UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA SPRIGG LANE LANDSCAPE STUDY VOLUME 1: COMPREHENSIVE REPORT WATERSTREET STUDIO, LLC 418 East Main Street Charlottesville, VA 22902 LIZ SARGENT HISTORICAL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE 1855 Winston Road Charlottesville, VA 22903 Prepared for the Office of the Architect for the University of Virginia and the University of Virginia Arboretum and Landscape Committee. UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA SPRIGG LANE LANDSCAPE STUDY VOLUME 1: COMPREHENSIVE REPORT 3 SPRIGG LANE LANDSCAPE STUDY AUGUST 2020 4 WATERSTREET STUDIO & LSHLA SPRIGG LANE LANDSCAPE STUDY VOLUME 1: TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 8 Executive Summary 10 Planning Context 12 CULTURAL HISTORY 14 Historical Summary 16 Chronology 18 Historical Significance 30 EXISTING CONDITIONS 32 Morea 34 Sprigg Lane (Weedon) 51 Bemiss (Goodwin) 60 Recoleta 70 SITE ANALYSIS 80 Tree Diversity 82 Tree Origin 84 Mature Tree Origin, Trees Over 20” Caliper 86 Defining Tree Species 88 Invasive Species 90 Slope 92 Open Space 94 Pedestrian Circulation 96 Vehicular Access and Parking 98 OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE 100 Preserve Historic Landscape 102 Promote Research on Site 104 Sustain and Advance Plant Diversity 106 Advance Plant-Tracking Technology 108 Explore Expanded Use By University Community 110 Create a Meditative Landscape 112 Strengthen Pedestrian Connections 114 Create Precinct Program Synergies 116 Acknowledgments 118 APPENDIX 120 Digital Submissions List 121 Plant Lists 122 Seasonality Charts 130 5 SPRIGG LANE LANDSCAPE STUDY AUGUST 2020 6 WATERSTREET STUDIO & LSHLA SPRIGG LANE LANDSCAPE STUDY VOLUME 2: TABLE OF CONTENTS HISTORY OF THE SPRIGG LANE LANDSCAPE 7 Sprigg Lane: An Introduction 8 Early History of the Sprigg Lane area; The Origins of Morea (circa 1734–1835) 9 The Development of Morea (1835–1847) 12 Ownership of Morea during the Antebellum Period (1847–1861) 17 Civil War (1861–1865) 18 Post-Civil War Recovery and Reconstruction (1865—circa 1900) 20 Twentieth Century Growth of University of Virginia and Charlottesville (circa 1900–1941) 22 Development of Sprigg Lane 22 Sprigg Lane House (1938) 23 Recoleta (1938–1940) 28 Goodwin (Bemiss) House (1939) 31 Albemarle Garden Club and the Neighbors at Sprigg Lane 33 World War II (1941–1945) 33 Postwar Activity (1945–circa 1970) 35 Morea and the University 36 The Gardens at Weedon House 36 The Gardens at Recoleta 39 Morea and the Botanical Collection 40 Controversy and Change at Sprigg Lane (circa 1970–1984) 43 Historic Preservation on Sprigg Lane (1984–2020) 46 Figure List 47 Endnotes 51 HISTORIC PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS 59 Morea 60 Recoleta 74 Sprigg Lane (Weedon) 88 Bemiss (Goodwin) 108 SIGNIFICANCE EVALUATION 119 APPENDIX 123 Morea Historical Summary (Author: Ben Ford) 124 Morea Morsels (Author: Melinda Frierson) 134 Sprigg Lane Interview Transcripts and Summaries 136 Virginia Stokes 136 Mary Weedon Pollock 160 Jennifer Weedon Pollock 179 Betty Valmarana and Melinda Frierson 181 7 SPRIGG LANE LANDSCAPE STUDY AUGUST 2020 IVY ROAD ROTHERY ROAD CRESAP ROAD CAMERON LANE STUDY AREA SPRIGG LANE LEWIS MOUNTAIN ROAD 8 WATERSTREET STUDIO & LSHLA INTRODUCTION The study area is located on the northwest corner of Central Grounds and covers 7.5 acres. Surrounding roads include Emmet Street to the east, Ivy Road to the north, Rothery Road to the west and Lewis Mountain Road to the south. Access to the properties, however, are only by way of Rothery Road and Cresap Road, with the most prominent access on Sprigg Lane. All four parcels are located in the City of Charlottesville. Parcel addresses and identification numbers are as follows: Morea: 209 Sprigg Lane 080028000 2.6 acres Sprigg Lane: 214 Sprigg Lane 080040000 + 080041000 2.4 + 0.4 acres Bemiss: 210 Sprigg Lane 080042000 0.3 acres Recoleta: 120 Rothery Road 080030000 0.9 acres 9 SPRIGG LANE LANDSCAPE STUDY AUGUST 2020 INTRODUCTION Executive Summary PROJECT DESCRIPTION Four individual residential parcels sit quietly to the documents existing conditions. A comprehensive survey northwest of the University of Virginia’s Central Grounds. was performed and compared to historic mapping. Tucked discreetly behind the International Residential Photographic inventories and fieldwork provided additional College and the UVA Alumni Hall, these structures have data. Particular attention was given to document the plant held the University Press as well as provided residences collection. That data serves to understand both the historical for prominent University professors, administrators and landscape and provide a framework for planting objectives students. With the recent acquisition of the Recoleta parcel, moving forward. the University has now prioritized appropriate steps to document the history and