The Muse: November 2000
HOUSE TOUR: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2:00-4:00 P.M.
The Brick House in Clifford, will be open, free of charge, to the Museum's membership. The house was built in 1795 by David Shepard Garland, a Virginia state legislator and a U.S. Congressman. See the historical essay on page 3 for more information on the home. Please bring a friend to join the Museum and tour the house. Membership forms can be printed out from our web site (http://members.aol.com/achmuseum) or call the Museum. Memberships will also be available at the door the day of the event.
Director’s Notes: Museum to Celebrate 25 Years
Although I’ve not even been here a year yet, I arrived just in time to help the museum observe its 25th birthday in 2001. Founded in 1976 as part of the Bicentennial Celebration in Amherst County, the museum has seen many faces and changes in the past quarter century. We are hoping to make this upcoming year the best ever!
Many of the members of the executive board, myself included, are brainstorming on ideas for events and programs to commemorate this landmark year. We hope to have activities, lectures, and exhibits occurring at the Museum throughout the year as part of the festivities. If you think you have some great ideas feel free to pass them on to a board member or call the museum. You - our members - are going to be a big part of this celebration.
If you are as excited as I am, how about participating on our planning group? Help us come up with some new events and plan a year full of fun and excitement. Call the museum at 946-9068 if you are interested.
Welcome New Members
- Mr. Harold W. Babcock - Madison Heights, VA
- Ms. Virginia Babcock - Appomattox, VA
- Michael & Juli Clark - Madison Heights, VA
- Mr. Ed Fielding - Lynchburg, VA
- Mr. Randall Jones - Millville, NJ
- Douglas & Dorothy Morcom - Monroe, VA
- Mr. Richard Mundy - Forest, VA
- Ms. Diantha Wagner - Monterey, CA
Board Notes
Mrs. Walter (Elvira) Morse, a member of the Museum Board for many years, has resigned. We thank her for her strong support and faithful service.
Welcome to Mr. John Gordon, our newest member, who started in October.
Mr. Scott Vail, a former member of the Board, died in September. We extend our sympathy to his family.
Village Garden Club
The Village Garden Club of Amherst has enhanced the Museum lawn with beautiful plantings and brick walkways this summer. The flowers have been spectacular and received many compliments. The Club received $300 and second place, South Atlantic Region, for this Civic Development Project. We’re so proud of your accomplishments. Thank you, Village Garden Club!
Exhibits
Great News! Part of the Permanent Exhibit has been completed. One case on the early history of the county, focusing on the Monacan Indians is now finished. Included are some photographs, tools and archaeology specimens. Work on another of the cases is well underway, and it should be done by the beginning of December.
A new exhibit in the hallway cases is a collaborative effort between the Museum and a new Military History Research Center (MHRC) here in Amherst. Mr. Charles Patrick from MHRC has put together a display on artillery pieces throughout history. The Museum has complimented it with some artifacts representing the participation of Amherst County soldiers in several military endeavors.
Finally, A Century of Medicine will be closing by the middle of November, so there are only a few weeks left to see it if you haven’t yet had the chance.
David Shepherd Garland and his Brick House
The Brick House was built by David Shepherd Garland (1769-1841) in 1795, the year he married Patrick Henry’s niece, Jane Henry Meredith (1776-1855). She was the daughter of Colonel Samuel Meredith Jr. who lived at adjoining Winton plantation. Jane was a close friend and cousin of Dolly Madison. The Garlands had eleven children.
Present day Clifford was first settled around the middle of the 18th century by Scots. The area was called New Glasgow. Then, in 1785, 50 acres were incorporated as the town of Cabellsburg. The older name of New Glasgow was re-established in 1803. For a short time after the separation of Nelson County from Amherst in 1807, New Glasgow was the Amherst county seat. The original New Glasgow was an active area of 500 inhabitants and a major stopping place on the main road from Charlottesville to Lynchburg - a three-day trip by stagecoach.
David Shepherd Garland was a large landowner (800 acres), a lawyer, a justice of the peace, and a vestryman of the Episcopal Church. He served in the state legislature for a total of 27 years and in the United States Congress from January 1810 to March 1811. David Shepherd Garland was nicknamed "King David" and his home, the Brick House, called "King David’s Palace" due to his wealth and position.
While in Congress, Garland asked Elijah Fletcher to be the headmaster of the New Glasgow Academy. The sizable school was established in 1803 and located on the site of the present Clifford Ruritan Club. Fletcher accepted Garland’s offer. In 1813, Fletcher married Maria Antoinette Crawford of nearby Tusculum plantation. Their daughter, Indiana Fletcher Williams founded Sweet Briar College in memory of her daughter Daisy Williams.
