Rich Bottom Farm
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Images
The main farm home in 2007 ((By Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons))
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
In 1757, Samuel Purcell was born to his parents Thomas and Mary Purcell, whose descendants would go on to found Purcellville. In 1765, Thomas bought almost 117 acres of land, which he would use to build a home for his family, as well as maintain a farm which he worked with his children. Samuel grew up in the home on Rich Bottom Farm, and upon the death of his father, a portion of the land was deeded to him. The land would continue to stay in the Purcell family for over a century following this, as the farm flourished and the Purcell family continued to gain great influence and respect in the surrounding community over the years.
The farm was purchased in the 1940s by J. Lynn Cornwel, who lost it to his wife Rhetta in a divorce settlement in 1950. Rhetta then sold the property soon after, and it was then further sub-divided in 1972. As of 1994, it was sold to Arthur and Jennifer Richmond. On December 4th, 1996, it was designated on the Virginia Landmark Register, and on February 21st, 1997, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.