The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-06-03

On an elevated knoll on South Jeffer-
son street, one of the highest and most
conspicuous points in Roanoke, nestled
among group of original forest trees,
is quaint old red brick mansion,
"Elmwood," the home of Peyton L..
Terry. This structure is of that style
Of colonial architecture which was SO
much in vogue in Maryland. Virginia
and the Carolinas in the eighteenth con-
fury. The main part of the house was
built something over sixty years ago by
Thomas Tosh, and the southern wing,
which brings out the general colonial
idea OF architecture, was erected twenty
two years ago by Mr.. Terry himself.
"Elmwood" now con tains about fifteen
rooms and spacious halls elegantly fin
ished and furnished with antique oak,
making typical representation of the
colonial mansions of Eastern Virginia
and OF Maryland. The grounds, which
maintain the same boundaries as they
did when this was the plantation house,
contain about eight acres beautifully
laid out with walks and drives, sur
rounded by stone fence Of ancient
English design, giving the place a
strong resemblance to some MEDIEVAL
castle or moated grange. In the north
western part OF the grounds is beauti-
full artificial lake and on the southern
side is the flower garden, under the
finest state OF cultivation of any garden
in the city
The garden contains about an acre
and half filled with all kinds Of raro
plants and flowers and at this season. in
June, the month of roses, is especially
lovely. Just In the rear of the house is
proved modern plan, filled with the
most rare plants and dollhouse flowers.
just to the east of this is the large and
convenient stables situated at the ter.
minus of tho drive which leads by the
house from the front gates on Jefferson
street. "Elmwood" has history es-
pecialiy interesting to all students of
Virginia history and of the affairs of
the colonial and revolutionary periods.
This was the site of the first house
built on largy boundary of land
granted to the Tosh family by George
III, of England, a number Of years
prior to the war OF Independence, and
was tho home OF the Tosh family for
many generations. About sixty years
ago, the main part Of the present struc-
eNAO was Duii1 NY u, q grand
son of the original Thomas Tosh, the
grantee of King George Ill The walls
of this part OF tho house are very thick
and will stand for ages, being much
more durable than those of anv modern
house.
The Tosh family became extinct, and
this plantation was sold and was in the
possession of several different people
until it was purchased by Mr.. Terry Just
after the close of the civil war. The
original tract of land, as purchased by
MIR. Terry. extended from Salem ave-
nue. and Franklin road to CRYSTAL
Springs and Mill Mountain, and in
cluded what is now Elmwood and Bel.
mont Addi ion and Terry hill
The old Tosh home stead. which was
torn down sixty years ago, where the
present edifice was built was the cradle
in which was nurtured many plots of
war and defense, during the revolution
and the Indian and French wars pre-
vious when this was on the frontier and
when Fort Lewis in the northwestern
part of the country was the garrison of
Southwestern Virginia and the refuge
of the pioneers. Many scenes of gaiety,
too, have been witnessed within its his
toric walls, when the bellies with pow
dered ringlets and the scions of the old
families of the royal colony OF Virginia
danced together to the music of the
Virginia reel on the waxen floor of this
old country seat.