The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-25
THE LAST OF IT'S KIND
AND TIM PLACE. THAT NOW KNOWS
1T SNAIL KNOW 1T NO MORE.
The Old House That Has stood for More
Than . Hundred Years Gives Way to
tho March of Progress.

me effects OF age or at the hands OF the
destroying IKE. II is perhaps a sadder
thing TO see removed. little by little an
ancient structure around which the mem
cries Of years linger. and which in its
day and generation illustrated the civil
ization OF a period now gone forever; and
which will never more be revived. nor
can ever be entirely understood. For
more than a hundred years there has been
standing on the north side Of franklin
street az the corner OF Adams, a noble
frccimen Of colonial architecture. II Is one
Of the last Of its kind. Its history. and
the record OF those. who for generations
have lived under its roof would I'll a
volume. And although this cannot be
given here. something may be said as
20 how 81 came 10 be built. and to iden-
tify the spot where II once stood. after
che place that now knows 10 shall know
30 no more forever.
Thomas Rutherford.
Before the beginning OF the present
century. Mr.. Thomas Rutherford came TO
Virginia. and settled at Richmond. He
was an enterprising young Scotch gentle
man. who had already left his native town
Of Glasgow. 10 engage in mercantile pur-
suits at Dublin. from which city he was
sent as supercargO 20 James river. In
.ho latter capacity he was detained I'm
virginia for many months settling up
fhe business entrusted 10 his care.
Wfile here thus engaged, he formed
such an opinion Of the people and country
That he made Up his mind 10
become n citizen Of the United States.
About the year 1883 Mr.. Rutherford ar
.H.4 .t DIghrnnnA 70 heVip a long and
useful career; and TO found In this coun-
fry % family whose influence has during
an this time. been for good I'm the COM
munity Of which they were n part, and
many Of whom have filed important
places IN social. as well as In public life.
Tn due time Mr.. Rutherford became a
succcssfui merchant: married into one
~ the prominent families Of the State.
and was. at the time OF which we now
write. living in a small. unpretending
house on e. or Main street as II was
forwards called, near the County Court
House. and east OF Shockoe creek.
This was the original site Of Colonel
ry-I's city and was then occupied by
fne best class Of people. The air OF the
rflce was not salubriOus. It's location was
fat. and always wet by the Overlooking
~ tho river and creek. Much sickness re-
suited from this state Of things. Mr..
Rutherford had already lost several
members Of his family and with some Of
bis neighboring sufferers, was obliged
81, seek safety from disease in the purer
o- ~ the upper country. A favorite
rlace of resort al that time was the Green
SPRINGS in Louisa county. 1t was during
the summer Of 1898 that he first went 10
that place. There he knew he would
meet agreeable and refined people from
Richmond. and many Of the proprietors Of
estates from the mGlarial districts OF
James River.
Necessary TO Move.
Finding u necessary TO remove his fam
Hv from the town. AT the return OF every
summer. Mr.. Rutherford had already de-
termined 20 secure a more wholesome
rlace of residence somewhere west Of
shcckoe Creek and upon a greater elev-
alton. He had yecome familiar with all
the country west OF the town, and had
set his mind on an elevated and pleasant
ly situated piece OF land within easy
reach by vehicle or horseback OF the
warehouses; when the traffic in tobacco
was carried on. That part Of the city
living beyond what is now Second street,
enclosed between Cary and Broad streets,
and stretching indefinitely westward, COM
ro.od part Of the property here referred
-1. Almost everybody for several gener-
atoms gone, have heard OF Parson Blair
and Parson Buchanan.
Tho latter had two brothers, both OF
whom were successful Scotch merchants.
and had become men OF means Ihey
owned large areas Of land in several parts
" the country, but particularly near the
town Of Richmond. Parson buchanan
t.fr, a minister. had never desired or
iriea ~ accumulate money. and conse-
o,sntiv was poor until one Of his brothers
1iss Leaving him considerable land pro-
,srt, living az the upper end or Broad
Street, then Deep-run turnpike. including
the area in which the present shops OF
th. richmond. Fredericksburg and Poto-
mao Railway Company stahu, 'ose'nci
with that on which the "Herml'ase
.p~e1vue" columbia and other noted
family mansions were subsequently punt
an the occasion Of Mr.. Rutheriooras
visit TO the Green Springs he naue an AZ
cncctual effort TO purchase from I "iHon
buchanan this very properly l"e
r,oa man would have been glad 10 ac-
D,mmodsta him. but he had private rea-
500. for declining 10 part with his land'
and could not be induced TO sell. where
unon his brother Alexander, observing the
diso,,otntment of Mr.. Rutherford, at
once o0ered him a hundred acres OF ms
own land lying nearer the town thah the
pareon'e and upon Sucn hpclH Terms
fhaf Mr. rutherford at once closed the
harrain. TO these hundred acres. Mr.
Aiexander Buchanan afterwards added
certain other lots adjoining 1t without
additionai price"
No Franklin street Then.
When Mr.. Rutherford made this pur-
chase. there was no Franklin street. Car
,i.oevavs traversed the country in every
Erection over the grassy fields. But
f.o, dwellings were 10 be seen. There
were neither sidewalk nor curbing. II
WAS n region i'm which every element
d.snlaved a democratic purpose 10 seek
is own level, whether water or mud or
dust. Cattle grazed at large or dozed
peacefully in the neighboring slopes
chewing the cud Of contentment. Here
and there a primitive fencing interferred
With the common freedom OF things.
Tie sun gave his light by day. but when
night anne. unless the moon was In lash
SON. nothing guided the footsteps OF me
pedestrian. and kept him from stumbling
ever the backs Of drowsy cattle or faI-
ing into sloughs Of miro, but the light
oI The family lamp.
% course there was no gas, II II
Was a 10y TO the night-walker when the
lght from some f%avoring window shed
ls brightness athwart the universal
gloom 20 cheer his way. The family cur
was then a prominent parsonage. whose
functions were not 10 he despised. In
stances were frequent in which sad havoc
were made upon the persons and clothing
~ wayfarers by night. one gentleman
had his fashionable blue cloth cloak torn