Along with the bricks, the historic landscape around Barboursville survived the fire as well. In order for Barbour's guests to get to the front door, they first had to traverse his race track still in place (this was and remains a country of serious horse culture). The other major feature of the landscape is its boxwood plantings. As I have said in several other posts, no old Virginia house, ruined or otherwise, can be without its boxwood. Those at Barboursville are the largest I have ever seen, and I was able to walk under them without hitting my head. If the house was still habitable, the race track would be obscured from the second floor rooms by boxwood.
(My usual disclaimer is in place, in that I have not received any compensation for the mention of anything in this post, including a case of 2006 Octagon which would not be refused if it should happen to appear on my doorstep.)
What amazing sights your son is seeing on a weekend camping trip. The only local sight comparable is the tectonic ruin of a suburban housing tract slipping into the ocean, our "Sunken City," but that's Los Angeles. Wonderful, Les.
ReplyDeleteI love the places you visit! :)
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great spot to visit.
ReplyDeleteI love the architecture. The form of the structure is so unique. Even the trees had architectural quality to the branching.
ReplyDeleteMy first known view of unhindered boxwood. How interesting. My mother's Algoma Virginia home was typical with a line of boxwoods protecting it from the road's dust. Boxwood is the smell of Virginia to me.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the curators of the house read this post and send you that octagon:) Bummer on the fire on Christmas day no less. Awful. The house must've been something. You mentioned boxwoods, the owner of Cheekwood loved boxwoods best and had a tone of them. I like them too. Very elegant and Virginian for sure.
ReplyDeleteTalk about nostalgia and melancholy. Can't imagine owning that house and not rebuilding, it's such a lovely setting and scale.
ReplyDeleteI love the ruins...really striking!
ReplyDeleteBrick by brick, eleven years. And still gorgeous. Also, thank you for putting in perspective that my boxwoods are not, in fact, getting leggy at all. LOL
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the ruins were preserved, they are really interesting. :)
ReplyDeleteLes, you have great taste in historical architecture and in fine wines.
ReplyDeleteThat 5th picture is fantastic. I think it's great that the remains were preserved. --Randy
ReplyDeleteTHOSE are boxwoods? OMG! I think my shock is comparable only to the shock that I got when I learned, long ago, where children come from!...
ReplyDeleteVery interesting tour, especially after I visited the Thomas Jefferson house with our 5th-graders in May. Even the ruins are beautiful. Thank you!
What a cool ruin! How nice to go off camping with your son too. It looks like you got great weather.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words on Stella.
Hi i am new here. The photos are great clearly depicting the beauty of the area. I love your compositions and photo quality. Maybe you will also appreciate what i posted last in my site, related to places of unusual beauty too, as a respite from my orchid and flower posts. thank you.
ReplyDeleteLes, I can only imagine what the house must have looked like as it's skeleton is such a striking sculpture.
ReplyDeleteWhat is it that draws us to old buildings, homes, train stations... history must be a part of that. Octagon, eh? ;)
Denise,
ReplyDeleteMaybe it will be the Pacific version of Atlantis - Pacifis?
Ruth,
I do too.
Philip,
It is indeed.
GWGC,
It is a very unique place.
Beyond,
The smell also reminds me of Va., old houses and Colonial Williamsburg.
Tina,
I can only imagine the house was lit up with candles or oil lamps for the holidays with many fireplaces blazing and one of these likely caused the fire.
Linda,
Not only did they not rebuild it, but left the ruins as is and built a new house next to it.
Scott,
Glad you could enjoy them.
Kelly,
Those boxwoods are several levels beyond leggy.
Racquel,
I am glad too.
Ann,
Thank you!
R and J,
I like that picture too. It gives you some perpective on the house.
Tatanya,
The first time I went to Barboursville I did not recognize them as boxwood. I am now anxious to see Poplar Forest, Jefferson's retreat near Bedford.
Sarah,
You are welcome. I hope you can things to the new normal soon. It may be a while, I still expect to see Patsy toddling through the house.
Andrea,
I look forward to visiting your site.
Di,
I am not a big believer in ghosts, but am still drawn to these sorts of places. The past creates a presence.
Les