Cherry Hill Farmhouse
Encyclopedia
The Cherry Hill Farmhouse is a museum in Falls Church, Virginia
, United States
. Built in 1845 in a Greek Revival architecture
style, it belonged to wealthy farmer families until 1945, and in 1956 it became property of the city of Falls Church, which transformed it into a museum, as a historical building. Today, the Cherry Hill Farmhouse, along with other five such constructions in Falls Church City, is part of the National Register of Historic Places
, as an important testimony of 19th century Victorian buildings in the area.
in a Greek Revival architecture
, and inclusive of a frame barn. Mr. William A. Blaisdell, who managed a stall
in the nearby District of Columbia, purchased the house in 1856 as part of a 73 acre farm.
From 1870 to 1945 the house belonged to to the Riley family. Poet James Whitcomb Riley
included in his poems the Farmhouse and some of his residents. The farmhouse, barn, and outbuildings belonged to the University of Virginia
from 1945 until 1956 when the city of Falls Church purchased them along with the rest of the property bounded by Park Avenue, Little Falls Street, and Great Falls Street. The city restored the house, and made a museum to exhibit the lifestyle of the prosperous families of the area. Nowadays the house is included within a 7 acre park.
The museum includes the household's authentic 18th and 19th century furniture, which along other historical pieces, are owned and maintained by a foundation called Friends of Cherry Hill, whereas the barn houses a 19th century collection of tools.
The Cherry Hill Farmhouse & Barn is part of the National Register of Historic Places
. and is only one of overall six Falls Church buildings of the Victorian era to be in that list (no commercial buildings from that period have survived).
Falls Church, Virginia
The City of Falls Church is an independent city in Virginia, United States, in the Washington Metropolitan Area. The city population was 12,332 in 2010, up from 10,377 in 2000. Taking its name from The Falls Church, an 18th-century Anglican parish, Falls Church gained township status within...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Built in 1845 in a Greek Revival architecture
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
style, it belonged to wealthy farmer families until 1945, and in 1956 it became property of the city of Falls Church, which transformed it into a museum, as a historical building. Today, the Cherry Hill Farmhouse, along with other five such constructions in Falls Church City, is part of 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...
, as an important testimony of 19th century Victorian buildings in the area.
History
The house hosting the museum was built in ca 1845 as a farmsteadHomestead (buildings)
A homestead is either a single building, or collection of buildings grouped together on a large agricultural holding, such as a ranch, station or a large agricultural operation of some other designation.-See also:* Farm house* Homestead Act...
in a Greek Revival architecture
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
, and inclusive of a frame barn. Mr. William A. Blaisdell, who managed a stall
Market stall
A market stall is a typically immobile, temporary structure erected by merchants to display and shelter their merchandise in a street market or other setting. Stalls are easily erected, taken down or simply moved on wheels...
in the nearby District of Columbia, purchased the house in 1856 as part of a 73 acre farm.
From 1870 to 1945 the house belonged to to the Riley family. Poet James Whitcomb Riley
James Whitcomb Riley
James Whitcomb Riley was an American writer, poet, and best selling author. During his lifetime he was known as the Hoosier Poet and Children's Poet for his dialect works and his children's poetry respectively...
included in his poems the Farmhouse and some of his residents. The farmhouse, barn, and outbuildings belonged to the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
from 1945 until 1956 when the city of Falls Church purchased them along with the rest of the property bounded by Park Avenue, Little Falls Street, and Great Falls Street. The city restored the house, and made a museum to exhibit the lifestyle of the prosperous families of the area. Nowadays the house is included within a 7 acre park.
The museum includes the household's authentic 18th and 19th century furniture, which along other historical pieces, are owned and maintained by a foundation called Friends of Cherry Hill, whereas the barn houses a 19th century collection of tools.
The Cherry Hill Farmhouse & Barn is part of 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...
. and is only one of overall six Falls Church buildings of the Victorian era to be in that list (no commercial buildings from that period have survived).