 |
|
|
|
Chippokes offers visitors a sprawling recreation site with a swimming pool, campgrounds, cabins, picnic areas, visitors’ center, the museum, and the original plantation and field houses, which offer a glimpse into the early history of Virginia. In 1967, the plantation was donated to the Commonwealth of Virginia for use by the state. By that time, however, the lands had been inhabited by English-speaking people for three and a half centuries. English Captain William Powell, who is believed to be listed as a shareholder in the Virginia Company of London in the Charter of 1609, was the first to purchase the property around 1619. He was Lieutenant Governor of Jamestown. Historic Jamestown sits directly across the James River from the plantation. At the time, Jamestown was to have been modeled after the city of London. So, the areas on both sides of the James River were considered Jamestown. Powell later obtained grants of 550 and 200 acres in the “Territory of Tappahanna,” a term applied to all of the country below Merchant’s Hope down to lower Chippokes Creek. Powell named the plantation after Algonquian Indian Chief Choapoke, who was friendly to the English settlers in Jamestown. It is believed that Powell was killed while leading an expedition against the Chickahominy Indians in February 1623. The property at Lower Chippokes was then passed to his son, George Powell. After a series of absentee owners, the plantation was sold for $12,000 to Albert Carroll Jones of Isle of Wight County in 1837. Jones was one of the first owners to actually live at Chippokes. Most previous owners had overseers manage or tenants farm the land for them.
An outside brick kitchen (restored and open for public viewing) was believed to have been constructed in the mid 1800’s and was kept to service the “new” mansion. After Jones’ death in 1882, the plantation passed through a succession of his relatives before coming to Isabella Cuthbert, a sister of Jones, in 1911. On Sept. 24, 1918 at a public auction, Chippokes containing 1,403 acres, was sold to the highest bidders-Victor W. and Evelyn Stewart of Wilson, N. C. for $47,000. Stewart was prominent in the lumber industry and conservation efforts, while his wife as adept at running a large plantation. They made repairs to the house, acquired the furnishings and which are now in the mansion and constructed the brick addition (housing the new kitchen and baths) in 1955. Although Evelyn loved the mansion, she spent most of her time outdoors. She loved to ride horses and often surveyed the progress of the field planting from horseback. As well, Evelyn loved to garden and created a four-season garden called “paradise” which include a multitude of azaleas, iris, crepe myrtle, camellias, daffodils, day lilies, crocus, spider lilies, periwinkle vinca and wildflowers. She designed the garden so that something would be blooming 365 days a year. Upon her death, Evelyn willed the plantation to the Commonwealth of Virginia in memory of her late husband and with the stipulation that it would be continually farmed. Both of the Stewerts were buried in their favorite place-the garden at Chippokes. © Copyright ShakerWoods.com |
|
For more information on the Shaker Woods Family of Festivals, please Site created by McGaffic Advertising. |
