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Carter Hall (Millwood, Virginia)
Encyclopedia
Carter Hall was the Millwood, Virginia
, USA
estate of Lt. Col. Nathaniel Burwell (1750–1814). He inherited a 5800 acres (2,347 ha) estate from his father Carter Burwell, of Carter's Grove
, James City County, and had a mansion built during 1792–1800. The estate includes a grand plantation
house, a great lawn, and terraced gardens, and has panoramic views in all directions.
George Burwell (1799–1873) inherited the estate in 1814 and added the large portico
, which is "by tradition" ascribed to a design of William Thornton
, architect of the United States Capitol
.
It served as headquarters for Stonewall Jackson
during part of the American Civil War
, and was raided and sacked by Union troops during the war. Stonewall Jackson used another house, in Lexington, Virginia
, as headquarters during 1861–1862, and later established headquarters at Carter Hall during Fall of 1862. Jackson "declined George Burwell's invitation to stay in the house, camping instead with his men on the grounds. During his stay General Jackson permitted his surgeon, Dr. William McGuire, to perform a cateract (sic)
operation on George Burwell on the portico."
It was also a home for Burwell's cousin Edmund Randolph
, who had been United States Attorney General
and later Secretary of State
under George Washington
, and was invited to pass his retirement with Colonel Burwell.
Carter Hall has a five-bay central block built of local limestone, originally with a central hall flanked by rooms extending the full depth of the house (single-pile plan). The flanking two-bay wings have pediment gable ends and the outermost, single-story wings are of a single bay, formerly with pediment ends.
The house was remodeled in 1930 for its new owner Gerard Lambert "under the direction of the fashionable New York architect, H.T. Lindeberg," and a four-level terraced garden designed by landscape architect Wade Muldoon was added in 1948. The stucco
was removed from the exterior to expose the stone. In the house the central hall and east room were combined into a single space and the original wainscoting was replaced with richly-detailed neo-Georgian
details based on woodwork at Shirley Plantation
, Virginia. The dining room is the only room to retain significant portions of its original fittings.
Carter Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1973.
It is now a conference center owned by Project Hope
.
It is located in the lower Shenandoah River
valley, off Virginia Route 255 northeast of Millwood.
Millwood, Virginia
Millwood is an unincorporated town located in Clarke County, Virginia, USA. Millwood is the home of many of Clarke County's most historic sites including the Burwell-Morgan Mill , Carter Hall , the Greenway Historic District, Long Branch plantation , Old Chapel , and the River House.-Google Earth...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
estate of Lt. Col. Nathaniel Burwell (1750–1814). He inherited a 5800 acres (2,347 ha) estate from his father Carter Burwell, of Carter's Grove
Carter's Grove
Carter's Grove, also known as Carter's Grove Plantation, is a 750 acre plantation located on the north shore of the James River in the Grove Community of southeastern James City County in the Virginia Peninsula area of the Hampton Roads region of Virginia in the US.The plantation was built for...
, James City County, and had a mansion built during 1792–1800. The estate includes a grand plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
house, a great lawn, and terraced gardens, and has panoramic views in all directions.
George Burwell (1799–1873) inherited the estate in 1814 and added the large portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
, which is "by tradition" ascribed to a design of William Thornton
William Thornton
Dr. William Thornton was a British-American physician, inventor, painter and architect who designed the United States Capitol, an authentic polymath...
, architect of the United States Capitol
United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
.
It served as headquarters for Stonewall Jackson
Stonewall Jackson
ຄຽשת״ׇׂׂׂׂ֣|birth_place= Clarksburg, Virginia |death_place=Guinea Station, Virginia|placeofburial=Stonewall Jackson Memorial CemeteryLexington, Virginia|placeofburial_label= Place of burial|image=...
during part of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and was raided and sacked by Union troops during the war. Stonewall Jackson used another house, in Lexington, Virginia
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...
, as headquarters during 1861–1862, and later established headquarters at Carter Hall during Fall of 1862. Jackson "declined George Burwell's invitation to stay in the house, camping instead with his men on the grounds. During his stay General Jackson permitted his surgeon, Dr. William McGuire, to perform a cateract (sic)
Cataract
A cataract is a clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its envelope, varying in degree from slight to complete opacity and obstructing the passage of light...
operation on George Burwell on the portico."
It was also a home for Burwell's cousin Edmund Randolph
Edmund Randolph
Edmund Jennings Randolph was an American attorney, the seventh Governor of Virginia, the second Secretary of State, and the first United States Attorney General.-Biography:...
, who had been United States Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
and later Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
under George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, and was invited to pass his retirement with Colonel Burwell.
Carter Hall has a five-bay central block built of local limestone, originally with a central hall flanked by rooms extending the full depth of the house (single-pile plan). The flanking two-bay wings have pediment gable ends and the outermost, single-story wings are of a single bay, formerly with pediment ends.
The house was remodeled in 1930 for its new owner Gerard Lambert "under the direction of the fashionable New York architect, H.T. Lindeberg," and a four-level terraced garden designed by landscape architect Wade Muldoon was added in 1948. The stucco
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
was removed from the exterior to expose the stone. In the house the central hall and east room were combined into a single space and the original wainscoting was replaced with richly-detailed neo-Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
details based on woodwork at Shirley Plantation
Shirley Plantation
Shirley Plantation is an estate located on the north bank of the James River in Charles City County, Virginia. It is located on State Route 5, a scenic byway which runs between the independent cities of Richmond and Williamsburg...
, Virginia. The dining room is the only room to retain significant portions of its original fittings.
Carter Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1973.
It is now a conference center owned by Project Hope
Project HOPE (USA)
Project HOPE is an international health care organization founded in the United States in 1958. Its most visible aspect was the SS HOPE, the first peacetime hospital ship...
.
It is located in the lower Shenandoah River
Shenandoah River
The Shenandoah River is a tributary of the Potomac River, long with two forks approximately long each, in the U.S. states of Virginia and West Virginia...
valley, off Virginia Route 255 northeast of Millwood.