Prehistoric and Historic Contexts for Albemarle County, Virginia
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
FROM THE MONACANS TO MONTICELLO AND BEYOND: PREHISTORIC AND HISTORIC CONTEXTS FOR ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA Submitted to: Virginia Department of Historic Resources 221 Governor Street Richmond, Virginia 23219 Submitted by: Garrow & Associates, Inc. 417 North Boylan Avenue Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 Prepared by: Richard Mattson Frances Alexander Daniel Cassedy and Geoffrey Henry May 1995 DEDICATION This report is dedicated to the memory of Jeffrey Marshall O'Dell (1950-1994). As an architectural historian for the Virginia Department of Historic Resources from 1974 through 1992, he surveyed and wrote about Virginia architecture of all periods and varieties. This study is the culmination of the field survey and research that Jeff conducted in Albernarle County for more than ten years. His connection with the people, history, and architecture of the county will be a guiding preservation legacy to future generations. ABSTRACT This document presents a series of historic context narratives for Albemarle County, Virginia. These contexts were developed as a first attempt to synthesize the abundant primary data on the prehistory, history, archaeology, and architecture of this noteworthy county. They are intended for use by other researchers and planners in the evaluation of resource significance and in the identification of preservation planning priorities. They can also be used by interested residents as an educational reference and a key to resource types representative of a given period or theme. The project was sponsored by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) on behalf of Albemarle County, and the research was conducted by a team from the two consulting firms of Garrow & Associates, Inc. and Mattson, Alexander & Associates. Research and text development took place in 1994, with report review and final production taking place in 1995. The researchers used the existing archaeology and architecture survey files at the DHR in addition to a variety of secondary sources to develop 18 historic themes for Albemarle County. The themes and time periods used follow the guidelines previously established by the DHR for historic contexts in Virginia. The report illustrates that Albemarle County has one of the best collections of domestic architecture in Virginia, ranging in age from small, mid-eighteenth century, vernacular dwellings to impressive, early twentieth century, Classical Revival mansions. Although, in the past, the oldest and grandest houses have received the most attention, the county also has large numbers of historic properties with lower profiles, such as agricultural outbuildings, slave dwellings, farmers' houses, country stores, and taverns. The survey files also document an extensive inventory of community resources, such as numerous chools and a wide cross section of churches. Although not as comprehensively documented, the county also has a good collection of resources related to transportation, technology, and industry, such as mills, quarries, roads, railroads, canals, locks, dams, and tunnels. Both archaeological sites and standing structures and features are represented in this inventory, with a strong potential for future multiple resource survey and nomination efforts. In addition to the survival of numerous individual resources, Albemarle County retains a great deal of integrity in landscape features-such as scenic vistas, tree- lined entrance lanes, and agrarian land-use patterns-that contribute to the historic character of the county. However, with the exception of the Southwest Mountains Rural Historic District, the landscape theme is little developed in the survey files. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project was made possible by the collaborative efforts of many people. Marc Wagner provided oversight for the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and greatly facilitated the flow of information between the DHR, Albemarle County, the consultants, and local experts. In the county planning office, Mary Joy Scala also provided access to vital information and an insightful review of the draft report. We received help from a number of people with considerable prior experience in the history, architecture, and archaeology of Albemarle County. Dr. Jeffrey Hantman generously shared his knowledge of the prehistory of Albemarle County - and provided copies of both published and unpublished reports of research conducted by him and his colleagues at the University of Virginia. Dr. Hantman's studies build upon a solid foundation previously established by Dr. C. G. Holland. - A meeting was held at Charlottesville in June 1994 at which local experts provided - considerable guidance to help focus the development of the contexts and