better understand the significance 3. Using the historic and existing conditions findings, of this contiguous land holding. the study analyzes the four parcels together as an inter- connected and inter-related landscape. Mapping of the The University of Virginia Office of the Architect initiated this entire study area exposes and highlights important physical, landscape study on behalf of the Arboretum and Landscape environmental and spatial characteristics. Committee to fully research, document and analyze these four parcels together and, in doing so, give opportunity 4. Finally, the study initiates a conversation about the for a better understanding of early 19th century land future of these parcels. It imagines potential opportunities, development, the importance of site in the development of rooted in an understanding of their history, while offering these homesteads and the social interactions between these ways in which the properties can be relevant, relatable and adjacent land owners. purposeful for the larger University community. The study is guided by underlaying assumptions that frame KEY FINDINGS the scope and breadth of the study. First, the physical and social history of these sites and their relationship to As is evident in Volume 2 of this study, there is a wealth each other are relevant and important to document. Their of historical information about the individual and histories should be foundational to any future planning interconnected nature of these four parcels. Written considered for these sites. Second, the plant communities, documents, oral histories and physical evidence known generally to be elaborate and extensive, should be communicates the notable individuals who served as fully documented, and cross-referenced with the historical professors and administrators for the University. Both research, to develop horticultural strategies for future the architecture and landscape architecture are deemed planning. Finally, it is assumed that the structures on site significant to their eras of design and construction. And will remain residential in use and will require a sensitive most importantly, the physical constructs of these histories balance between maintaining privacy and providing access are almost entirely intact. Herein is a rare opportunity to to the public. meld a richly preserved history with contemporary use of these properties. METHODOLOGY With over 174 different plant species identified among the The study consists of four phases: four parcels, this combined site is a haven for horticultural celebration and education. Furthermore, the site inherently 1. The study first documents the history of the four parcels, fulfills some of the critical goals of the Landscape Framework as landscapes intrinsically tied to their acclaimed residential Master Plan through its ~5.2 acres of tree canopy and structures and their residents, but also uniquely tied to each biodiversity of plants. Future planning should seek to other. This is the first focused study of these important landscapes as the impetus to their historical importance. Extensive research was conducted to develop a historic narrative and chronology of these properties. 2. Paired with the extensive historical research, the study 10 WATERSTREET STUDIO & LSHLA ROTHERY ROAD RECOLETA HOUSE (BUILT 1940) MOREA HOUSE (BUILT 1835) SPRIGG LANE SPRIGG LANE HOUSE (BUILT 1938) SPRIGG BEMISS LANE HOUSE LOWER LOT (BUILT 1939, ADDITION 1991) sustain and maintain these resources and integrate their academic research, learning and wellness initiatives, this environmental values with the historical landscapes deemed combined site can take on new meaning and provide new equally important. histories. As these properties are historically residential and three The site’s proximity to the major University intersection homes continue this residential use, they will need to of Ivy Road and Emmet Street can enhance and expand maintain some sense of privacy for their residents. Similar pedestrian and multi-modal access to better connect to the Lawn Pavilions and their companion gardens that Central and North Grounds. And through this framework share space between private and community use, the Sprigg of connectivity, Thomas Jefferson’s vision for a botanical Lane sites hold a similar opportunity to expand their access garden could be realized through greenways, shared streets and provide relevant, usable spaces for the larger University and linear landscapes. community. Providing student access through a variety of 0 100 11 SPRIGG LANE LANDSCAPE STUDY AUGUST 2020 INTRODUCTION 2019 Landscape Framework Plan, pg 45 Planning Context WOODLAND RECOMMENDATIONS x CANOPY. Increase overall tree canopy coverage in the next ten years on Grounds by expanding LANDSCAPE FRAMEWORK PLAN OBJECTIVES & MAPS tree planting and replacements; study locations for canopy expansion