See it now before it is closed

[Emmanuel Dabney]

See what?

In the middle of June 1864, Ulysses Grant pulled away from the Cold Harbor battlefield and began marching south towards that James River. Upon reaching the river, Grant ordered a pontoon bridge to be constructed. 2,200 feet across the James stretched the longest pontoon bridge in the history of military manuevers and without the knowledge of General Robert E. Lee, the Army of the Potomac crosse the James while the 18th Corps of the Army of the James was steamed to City Point. This crossing occurred at Flowerdew Hundred. Flowerdew had been occupied since 1618 by English settlers and by the time of the Civil War home of the Willcox family.

Flowerdew Hundred is due to close in October 2007. See this significant site leading the Union forces to Petersburg before it closes to the public.

For more info about the site: http://www.flowerdew.org/

[Jubilo]

Re: See it now before it is closed

Dear Mr. Dabney ,
Thank you for this interesting post. "Flowerdew " , what a unique name ! Why is it closing ?
all for the old flag ,
David Corbett

[Emmanuel Dabney]

Re: See it now before it is closed

I am not certain why it is closing. Just a letter received to work last week that said so.

[Dignann]

Re: See it now before it is closed

Flowerdew Hundred will close

By JOE MACENKA

Richmond Times-Dispatch [Richmond, Va.]
July 11, 2007

The Richmond region is losing one of its links to early American history.

Flowerdew Hundred, the 1,400-acre plantation along the James River in Prince George County that operates as a museum and historic site, is closing its doors.

Employees yesterday said the plantation, which offers visitors a view of Colonial, American Indian and Civil War life, will close to the public Oct. 12. Its fate beyond that is unclear.

Employees referred questions to Karen Shriver, the curator of collections. She is away on vacation this week.

Federal tax forms show that the plantation, which is run by the nonprofit Flowerdew Hundred Foundation, has struggled to generate income in recent years and has relied on the largesse of the family of David A. Harrison III, who died in 2002.

A lawyer, investment banker and philanthropist, Harrison purchased Flowerdew Hundred in 1967 and began converting it into a museum and historic tourist attraction.

Marjorie H. Webb, one of Harrison's daughters who was also an executor of his estate and is a foundation manager, confirmed yesterday that Flowerdew Hundred is in its final months as a tourism venue.

"It was a family decision, and we just thought it was the best thing for the farm and the foundation," she said in a telephone interview from her home in Greenwich, Conn.

Webb declined to comment further on the fate of the site.

The Flowerdew Hundred Foundation's two most recent federal tax returns on file show it reported combined revenues of $1,061,446. Of that total, $850,000 came from two gifts from the Harrison Family Foundation.

In the most recent tax year, ending Nov. 30, 2005, Flowerdew Hundred reported revenue of $11,612 from admissions, which covers less than one-third of the site's repair costs of $36,164 for the same year.

"It's very difficult for a small, private tourist and education attraction to make a go of it," said Catherine Slusser, a deputy director of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. "Visitor revenues are never enough. But at the same time, it's a great shame when a place with such great potential for education and such great historic importance is unable to make itself available to the public."

Flowerdew Hundred was established in 1617 by Sir George Yeardley, an early Virginia colony governor. He named the plantation for his wife, Temperance Flowerdew.

Before it was a plantation, the land was occupied by Virginia Indians. It was also the site of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Civil War crossing of the James River in 1864.

After Harrison's purchase, he oversaw restoration of an 1850s schoolhouse that serves as a museum exhibiting archaeological artifacts excavated on the property. He also commissioned construction of a reproduction of the first known windmill in the early English colonies.

"Flowerdew Hundred is an extremely important historic site," Slusser said, "and the family is truly to be commended for the effort it has made over many years. It's been a remarkable family effort. They have put together a remarkable team and a wonderful educational program."

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2007-07-11-0128.html

Eric

[Bivouac_of_the_Dead]

Re: See it now before it is closed

"It's very difficult for a small, private tourist and education attraction to make a go of it," said Catherine Slusser....

Apparently she has never heard of Pamplin Park. It started out "small" too.

...it's a great shame when a place with such great potential for education and such great historic importance is unable to make itself available to the public.

It would be nice if the public knew it was there. I've driven that area frequently and I've stopped and read the wayside markers for Grant's crossing on several occasions, but for the life of me I've never heard of this place. If there is a sign for Flowerdew it must not be very large.

Just off the top of my head I can think of several things that would have helped make this place a going cocern and put it on the map. Adquate signage for one. Although not a battle site more emphasis on the Civil War (The Colonial and Indian periods are fine, but that's not why so many touriststs flock to VA.) They could have sponsored a Civil War event of some type to get themselves on the map... even a mainstream reenactment would not have hurt.

