قراءة كتاب Historical Guide to Old Charlottesville
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garden now is dominated by a marble statue of Monroe. This was presented to the president’s home upon the hundredth anniversary of his death, by the sculptor Attilio Piccirilli, whose work may be also seen in the capitol in Richmond and the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
Michie’s Old Tavern. J. Rawlings Thomson
THE MICHIE TAVERN
Rt. 53, Monticello Road
This authentic eighteenth century tavern was moved, 1927, from its original site on the Buck Mountain Road in North Albemarle to its present location on Monticello Road. Before-and-after photographs show that while some later tamperings were done away with, the original structure was scrupulously preserved—with the exception of the cellar, whose massive slave masonry it was not possible to transport or reproduce.
This tavern bears the name of William Michie, son of the John Michie of Louisa County who in 1746 bought a one thousand, one hundred and fifty-two acre tract in that region from John Henry of Hanover County, father of Patrick Henry. John Michie made his home in this region in a great river bend, and named it the Horse Shoe. His sons shared in the development of the tract, and John Michie’s will, 1777, provided that each son should be confirmed in ownership of the acres he had brought under cultivation, before equal distribution of the remainder.
William Michie inherited in the Buck Mountain section, lived there, and on November 11, 1784, petitioned the court for “License to keep ordinary in my house.” William Michie became a large landowner, served as Magistrate and Sheriff, and died in 1811.
This old building displays an interesting exhibit of the accustomed furnishings of that period.
Lewis and Clark Statue. 1919.
CHARLOTTESVILLE’S STATUES
Among the munificent gifts of Paul Goodloe McIntire to his native town—parks, playgrounds, public library; gifts to the University of Athletics, Fine Arts, Medicine, etc.—the most obvious are the statues in the city.
LEWIS AND CLARK STATUE
Junction of West Main and Ridge Streets
Sculptor, Charles Keck. Unveiled, November 21, 1919. This work is of the romantic school. It is a three-figure group; Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and Sacajawea, the young Indian guide with her papoose. In beauty of design and of execution it will repay prolonged scrutiny. The pedestal with its carved symbolism should not be overlooked.
LOCATION OF STATUE
Our present Main Street is the Colonial Three-chopt Road, which led from Richmond, passed Boyd’s Tavern and crossed the Rivanna at Secretary’s Ford—now the Woolen Mills (East Market Street). Crossing Mechum’s River it struck in a straight line for Woods’ (now Jarman’s) Gap. It was in use prior to 1746. Though not associated with the expedition, it was felt appropriate to place the explorers on a great early artery and facing into the West.
MERIWETHER LEWIS
Young Meriwether Lewis—he was only thirty-five at death—was born in Albemarle in 1774. He was ‘Albemarle of Albemarle.’ The Lewis family was already old Virginia stock when Robert Lewis took up large holdings in what is now this county. He was Meriwether Lewis’s grandfather. He owned the handsome estate of Belvoir, near Cismont, and some ten thousand acres in other parts of the county. Meriwether Lewis’s mother was a granddaughter of ‘the great Landowner,’ Nicholas Meriwether, who came up from tide-water where he owned large estates, and in 1727 patented in one body 17,952 acres, this being the first patent lying within the bounds of present Albemarle. Eight years later he made an addition of more than a thousand acres, adjoining, which became his home. He was Lewis’s great-grandfather. These were families of high standards and public service—vestrymen, magistrates, officers in the militia and the Revolution.
Our explorer’s birthplace, Locust Grove, was west of Charlottesville about seven miles. The name and site remain; the original house was burned. The village of Ivy is near it.
Meriwether Lewis was Jefferson’s secretary when the government determined upon exploration of the lands just purchased from France. He brilliantly headed this expedition—from St. Louis to the mouth of the Columbia River, 1803-06. Upon his return, Jefferson appointed him Territorial Governor of Louisiana. In 1809, while journeying to Washington city, he died by gunshot at an obscure country inn in Tennessee—whether by his own hand or that of others was not definitely known. A monument to him was erected at this spot by the Legislature of Tennessee, 1848.
WILLIAM CLARK
By a few years, William Clark, joint explorer of the Pacific Coast, failed to be of Albemarle birth. Jonathan Clark of King and Queen County, Virginia, in 1734 took out holdings in the county. His dwelling was a plain house on the Stony Point Road very near the site of Buena Vista, the McMurdo residence. He had two famous grandsons; the elder, George Rogers Clark, was born in that cabin. The younger, William, was born in Caroline County where his father had inherited substantial property. William Clark’s later life was successful. He was appointed by Jefferson Territorial Governor of Missouri, and later became U. S. Agent for Indian Affairs. Died, 1838.
LOUISIANA PURCHASE.
It is perhaps not always realized that Albemarle was the Louisiana Purchase. Three of the actors in this great drama—Jefferson, Lewis and Monroe—lived here within a ten-mile radius. A circle with that diameter would include Monticello, Ash Lawn and Locust Hill. As members of a small and closely integrated social class these men knew each other intimately in private life. Despite the difference in age, Jefferson and Lewis had attended the same private classical school; Monroe had at one time studied law under Jefferson’s supervision.
Monroe came to Albemarle in 1789 and made it his home until his retirement from public life. His choice of home was dictated by his oft-expressed desire to be near Jefferson, their friendship being early formed and life-long. Thus, when this chance to acquire a vast territory arose, the men who handled it knew fully the respective qualities of each actor.
STONEWALL JACKSON STATUE
Jackson Park. East Jefferson Street
Adjoining Court House
Sculptor, Charles Keck. Unveiled, October 19, 1921. This dynamic equestrian figure, of the romantic school, already ranks among the world’s “great action” sculptures. It is known that the artist, at its inception, came to Albemarle to study Virginia-bred horses and the Virginia seat in the saddle. A local horse-fancier demonstrated these points. The beautiful pedestal is enfolded in the superb wing-sweep of two symbolic forms—Faith and Valor.
Thomas Jonathan Jackson—Virginian by birth, graduate of West Point, distinguished in the Mexican War—resigned from the regular army, 1851, and became a Presbyterian elder and a professor of natural philosophy and artillery tactics at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington. Ten years later, at the outbreak of the War-between-the-States, he entered the Confederate army and rose to a rank second in authority only to Lee. His military genius was fully recognized abroad, and his