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 36 · column 5 of 6 · from the scan, no model involved
Saddlebreds and Thoroughbreds were bred and trained on the estate. The restoration of Ryan’s 1909 racetrack includes, naturally, the steeplechase course.
Around the farm were 25 tenant houses, a massive reservoir-water system, a power plant, a private railroad station, a commissary, chapel, telephone company, two schools and even a movie theater. Many of these structures survive.
Ryan also devoted considerable attention to gardens and the landscape, with the creation of a formal Italian garden, rose garden, Virginia’s only Crystal Palace-style greenhouse, bog garden, golf course, game preserve and hunter trial course.
Following Ryan’s death in 1928, the family continued to own Oak Ridge for another 60 years. With each successive heir, the property began to deteriorate.
In 1989 the property was purchased by John C. Holland of Suffolk, Virginia, a salvage yard operator. The estate is now owned by his children. Since 1990, Oak Ridge has undergone extensive restoration.
Oct. 24 meet
Post time for the first race at the Oct. 24 meet is 12:30 p.m. A card of flat and hurdle races is featured, but Pearson said that a timber course may be put in soon.
Oak Ridge is located between Charlottesville and Lynchburg. Call Pearson for meet details: (540) 364-1962.
91.3%