The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-07
edge HILL, HOME Of
RANDOLPH, BURNS
Was the Home Of Martha Jefferson
Randolph, Daughter of the Sage
of Monticello.
PLANNED BIZ THOMAS JEFFERSON
Blaze Started I'm Small Building I'm
Yard and Ieapcd TO Famous Old
Mansion, Catching Window SIlIs.

Especial to The Richmond Virginian.)
Charlottesville, Va, March g.
Edge HILL" the old home of the
Randolphs, situated five miles east Of
this city, was burned to the ground
about noon today. IT was owned and
occupied by Mr.. and Mrs. Edmund
Twohy, formerly of Minneapolis, who
lost most of their furniture and many
valuable paintings.
Edge Hin" was one of tho oldest
and most beautiful places In Virginia.
ranking second only in historic inter
est to Mt. Vernon and Monticello.
This interest lies largely in the fact
that ii was the home of Martha Jeffer-
son Randolph, the daughter Of Thomas
JEFFERSON. and her husband. Governor
Thomas Mann Randolph, one of Nir-
ginia's ablest governors. The original
grant was patented from the Crown of
England by William Randolph early in
1900 and contained 2.00e acres. The
mansion crowned n hilltop and nestled
In grove of magnificent old trees
that stretch out on either side of the
porch like great arms and afforded a
wonderful view over the Piedmont
Valley, looking across TO Carters
Mountain, and Monticello. the home of
Thomas Jefferson, which can be plain
Planned BY Jefferson.
Thomas Jefferson is said to have
planned Edge Hill" and II was built
by the same workmen as the buildings
of the University of Virginia. The
estate obtained its name from "a field
near the village of Edge Hill. in War
wickshire England, where the Cav
alters under Charles ] first crossed
swords with the Roundhesds. The
Randoiphs came to this country from
Warwickshir in 1851, soon after this
event The Jeffersons and the Ran
dolphs were very reighborly. Jefferson
spending much OF his time in the Raa-
dolph home.
The old fashioned garden still re-
mains where peonies, English violets
and TILES of the valley bloom luxur
iantIy. The old formal garden is al
the side of the house, as is also the
vegetable garden. which is bordered
by towering shrubs. ON every side are
evidences of the outdoor life which
cbaracterizes the Southern home.
Edge Hill' was we'll arranged.
There was 4 large drawing room and
library on one side of the hall. while
on the other side was the morning
room and dining room. The morning
room was particularly attractive. for
In this room was the exquisite Italian
carved marble mantelpiece. beautifully
preserved. given 10 Martha jefferson
as A wedding present by the people OF
France. The place was soon famous
fer lavish entertainments and as
resort for distinguished visitors.
Assumed Grandfather's Debts.
Martha Jefferson died in 1885, her
eldest son. Thomas jefferson RAN
tfoiph iuheritinR Edge HIM. He also
managed his grandfather's farm,
Monticello. For young farmer the
was then twenty-on it was a difficult
undertaking. He assumed the debts OF
his randfather. Thomas j. Jefferson.
and after his death Monticello was Of
fered for sale. All this practically
ruined him financially and later on.
after the losses of the Civil War, his
wife opened a private school for the
education of her daughters and those
other friends. This was the beginning
of the famous Edge Hill School for
Girls. Mary tombstone. who was enc
OF the students, often speaks of Edge
HnI' in her novel Lewis Rane
The present owner, who purchased
the property some I'VE or six years age.
spent tiN.eBe in Improvements to the
mansion The dwelling was thought 10
he practically fireproof and was in
sured for hardly half it's value. $4,000.
Much uf the furniture on the first floor
was saved, but none from the second
story. which contained seven bed
rooms.
The FIRE started in a small houss in
the ward which contained gasoline
engine. the flames leaping TO the
window frames OF the mansion. A
stifr northwest wind famed the names,
or else they might have been con-
a1ered. All OF the water in tank In
the ward was used up In an effort to
extinguish the fire.
The Edge Iill'' estate contain us
acres OF good, rolling. red clay land
nearly all of which has Southern eN-
nos,re There is boundary OF l5o
acres In timber skirting the northern
mart of the farm. composed OF oak,
hickory, chestnut and other varieties.
There is pretty cottage in the Fard
and neulerous outbuildings.