Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 1 · column 3 of 9 · from the scan, no model involved
outbuildings. Ben Venue is a conspicuous example of the more prosperous seats.”
Its focal point is a large brick house distinguished by parapet gables with corbeled chimneys oddly placed on the facade rather than on the ends of the house. The gables and shoulders are repeated on several outbuildings, including three “exceptionally interesting slave houses” aligned on a ridge across the road from the main house.
Slave houses are “rare survivals in Virginia,” few having withstood the burden of time. Those at Ben Venue are unusually solid and have the rarity of architectural elaboration.
The Ben Venue complex is attributed to James Leake Powers, a local builder, who is credited with a number of buildings in the county. The house was constructed between 1844 and 1846 for William V. Fletcher, a prominent landowner, and has remained in the possession of his descendants.
William Fletcher first appears in the Culpeper County deed books in 1830 when he purchased ten acres of land near the courthouse. Thereafter, Fletcher’s name appears regularly in the Rappahannock land books, taxed in 1840 for l,556'/2 acres with improvements valued at $2,800. In 1846 the building value was listed as $5,912 dating the completion of Ben Venue.
William T. Stevens in his book, Virginia House Tour, states, “Commissioned to build the residence (Ben
Fall Behind
Daylight Savings Time ends Sunday, October 28. Don’t forget to turn all clocks back one hour before retiring.
85.8%