 9 7 3 - 7 i ^ ¥ 4 f e / U

PLI:A.'JE RETURN THIS-J£f)IUi WHEN THE PROPEITY ISjilE^IV^IlTlT.D.y DATE; NAME OF PROPERTY jfjlof- Qf ^r/C rWiTpTfdV^ J l/iK ' The attached National Register Invcntory-Nomihation form i s being returned to your o f f i c c for c l a r i f i c a t i o n of thc information indicated below.

1. Name. ,

2. Location.

3. C l a s s i f i c a t i o n .

4. Owner of Property.

5. Location of Legal Description.

6. Representation i n E x i s t i n g Surveys.

7. Description.

V 8. St

9. Bibliography.

_10. Geographical Data. a. Loncitude and Latitude Coordinates.

b. Acreage.

.11. Form Prepared By,

12. C e r t i f i c a t i o n .

Photographic Coverage.

Map Coverage. Please use a map bearing an i d e n t i f i e d system of coordinates, preferably an ori.ginal USGS, which allows us to check latitude-longitude.

Other,

C l a r i f i c a t i o n or correction of the above itc-ms must be niade prior to the i n i t i a t i o n of our professional review. Correction of these technical errors docs not necessarily insure that the nomination w i l l then s a t i s f y the National Register c r i t e r i a i n f u l l .

Thank you for your attention to tlie above items checked.

SIGNED:

WASO Form -177 ("R" June 1984)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATiONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET

• resubmission • nomination by person or local government • owner objection IZI appeal

Substantive Review: EH sample • request [H appeal

Working No. _ Fed. Reg. Date: Date Due: Action: ACCEPT _

RETURN. REJECT.

Federal Agency:

• NR decision

Reviewer's comments:

Recom./Criteria. Reviewer Discipline Date

. see continuation sheet

Nomination returned for: .technical corrections cited below .substantive reasons discussed below

1. Name

2. Location

3. Classification

Category Ownership Public Acquisition

Slatus Accessible

Present Use

4. Owner of Property

5. Location of Legal Description

6. Representation in Existing Surveys

Has this property been determined eligible? • yes • no

7. Description

Condition

excellent

O good

• fair

I I deteriorated

• ruins

• unexposed

Check one

• unaltered

• altered

Descrilie the present and original (if Icnown) physical appearance

• summary paragraph • completeness • clarity I I alterations/integrity • dates I I boundary selection

Check one

• original site

• moved date.

8. Significance

Period Areas of Significance—Checl< and justify below

Specific dates Bui Ider/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph)

• summary paragraph • completeness • clarity • applicable criteria • justification of areas checl<ed • relating significance to the resource • context • relationship of integrity to significance • justification of exception • other

9. IVIajor Bibliographical References

10. Geographical Data

Acreage of nominated property Ctuadrangle name UTIVl References

Verbal boundary description and justification

11. Form Prepared By

12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is:

nationai state local

State Historic Preservation Officer signature

title date

13. Other

O Maps • Photographs • Other

Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to.

Signed Date Phone:

Commenis for any Item may tx continued on an attacfiedstieet

ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER

STATE VinClIflA

Date Entered AUG 1 3 1974

Ncune

totnt of Fork Plaatatloa

Stuart HaU Ciaixx Bailding)

Kartla Sita, V^he Cotinty, Va, (44 13)

Location

Glan Alien irieinity Banrlea Cotmty

Columbia Tioixiity Fluvanna County

Staunton (City)

Wytha County

.. Also Notified

Hon. Harry F. Byrd, Jr. Bon. UlllliuB L. Scott Bon. David £. Satterfiald, III Hon. J* Kenneth Tvobinaon Uon. H. Caldwell Butlar Bon, yilliaa C. Vacpler

Ragional Director, Hid Atlantic Region

Stat* Bietorie Preservation Officer Dr, Juniua S. Fishbume, Jr. Executive Direetor Virginia Biatorle Landiaarka Coanissiec 221 Govemor Street Riebssond. Virginia 23219

/ PR MMOTT: pl 8/19/74