Edgemont

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1935 photograph of Edgemont. Reproduced from WikiMedia.

Edgemont is a late 18th century structure in Albemarle County located on the old Barboursville Road near Covesville and listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register. The interiors of the edifice were crafted by Marshall R. Taylor Biddle.[1] Edgemont was listed on the VLR on September 16, 1980 and the National Register of Historic Places on November 28, 1980.[2]

The site of the proposed town of Barterbrook was absorbed into the Edgemont Estate when the land passed from the hands of Pleasant Sandridge to Dr. John T. Gilmer. Around 1803, Gilmer was placed under bonds for an alleged offense in inoculating for smallpox, then a disease whose treatment was highly-regulated by Virginia County Courts. Gilmer had established a hospital at Edgemont for the special treatment of smallpox victims before being summoned before the Court due to a fatal case taking place on his property. He was ultimately required to give bond only for three months due to "his good behavior, especially in not alarming the neighborhood in which his hospital is established, unless he first obtain the consent of citizens."[3]

Narrative from Virginia Landmarks Registry

"Edgemont was built ca. 1796 for Col. James Powell Cocke, a justice of Henrico County who moved to Albemarle County for its healthful climate as he suffered from malaria. Although the design is often credited to Thomas Jefferson, firm documentation for Jefferson as architect is yet to be established. Nonetheless, the Jeffersonian influence is strongly evident in the hybrid French and Palladian scheme advocated by him for domestic architecture. The otherwise modest dwelling achieves sophistication through the use of careful siting, Tuscan portico, and graceful proportions. The flanking dependencies are linked to the main house by tunnels similar to Monticello. Edgemont stood almost forgotten for many years but was brought to light in 1936 by Charlottesville architect Milton Grigg, who directed Edgemont’s extensive restoration in 1938 for Dr. Graham Clark and later in 1946 for William Snead. The terraced gardens were restored in 1981 by the owners at the time of Edgemont’s listing in the registers. The property is included in the Southern Albemarle Historic District."


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References

  1. Web. Notable Charlottesville-area deaths of the past year, Staff reports, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, January 3, 2021, retrieved January 3, 2021.
  2. Web. 002-0087 Edgemont, Virginia Landmarks Register, December 12, 2019, retrieved January 19, 2020.
  3. Web. Albemarle County in Virginia, C.J. Carrier Company, 1901

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