The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-02
COLONIAL MONUMENTS.
OLD RESIDENCES IN EASTERN vIRGI.
MA AND THEIR MEMORIES.
Roseweii-Its solid Walls and Stately Gran
deur-How II Looks To-Dsy-Shelly- Fair
geld and q Legend OF Bacon-A Secret
Chamber
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.l
WILLIAMSBURG, NA.,}

Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispaich.l
WILLIAMSBURG, NA.,}
September l, 1888.
To form some adequate idea Of the royal
scale on which the old planter OF Virginia
lived it Is necessary to visit the castle-like
mansions where, in the midst Of broad es-
tates, surrounded by all the belongings OF
large establishment, he carried on his az
fairs with the authority OF a grandee, and
iH true aristocratic style lorded il around
generally. Probably the noblest Of all the
colonial residences in the State Is "Rose-
we'll" the former seat Of Mann Page. in
Gloucester county. This once magnificent
structure, situated on Carriers creek, less
than one mile from York river, begun by
Mathew Page. was completed after his
death by his son, Mann Page, in 1870.
Years were consumed in its con-
struction. IT cost which may be
guessed az from statements TO be made
further on. The building stands on
level lawn OF fitting proportions,
and In outward appearance Is an exact
cube OF sixty feet, with the exception that
a pointed roof has superseded the original
one. which was fat and covered with lead
and ornamented with 4 large gl1ss aqua
rum for fish. Although OF such large d.
mensions, Roosevelt is compact-looking,
and notwithstanding the naked space OF
treeless grounds, it, brick walls and stone
eappings. softened by the blended color
lngs OF the elements for over century,
make q fine impression. No trace now re-
mains OF the tagging that paved the park
immediately in front. or the iron railing
which surrounded II. The broad stone
steps at each door have also disappeared.
along with the trees which shaded the
lawn.
DIsNANTLED P0RTERs' LODGES.
Flanking the house on either side appear
the dismantled porters' lodges, with the
remains Of the wine cellars adjoining,
where, although there are suggestive cob
webs in abundance, not even piece OF
broken bottle is left TO I'll one with visions
Of the sparkling vlntages that once stocked
them. The interior arrangement OF the
building may be described as being OF three
stories, whose floor plan consists OF large
halls, with cross passages on which the
rooms open. On entering the cool and
airy effect Of this arrangement is the first
thing noticed, and is very pleasing. The
main hall on the first floor, which
| Is duplicated on the second. Is thirty
by forty feet. with which the cross passages
communicate by arched entrances, well
lighted by windows, two Of which run
clear up through the second story. The
sDacious hall forms one Of the finest apart
ments that can We'll be imagined, and Is
calculated TO make young ladies enamored
OF the waltz circulate away in the curves
OF beauty at the very sight. A peculiar
feature is the great fireplace i'm the eastern
wall. reminding one OF the old custom OF
burning the lule log at Christmas,
and also Of sitting in those huge
cavities around the fire. The stair
way. describing parabolic curve.
II continued in the same plane descends
into the ball with magnificent sweep, and
although somewhat mutilated serves, with
lis moulded rail. futed and carved banIs-
tiers and casing. better TO illustrate the orr
cinal beauty Of the decorations than any
thing else except the doors. which, like the
stair-fttings, are Of solid mahogany. All
OF the wainscoting has been removed. and
both doors and staircase are married by a
somewhat dingy paint. bestowed by one OF
the MANY owners in time past. The pro-
perty. containing twelve hundred acres,
now constitutes the Dean estate, and was
purchased for the sum OF twenty-five thou
sand dollars.
ODD PORTRAITS.
There are number OF old portraits OF
historical personages belonging 10 the
house, nearly all Of which at present are
away for restoration. and nothing but their
antique frames dangle along the wall. AT
every point Of view Roosevelt strikes the
observer with its sOlidity OF construction,
hut II is not until YOU VISIT the cellar and
| .~;a he ~ arfh o.
and yaulted foundations which support
the stately pile above that is enduring
qualities are fully realized, and some
estimate Of the cost Of such 4 building i
Involuntary forced upon you. Every
brick, besides the other material OF the
finest quality, was brought from England.
and some idea Of it, cost can be formed
when il is known that the landed estates OF
Mann Page comprised possessions III eight
different counties, aggregating over TWEEN
ty-six thousand acres, the proceeds from
which were inadequate 10 pay on the debt
and consequently greater part OF them
had to be sold to effect final settlement.
In view OF these facts il is not surprising
that Roosevelt should be somewhat dilapi-
dated, and that building whose eonsuuc'
ton came near bankrupting the fortunes
of it, builder should now retain so little OF
it, pristine splendor.
A number OF the Pages, including Ma
; thew Page. are buried in the graveyard al
Roosevelt. but the first Of the Page family
who died In this county are buried in The
| churchyard at Williamsburg, where q
: handsome marble shaft, engraved with the
, family coai-of-arrns, lately erected by de-
: scendant, marks the spot.
SHELLY.
Across the creek, opposite from Rose
well, Is the shelly farm, the famous
:. Wer-o-wo-com-i-co OF the Indians
, where Powhatan bad his royal wig
wan. aud whittier historians generally
| o,~.,o ,hat tho captiye John ~mitl