Bloomsbury Architectural Tour

The James Madison Museum in Orange, Virginia offered An Architectural Tour of Bloomsbury led by local historian Ann L. Miller author of Antebellum Orange: The Pre-Civil War Homes, Public Buildings and Historic Sites of Orange County, Virginia and A Guide to Historical Research in Orange County, Virginia. During the tour Ms. Miller revealed the results of a dendrochronology analysis of three different parts of the home. This analysis revealed the first section was built between 1754-1756, the second section between 1807-1809, and the shed room addition between 1823-1825.

In 1729 Captain James Taylor, III, purchased land on the “Sylvania” tract upon which the home sits. It is made up of two sections. The first was built between 1754 and 1756 and was called Ararat. It faced east and west and was a one and one-half-story double-pile structure measuring roughly 34 by 26 feet. The second section was built between 1807 and 1809 by then owner William Quarles. It is 28 by 18 feet and is a two-story structure with a side-passage plan and Flemish-bond end chimney.

Bloomsbury’s role in the Civil War is detailed in the application to add the property to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990 (during the Civil War the home was owned by the Jerdone family)- In the winter of 1863-1864, General Robert E. Lee’s army camped at and around Bloomsbury. According to family letters, Lee enjoyed the Jerdone family’s hospitality on numerous occasions during his encampment there. In addition, Confederate President Jefferson Davis spent three nights in the south chamber at Bloomsbury that same winter while reviewing the troops at Orange. Hendricks includes the transcript of a letter from R. E. Lee to Miss Mary Jerdone, posted “Near Petersburg, Jan. 8th ’63.” (sic; the date was actually January 1964) Lee writes: “I am much gratified to find that I am still remembered by you. I am very grateful for your pretty New Year’s gift. It will be useful. I require nothing to remind me of my camp near Bloomsbury. I can think of nothing to send in return but the accompanying photograph. It may serve to scare away those cavaliers who were so fond of bearing you off on horse back…..”. Probably relying on oral testimony from the three Jerdone sisters, Hendricks states that General Lee wrote a letter to Mr. Jerdone asking him to entertain a distinguished visitor, Jefferson Davis. Confederate President Davis was entertained here for three days, and General Lee rode over each morning, escorting him from “Bloomsbury” to the Army Camp, and returned with him each night, and while Confederate President Davis was at Bloomsbury part of General Lee’s bodyguard was stationed around the house.

Tours can be arranged by appointment through the James Madison Museum (link).

The next three pictures are of an area that was a sunken terraced garden.

Section 1- First Floor

**Staircase** **to the second floor- the shelf is a minstrel’s galley to accommodate two violins and a spinet.**

**An alcove to store the violins on the stairway.**

Section 1- Second Floor

Bedchambers on the second floor- there are three bedrooms on this floor. The next few images are from the first two that are on opposite sides of the hall just after coming up the stairs. The third bedroom at the end of the hall is called the South Chamber or master bedroom which is the room that Jefferson Davis stayed in during his visit.