The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-19
VIRGINIA CASTLE
TO Be Ryan S HOME /:
Will Erect Magnificent
Structure atBellcvue,
in Nelson
HOME OF LATE
SENATOR RIVES!
Great Financicr Now i'll Europe,
Accompanied by Architects,
Inspecting Famous Cas-
tlcs-Will Spend Rest
Of Life III Native
County.


Information has been received here
from a thoroughly reliable source to
The effect that Mr.. Thomas +. Ryan,
who has recently determined to quit
Wall Street end make his permanent
residence In Nelson county, purposes
shortly to build d. magnificent castle on
The Bellevue Farm. which lie has pur-
chased from the heirs OF the late John
H. Sneed.
Indeed, st Is known that the great
iinancicr and railroad insurance mag :
nate Il, now in Europe for the purpose
OF looking over famous castles In Scot
land and other countries. and that he
took with him several OF the most ac-
complished architects to be found In
America. 45s
There architects Will inspect Eastern
castles, along with Mr.. Ryan, and 1t is
said that the one he will build In his
native county, of Nelson Will be one
of the most magnificent and costly
ever constructed in this country.
VIII Retire to Virginia.
The recent operations Of Mr. Ryan
in Nelson county have been watched
III
ginians as well ns by people In New
York and elsewhere, and his latest
movements would seem clearly to In
dicate that he intends to spend the re-
mainder OF his days near the spot
where he was born and to devote his
time largely to beautifying and I'm
proving the land OF his nativity.
The Bellevue Farm. where the pro-
posed Ryan castle will stand, Is one
!. OF the most beautiful and picturesque
country places in the famous Piedmont
section OF Virginia and adjoins Oak
Ridge. where --~. Ryan now lives. and
" here he has his splendid stock farm.
Bellevue was once the home OF the
late United States Senator William G.
Rives. and when purchased about a
year ago by MIR. Ryan was owned by
THE children OF the late Captain John
I L. Sneed. Among the heirs to the
estate were Mrs. Bland Massie. OF Nell
son; Mrs. John +. Jacob. OF this city
and Mrs. William G. Loving. wife OF
the former Judge OF Nelson county.
1 who is Mr.. Ryan's manager. and who
is shortly to be tried for the killing
7 OF young, Theodore Estes.
Oak Ridge and Bellevue, which Inn
J 1redlately adjoin each other. and which
4 taken together extend for miles along
| the Southern Railway. between Oak
Ridge Station and Arlington, and far
4 toward the northwest In the direction
OF Lovingston. constitute one Of the
finest farms in that section OF Vir-
ginia, and when the proposed castle
is added VIII make a country seat ex,
Il scelled by few in the United States.
Built Fine Roads.
Nlr. Ryan has already spent man!
4 thousands Of dollars In beautifyins
and Improving the Oak Ridge Farm
.but this is hardly n circumstance com
.pared with the outlay he Is prepal
4 ing to make upon these two placer
and others he has recently purchased
Already Mr., Ryan has built splen
/, did macada m road from Oak Ridg'
to Lovingston, distance Of four miles
and though this is a public highway
he bore every dollar OF the cxpens
and made 1t the most beautiful drive
way between the Blue Ridge Moun
Il talns and the James River.
All the private roadways leading int
and through the Oak Ridge Farm ar
,lnacadamlzed. and modern improve
lnents have been installed in every de
partment OF the farm Bellevue !
NOV going through tho same process
4 of Improvement and rejuvenation.
In addition to all this Mr.. Ryan ha
purchased q large tract OF land be
tween the Southern Railway and Jane
as great game preserve. A portio
of 1t embraces many acres Of noun
tain land, and this Is to be convcrte
Santo deer park.
A large force of men are now a
work building fences around thi
newly acquired property, and cuttln
& Oft the timber and clearing up til
mountain portions.
rs Causes Lund DOOm.
The section OF the county In whic
the game preserve is to be located wa
never regarded as very prosperous, bu
the purchases made by Mr.. Ryan nm
the opening up of the National Soap
stone Quarries nearby has put Ian
upon great boom, and in one par
ticular case q farm Is being held a
ten times what 1t could have bee
& bought for several years ago.
Considering the wonderful industria
developments which have taken plac
recently along the southeastern sid
Iof the county, together with M
Ryan's cnterprising movements, Mel
son promises to become ono OF til
u weathiest counties in Old Piedmon
for already the beautiful and pros
porous Rockhsh Valley to the north
west is looked upon as the garden spc