identify the most relevant historic resources for each of the 18 themes. In attendance at this meeting were: Katharine Imhoff, S. Barclay Rives, Sarah Lee Barnes, James Eddins, - Dr. K. Edward Lay, Melinda Byrd Frierson, Babette Thorpe, Mary Joy Scala, and Marc Wagner. Helpful written comments on the draft report were provided by Dr. Lay, Ms. Frierson, Mr. Rives, and Mr. Eddins. - At Mattson, Alexander & Associates, Richard Mattson and Frances Alexander prepared most of the text on historic architectural resources, with a major - contribution on the Domestic and Architecture themes from their subconsultant, Geoff Henry. At Garrow & Associates, Daniel Cassedy coordinated the project, prepared the text on archaeology and prehistory, and oversaw the integration and editing of text from all authors and the insertion of resource illustrations. Technical editing was provided by Garrow's staff editor, Daniel Dolensky. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION .i . ABSTRACT 11 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS iii TABLE OF CONTENTS i v LIST OF FIGURES viii INTRODUCTION 1 CHRONOLOGICAL OVERVIEW 5 Prehistoric Period 5 Paleoindian Period (ca. 10,000-8,000 B.C.) 5 Archaic Period (ca. 8,000-1,200 B.C.) 6 Woodland Period (ca. 1,200 B.C.-A.D. 1607) 8 Historic Period 9 Settlement to Society (1607-1750) 9 Colony to Nation (1750-1789) 11 Early National Period (1789-1830) 12 Antebellum Period (1830-1860) 13 Civil War (1861-1865) 14 Reconstruction and Growth (1865-1917) 14 World War I to present (1915-1994) 15 DOMESTIC 16 Prehistoric Period 18 Early Settlement to 1750; Colony to Nation (1750-1789) 19 Early National Period (1789-1830) 24 Antebellum Period (1830-1860) 28 Civil War (1861-1865); Reconstruction and Growth (1865-1914) 31 World War I to World War I1 (1915-1945) 33 SUBSISTENCE/AGRICULTURE 35 The Late Woodland Period (A.D. 1000-1607) 36 Early Settlement (1607-1750); Colony to Nation (1750-1789) 37 Early National Period (1789-1830); Antebellum Period (1830-1860) 37 Reconstruction and Growth (1865-1914); World War I to World War I1 (1915-1945) SETTLEMENT PATTERNS Paleoindian Period (10,000-8,000 B.C.) Archaic Period (8,000-1,200 B.C.) Woodland Period (1,200 B.C.-A.D. 1607) Early Settlement to 1750 Colony to Nation (1750-1789) Early National Period (1789-1830); Antebellum Period (1830-1860) Reconstruction and Growth (1865-1914) World War I to World War I1 (1914-1945) MILITARY / DEFENSE Early Settlement to 1750; Colony to Nation (1750-1789); Early National Period (1789-1830); Antebellum Period (1830-1860) Civil War (1860-1865) LAW/GOVERNMENT/POLITICAL THEME Early Settlement to 1750; Colony to Nation (1750-1789); Early National Period (1789-1830) Antebellum Period (1830-1860); Civil War (1860-1865) Reconstruction and Growth (1866-1914); World War Ito World War I1 (1915-1945) EDUCATION Early Settlement to 1750; Colony to Nation (1750-1789); Early National Period (1789-1830) Antebellum Period (1830-1860); Civil War (1860-1865) Reconstruction and Growth (1866-1914); World War I to World War I1 (1915-1945) HEALTH CARE/MEDICINE Early Settlement to 1750; Colony to Nation (1750-1789); Early National Period (1789-1830); Antebellum Period (1830-1860); Reconstruction and Growth (1865-1914) World War I to World War I1 (1914-1945) RECREATION/ARTS Early Settlement to 1750; Colony to Nation (1750-1789); Early National Period (1789-1830) Antebellum Period (1830-1860); Civil War (1860-1865); Reconstruction and Growth (1865-1914); World War I to World War I1 (1915-1945) SOCIAL Early Settlement to 1750; Colony to Nation (1750-1789); Early National Period (1789-1830); Antebellum Period (1830-1860); Civil War (1860-1865) Reconstruction and Growth (1865-1914); World War Ito World War I1 (1915-1945) ETHNICITY/IMMIGRATION Early Settlement to 1750; Colony to Nation (1750-1789); Early National Period (1789-1830); Antebellum Period (1830-1860); Civil War (1860-1865) Reconstruction and Growth (1865-1914); World War Ito World War I1 (1915-1945) RELIGION Early Settlement to 1750; Colony to Nation (1750-1789); Early National Period (1789-1830) Antebellum Period (1830-1860) Civil War (1860-1865); Reconstruction and Growth (1865-1914); World War Ito World War I1 (1915-1945) FUNERARY Late Woodland Period (A.D. 1000-1607) Early Settlement to 1750; Colony to Nation (1750-1789); Early National Period (1789-1830) Antebellum Period (1830-1860); Civil War (1860-1865) Reconstruction and Growth (1866-1914); World War I to World War I1 (1915-1945) COMMERCE/TRADE Early Settlement to 1750; Colony to Nation (1750-1789); Early National Period (1789-1830) Antebellum Period (1830-1860); Civil War (1860-1865) Reconstruction and Growth (1866-1914); World War I to World War I1 (1915-1945) TRANSPORTATION/COMMUNICATION Early Settlement to 1750; Colony to Nation (1750-1789) Early National Period (1789-1830); Antebellum Period (1830- 1860) Reconstruction and Growth (1865-1914) World