The Brick House has had numerous owners - some of whom were Dr. James Shepard Pendleton, Moshers, Kents, Watts (1912-1941), Crawfords (1941-1952), Babcocks (1952-1965), and Brughs (1965-present). The economic depression of 1830 necessitated that Garland sell much of his land holdings and the home was sold in 1853 by his wife. During the 1920s and 1930s, the house was unoccupied.
The architecture of the Brick House is a blend of Georgian and Federal styles. A striking feature of the house is the large fanlight over the front door and a similar, though smaller, one on the third floor. Both windows have similar keystones. The beehive carvings below the roof are purely ornamental.
The bricks on the front of the house are laid in Flemish bond. The bricks on the sides on the house are English or common bond. Most of the bricks were made on the plantation.
All the mantles are original and most are of Adam design. The wainscoting and chair rail in the front hall and dining room are original. Note especially the dining room mantle motifs of swags, acanthus leaves, and a Grecian urn. The floors, except for the large den, are original random width pine floors. Parts of the old shingled roof can still be seen from the attic. It is assumed the woodwork was hand carved by Colonial craftsmen. The doors are Christian cross style.
The house was built in three sections: the original T shape in 1795, the small den and room above it in 1830 and the kitchen - which was originally two rooms - in 1850. These additions are clearly visible on the east wall. The house was built facing South – an astute design to capture the heat and light from the sun coming in the many large windows.
David Shepherd Garland and his wife are buried in the Meredith family graveyard at Winton. There is a plaque in their memory at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Clifford.
The unassuming strong name - the Brick House - suits, for it is an uncomplicated house. The original part is balanced and symmetrical. The house is very welcoming and has been enjoyed and appreciated by many families.
Mrs. Lynn Brugh, III - present owner of Brick House.
Genealogy Queries:
Looking for parents of Sarah Goode, b. abt. 1768 in Amherst Co. m. William Campbell 22 Dec. 1785 in Amherst County.
Seeking information on George Campbell also known as "John Hat Creek Waggoner" or "Tye River Waggoner". Children were John, b. abt. 1750, m. Sarah Goode; Henry, b. Feb. 1764, m. Sarah Wright.
Hunting parents of James, Robert and Fleming Miller. James m. Nancy Campbell 20 June 1808 in Amherst Co. Robert and Fleming went to St. Charles Co. MO, 1824.
Seeking information on William Tucker. He m. Mary Ann Martin 21 Jan. 1850 in Amherst Co. Parents may have been William Tucker and Harriet Hix of Powhatan Co.
Looking for Abraham Martin, b. abt. 1760 in Amherst Co., m. Jane Trible/Trimble 2 Dec. 1793 in Albermarle Co. Parents: John and Mary Martin. Ch: Polly, Lewis, Abraham B., Blueford, Fendall, Keziah, and Elizabeth.
Respond to any of these queries to
Phil Miller
2002 Big Bend Way
Henderson, NV 89014
Flip1876@aol.com
To submit queries: Please use a 3x5 index card for each query. Include your name and address so readers may contact you directly. One free query is permitted from Museum members; additional queries in the same issue are $1 for members. Non-member queries are $2 each.
Raffle of First Lady Doll is Seasonal Fund Raiser for Museum
Raffle tickets for a Smithsonian First Lady Doll are available at the Museum at $1 each or 6 tickets for $5. The winning ticket will be drawn in December in time for the doll to be used as a special gift. The doll depicts Harriet Lane, niece of James Buchanon, the only U.S. President who never married. Harriet was the official hostess for her uncle when he was Ambassador to the Court of St. James during Queen Victoria’s reign, then became First Lady when Buchanon became President. The doll is dressed in a replica of Harriet’s wedding gown.
Open House Successful
Thank you to all of you who participated in and attended this year’s Open House. It was a wonderful time to learn a little history, listen to some Bluegrass music, check out some classic Corvettes or chat with a Confederate ancestor. Hope to see you all next year!
Gifts, Grants and Donations
Without our members and supporters, the museum would not be able to meet its goal of preserving and presenting the heritage of Amherst County. We want to take a moment to thank and acknowledge some of you.
The museum has recently been awarded a grant of $5,000 from the Greif Bothers Corporation to support the greatly needed repair of our front porch.
The Town of Amherst contributed $2,000 to the museum which will also go to the front porch project.
A private donation of $1,000 was given in honor of Mr. and Mrs. William McLeroy for their work in getting the Amherst County Museum off the ground. At the donor’s request, this gift was placed in the endowment fund.
Thanks to contributions from Mr. Robert Feagans and Mr. Ed Fielding, the museum’s parking lot now is marked for handicapped parking, helping to make us more accessible to our visitors.
We have also benefited greatly from donations of time. Our volunteers continue to assist in greeting the public, completing genealogy research, working with the collections and staffing special events. Thanks to all of you.
This is a list of only a tiny amount of the support received by the Museum. Each and every gift of time and money is more valuable that most of you can imagine. Thank you again for your unceasing support of our institution.
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