Long Branch (Millwood, Virginia)
Encyclopedia
Long Branch is a historic family seat near Millwood
, Virginia
built in the early 19th century. The property was placed on the National Register
on 1969-10-01.
. The original survey of this land was commissioned by Lord Fairfax
and performed by a young surveyor, George Washington
. When Burwell came of age in 1810 he began construction of the home at a site just above a creek known as Long Branch. Burwell laid the foundation of the home and consulted with Benjamin Henry Latrobe, the architect of the United States Capitol
, who furnished Burwell with floor plans for the brick existing foundation.
The house continued in the first phase of construction well into 1818, even after the death of Burwell in 1813. The property was inherited by Burwell's older sister and her husband, Sarah and Phillip Nelson. The Nelson's owned a wheat farm adjacent to the property and managed the property in conjunction with theirs. Being unoccupied, the house was converted to a girls school in 1831 run by Nelson's daughters.
The house continued this function until Hugh Mortimer, Nelson's nephew, purchased the property in 1842. During his ownership the house was renovated and expanded which greatly changed the appearance of the home. A service wing to the east contained battlements lining the roof, the loggia
was enclosed and a portico
was added to the north and south facades.
The house survived the civil war and struggling economy, and exchanged hands over the next few decades until Harry Z. Isaacs
purchased the house in 1986 at an auction. Isaacs devoted the rest of his life to the careful restoration of the old home and brought it back to its original glory. Before Isaacs died he placed the home in a trust in 1990, the home and its surrounding 400 acres (161.9 ha) are still maintained by this trust, The Harry Z. Isaacs Foundation.
and flanking windows to either side. During the renovations the entrances were given a large Greek Revival portico. The hipped roof is crowned by a widows walk with a rectangular tower lined with large rectangular windows.
During a remodel the east wing was added to house the service areas of the home. The wing included battlements, long rectangular windows and a long red brick chimney. A wing was added to the west side to balance the facade and mirrored the east wing.
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...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
built in the early 19th century. The property was placed on the National Register
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...
on 1969-10-01.
History
The property where Long Branch was constructed was inherited by Robert Burwell in 1798 and contained 1000 acres (404.7 ha) of the Shenandoah ValleyShenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
. The original survey of this land was commissioned by Lord Fairfax
Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron
Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron was the son of Thomas Fairfax, 5th Lord Fairfax of Cameron and of Catherine, daughter of Thomas Culpeper, 2nd Baron Culpeper of Thoresway....
and performed by a young surveyor, 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...
. When Burwell came of age in 1810 he began construction of the home at a site just above a creek known as Long Branch. Burwell laid the foundation of the home and consulted with Benjamin Henry Latrobe, the 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...
, who furnished Burwell with floor plans for the brick existing foundation.
The house continued in the first phase of construction well into 1818, even after the death of Burwell in 1813. The property was inherited by Burwell's older sister and her husband, Sarah and Phillip Nelson. The Nelson's owned a wheat farm adjacent to the property and managed the property in conjunction with theirs. Being unoccupied, the house was converted to a girls school in 1831 run by Nelson's daughters.
The house continued this function until Hugh Mortimer, Nelson's nephew, purchased the property in 1842. During his ownership the house was renovated and expanded which greatly changed the appearance of the home. A service wing to the east contained battlements lining the roof, the loggia
Loggia
Loggia is the name given to an architectural feature, originally of Minoan design. They are often a gallery or corridor at ground level, sometimes higher, on the facade of a building and open to the air on one side, where it is supported by columns or pierced openings in the wall...
was enclosed and a 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...
was added to the north and south facades.
The house survived the civil war and struggling economy, and exchanged hands over the next few decades until Harry Z. Isaacs
Harry Z. Isaacs
Harry Z. Isaacs was a Baltimore, Maryland businessman, a philanthropist, and a major owner and breeder of Thoroughbred racehorses who operated and resided at Brookfield Farm in Glyndon, Maryland...
purchased the house in 1986 at an auction. Isaacs devoted the rest of his life to the careful restoration of the old home and brought it back to its original glory. Before Isaacs died he placed the home in a trust in 1990, the home and its surrounding 400 acres (161.9 ha) are still maintained by this trust, The Harry Z. Isaacs Foundation.
Exterior
The home that stands today is a work of several owners over time that have included renovation, remodeling, and renovation. The original home was the central section of the structure and was a simple Federal style home. The facade included an entrance with a crowning pedimentPediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
and flanking windows to either side. During the renovations the entrances were given a large Greek Revival portico. The hipped roof is crowned by a widows walk with a rectangular tower lined with large rectangular windows.
During a remodel the east wing was added to house the service areas of the home. The wing included battlements, long rectangular windows and a long red brick chimney. A wing was added to the west side to balance the facade and mirrored the east wing.
Further reading
- Masson, Kathryn and Brooke, Steven (photographer); Historic House of Virginia: Great Plantation Houses, Mansions, and Country Places; Rizzoli International Publications; New York City, New York; 2006 ISBN 0-8478-2861-1