Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-07-07
A MODEL FARM.
A Visit to the Belgravia Stock
Farm.
Good Land. Well Watcred and Tim
bered. A Fine Residence and
Model Farm RniIninCs

editor, but did not appear in that paper
owing to its sudden suspension. Through
the courtesy of the HERALD. it appears
in its columns, for which kindness the
writer acknowledges his Indebtedness.
1t embraces a description of the fine stock
farm of Mr. James Cox, situated mile,
north of Mt. Jackson, and directly OPP
posite Bellows Switch on the b. &. o.
r. r. We got off the morning south
bound train directly in front of the gate
| This place is known as the "BelgTavia
| Stock Farm and consists of about 20C
acres Of strong land, well wooded, wa
tered and situated, with the most sub
stantial and desirable of modern i'm
provements in the shape of buildings OF
Fall kinds.
The first thing that strikes the eye OF
the traveller on the b. & O. is the large
stock barn, situated about the middle of
a gentle rise west of the railroad. This
is a building 164 feet in length by GO in
width. and is constructed on the princi-
pie of a long main building with closed
sheds the whole length on either side
1t is well lighted with something over a
hundred windows, and is painted a
bright yellow, with red single roof
The main building has eighteen 9-pane
sash windows on each side, and three
large windows on each end. This part
of the building makes a grand hallway
100 feet long, well lighted, and offers an
excellent place for exercising the ami
mails in Indictment or winter weather
Three large lamps, with facilities for
lowering and drawing up to the ceiling
beams. are arranged for night use. The
part with the shed construction contains
| twenty-four box stalls 16Xl0 feet, twelve
on each side Of the hall, harness room,
with glass case for harness. closet for
harness repairs, buggy, carriage and
cart rooms, feed room and dressing
room for the horsemen. Each stall is
fitted with a neat iron feed box, or basin
in one corner. with necessary hitching
chains. Another feature of these stalls
are the doors, windows and transOms.
They are separated from the hall by a
sealed partition of narrow pine stained
in cherry, are entered from it by a wide
sliding door on hangers, with a wood
transom above. On the opposite side of
each stall is another door, bOlted on the
inside, that opens into the yards, and in
side this is a half door. Above these
doors are 9-pane sash trans0ms, with a
metal lever for opening, aifording both
light and air. The advantage in these
doors are that in case OF fire each stall
has a door opening out into the yard and
the horses can be easily gotten out.
while with the door open and the half
door closed, the horse can look out over
the country, something he seems to en-
iov and appreciate quite as much as a
human being. The two trans0ms on
opposite sides of the stalls allow the air
TO circulate through without subiecting
the animal to a draft. \ cistern is in
aide the stable and three ventilatOrs i'm
the roof keep up a healthy circulation Of
the air.
SOME OTHER BUILDINGS
Other outbuildings of substantial con-
struction, and handsomely painted are
office, blacksmith shop with portable
forge. &C., room with boiler for heating
water for feed, granary, ice-house, farm
stables and sheds, &c.
The dog kennel is very neat build
ing with partitioned apartments. con-
crete pavement inclosed in a fence of
wire netting. with an inclosed range
running into the woods. Two hand
some dogs occupy this. The tenant
house is a neat building, also nicely
painted, with interior sealed and finish
ed in native pine.
A FINE LOCATION.
The farm owned by Mr. Cox is most
admirably situated for a stock farm, and
with good strains, there is no reason to
see why he should not turn Out as fine
specimens of hOTse-ilesh as any that ever
came from Kentucky. Jumping Run. a
clear crystal stream, runs through the
place, and every field is so arranged by
Mr. Cox, that they each has running
water. 4 great part is woodland, and
this has been so situated by nature and
aided by art, that there is shade in every
field.
SOMETHING ABOUT HORSES.
This, as will be seen from the head Of
this article, is a stock farm. 1t is not
only a stock farm, it is lorse farm
The stations owned by Mr. Cox are
Kelly. by Electioneer 12j, and brother
TO Express 2.2l; BelyieW 1851, with
four year old record Of 2.30i, sired by
Belmont g., who begot Bella Vera with
race record of 20S! and Silyern
21S19, by Alcyone 1872 (sire of Martha
Wilkes 2.0S) All these stations were
making the season in different parts of
the state. Marmion, a running stallion
was in the stables He is a fine animal,
very gentle, and quiet, but on occasion,
could show both speed and spirit
THE Dwelling HOUSE.
The dwelling house built by Mr. Cox
is said to be the finest in the Valley.
1t occupies the crest of a long but mod
crate rising ground west Of the railroad
and overlooks the farm. From it can
be seen the Shenandoah river at Red
Banks, the river hills and fields beyond
and the Massanutten, with a fine pros
pect right and left. 1t is we'll built.
with double-gabled front looking on
balconies GROWING two-story bay win
doWs A handsome elliptical yestibule, !
with stained glass windows, and double |
door leads into the hall. The body col |
or is yellow, with red shingled BAYS and |
vesti6ule. with a wide yerandah with |
turned posts and handsome railing on /
the east and south sides. The interior |
is well arranged, finished with hard |
wood floors, wainscotng and mantels, |
with bath rooms, water closets, steam
heat, and all modern Improvements and |
The hall is in the En-
glish style. wide and broad, with beau
tiful stairway, columns, arches, stained |
glass windows, and most attractive |
large fire place, with mantle of hard !
wood, with French plate mirror. Mr.. |
Cox's study aud private dining room is
also a gem, furnished also in hardwood. |
with bay having a square stained glass
window in the centre, while opposite is /
the tiled fireplace, brass fender and
beautiful bracket hardwood mantel.
with five plate glass mirrors, the large
centre one having horse shoe frame.
the remaining rooms up stairs and
down are finished in the same stvle. and
furnished to suit. The building, as TO
of rooms, &c, was Mr..
Cox's own plan, the embellishments that
Of the architect.