Their web site says:

Conclude your tour with a guided interpretive drive of more than four miles of riverfront....

Anywhere to fish along that four mile riverfront?

taking you past historic and former archaeological sites,

Driving "past" implies there is nothing to stop and see, not even interpretive signage.

the site of Grant's Crossing,

Any reproduction pontoons to see? They have a slightly scaled down model of 'em at Fredericksburg, so it's not inconceivable:

http://www.brotherswar.com/Fredericksburg-050904-Pontoon_Bridge-Section-2.jpg

and Flowerdew's unique commemorative windmill.

I take it that the windmill isn't drawing in the tourists too well.

[laurelgirl]

Re: See it now before it is closed

that's really sad...
Nancy Hogan

[dcwilliams29id]

Re: See it now before it is closed

That really is a shame.

Chris Williasm

[Canebrake Rifle Guards]

Re: See it now before it is closed

Apparently she has never heard of Pamplin Park. It started out "small" too.

Just a note, Pamplin Park survives maimly because of the generosity of the Pamplin family.

Stick to what you know.

Greg Starbuck

[PieBoy96]

Re: See it now before it is closed

From the website:

"History was never so beautiful! Chartered and founded by David A. Harrison, III, Flowerdew Hundred Plantation and Museum began as a dream and has grown into one of the most uniquely and beautifully landscaped properties in Virginia.

"Every year Flowerdew Hundred changes and grows more beautiful as it matures.

"Flowering trees, shrubs, and plants, especially chosen for particular characteristics and beauty, fill the plantation landscape year round with a cornucopia of varying color arrangements of reds, pinks, yellows, whites, blues, purples and many shades of green. A walk of the grounds is a testimony to the dream of one man."

Instead of just relying on people to walk around, some precise marketing and landscaping tweeks could have maybe made this a new hot-spot for weddings to help raise revenue.

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: See it now before it is closed

...more emphasis on the Civil War (The Colonial and Indian periods are fine, but that's not why so many touriststs flock to VA.) They could have sponsored a Civil War event of some type to get themselves on the map... even a mainstream reenactment would not have hurt...

Instead of just relying on people to walk around, some precise marketing and landscaping tweeks could have maybe made this a new hot-spot for weddings to help raise revenue.

Wow.

None of us should offer any post-mortem advice for Flowerdew, Carter's Grove & Wolstenholme or any site that is closing (or has closed) due to lack of tourism numbers. Believe me; they thought of every marketing angle to keep them open.

A few of the folks that have responded to this are well within a comfortable driving distance, so instead of hanging around the computer this weekend and harping on what they should or shouldn't have done, get in the car and head to Flowerdew.

[rebjeb04]

Re: See it now before it is closed

It is truly sad to hear of the loss of such a site. Maybe later on some civic minded folks can open it again for tourism and living history. At least its not being turn down or destroyed for some modern monstrocity!

Long live the Old South!

[Canebrake Rifle Guards]

Re: See it now before it is closed

None of us should offer any post-mortem advice for Flowerdew, Carter's Grove & Wolstenholme or any site that is closing (or has closed) due to lack of tourism numbers. Believe me; they thought of every marketing angle to keep them open.

Great point, although I'm sure if they had had hand sewn button holes, they wouldn't be closing.

Greg Starbuck

[VA-Patriot'61]

Re: See it now before it is closed

"Although not a battle site more emphasis on the Civil War (The Colonial and Indian periods are fine, but that's not why so many touriststs flock to VA.)"

Being from Yorktown and watching the hundreds of thousands of tourists come through year round, I guess they just come for the seafood? You would be surprised at the volume of tourism that exists in the historic triangle between Williamsburg and Yorktown. Those tourists who are avid history buffs also frequent the areas on the Southside and up Route 5 also. Also with the 225th Anniversary of the Siege of Yorktown and all the activities in Williamsburg and Jamestown lately the tourist industry has bulked up big time.

I find it hard to believe that someone would make that statement unless they are from Northern Va, the "other part of Virginia".

Regards,

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: See it now before it is closed

So, how many of our members made it to Flowerdew?

[Rob Weaver]

Re: See it now before it is closed

I'm not sure the comparison of Flowerdew to Pamplin Park is appropriate. Both started with the bequest of ground and money. Pamplin is just a lot younger. In 30 years, it may be cash-strapped too for all we know. Historical tourism is hard. Sites are difficult to maintain and interpret without having to resort to the sensational angle ("George Washington slept here."). In 1967, the nation was basking in the historical glow of the Centennial of the Civil War, the good feelings of the 50's weren't gone yet, the baby boomers were still being dragged around by their parents in huge numbers, the Bicentennial was already generating interest in the colonial period of American History, insurance wasn't what it is now, and the list goes on. Many of those things have changed. A lot of historic sites and recreated sites feel the crunch of those changes.