Carr's Hill (University of Virginia President's House)
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Carr's Hill is the residence of the University of Virginia President. Constructed in 1909, the historic structure is named for Mrs. Sidney Carr, the operator of a nearby boarding house. The two-story, Colonial Revival style home was designed by the architectural firm McKim, Mead & White and overlooks the university chapel and Jefferson's "Academical Village." It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. Prior to the construction of this stately home, this area was home to student housing.
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Carr's Hill at U.Va
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
James Burnley operated a farm at this location prior to his death in 1803 and is the earliest-recorded owner of the property. Burnley's daughter inherited the property and sold forty-three acres of the farm to University proctor Arthur S. Brockenbrough for $1,065.62. By the time of Brockenbrough's death, there was tremendous demand for student housing and this land became the site of the first off-campus student housing. Mrs. Lucy Brockenbrough provided housing to twelve students, five white children, and fifteen enslaved persons until 1849. Prior to the end of the Civil War, donors and leaders of the university leased their slaves to the institution. These records reflect the connection between slavery and the university
Brockenbrough's Hill became Carr's Hill in 1854 when the property was sold to boarding house owner Dabney S. Carr. In 1867, the University of Virginia purchased Carr's Hill for 10,000 from Addison Maupin, the manager of the University's dining halls and brother to Socrates Martin, the Chairman of Faculty. Socrates Martin's administrative duties closely resembled those the later U.Va presidents.
Now part of the University's holdings, Carr's Hill became the site of a rustic, two-story frame-built structure called Blue Cottage in 1837. The cottage was destroyed the same year in a fire, prompting the University to build a set of brick dormitories with 32 rooms. The area became a popular recreational spot where students played sports, such as basketball and baseball. The Fayerweather Gymnasium was built on Carr's Hill in 1893. Hot Feet, the social club, performed plays on the site. Future soldiers used the land to practice military drills.
Prior to the American Civil War, a prewar raising of the Rebel flag took place on Carr's Hill. Classes were canceled when a group of students hoisted a Confederate flag atop the Rotunda, which was subsequently moved to a dormitory on the hill. During the war, enrollment dropped off substantially. Only 46 students, a few professors, and doctors remained on campus. When General Philip Henry Sheridan's forces arrived in Charlottesville, Professor of Law John B. Minor waved a white flag and met with General George Armstrong Custer, who posted a guard outside the University to protect the Grounds while his troops camped on Carr's Hill.
After the war, the dormitories on Carr's Hill began to deteriorate. Most of these structures were closed in 1905. The only remaining building from this period is a small, two-story brick building behind the herb garden. President Edwin Alderman and his wife, Bessie, enlisted the prominent Gilded Age architectural firm McKim, Mead, & White to construct a house on the site that could accommodate social events. This firm was also responsible for designing three other buildings on the Lawn: Old Cabell Hall, Rouss Hall, and Cocke Hall. Constructed between 1907 and 1909, the Colonial Revival style brick building was intended to compliment the Jeffersonian architecture on the campus.
Since its construction, the dwelling on Carr's Hill has housed all eight University presidents. Surrounding the home are a number of gardens. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the property is also home to several contributing structures. These are the Guest Cottage (built ca. 1840), Buckingham Palace (1856), the Leake Cottage (c. 1870), carriage house (1908), the landscape (site), and two iron capitals (objects) salvaged from the ruins of the Robert Mills Rotunda Annex after it was destroyed by the fire of 1895. The capitals are located north of the terrace at the edge of the property.
Brockenbrough's Hill became Carr's Hill in 1854 when the property was sold to boarding house owner Dabney S. Carr. In 1867, the University of Virginia purchased Carr's Hill for 10,000 from Addison Maupin, the manager of the University's dining halls and brother to Socrates Martin, the Chairman of Faculty. Socrates Martin's administrative duties closely resembled those the later U.Va presidents.
Now part of the University's holdings, Carr's Hill became the site of a rustic, two-story frame-built structure called Blue Cottage in 1837. The cottage was destroyed the same year in a fire, prompting the University to build a set of brick dormitories with 32 rooms. The area became a popular recreational spot where students played sports, such as basketball and baseball. The Fayerweather Gymnasium was built on Carr's Hill in 1893. Hot Feet, the social club, performed plays on the site. Future soldiers used the land to practice military drills.
Prior to the American Civil War, a prewar raising of the Rebel flag took place on Carr's Hill. Classes were canceled when a group of students hoisted a Confederate flag atop the Rotunda, which was subsequently moved to a dormitory on the hill. During the war, enrollment dropped off substantially. Only 46 students, a few professors, and doctors remained on campus. When General Philip Henry Sheridan's forces arrived in Charlottesville, Professor of Law John B. Minor waved a white flag and met with General George Armstrong Custer, who posted a guard outside the University to protect the Grounds while his troops camped on Carr's Hill.
After the war, the dormitories on Carr's Hill began to deteriorate. Most of these structures were closed in 1905. The only remaining building from this period is a small, two-story brick building behind the herb garden. President Edwin Alderman and his wife, Bessie, enlisted the prominent Gilded Age architectural firm McKim, Mead, & White to construct a house on the site that could accommodate social events. This firm was also responsible for designing three other buildings on the Lawn: Old Cabell Hall, Rouss Hall, and Cocke Hall. Constructed between 1907 and 1909, the Colonial Revival style brick building was intended to compliment the Jeffersonian architecture on the campus.
Since its construction, the dwelling on Carr's Hill has housed all eight University presidents. Surrounding the home are a number of gardens. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the property is also home to several contributing structures. These are the Guest Cottage (built ca. 1840), Buckingham Palace (1856), the Leake Cottage (c. 1870), carriage house (1908), the landscape (site), and two iron capitals (objects) salvaged from the ruins of the Robert Mills Rotunda Annex after it was destroyed by the fire of 1895. The capitals are located north of the terrace at the edge of the property.
Sources
"Carr's Hill." Charlottesville VA Official Travel Website. Accessed March 31, 2017. http://www.visitcharlottesville.org/listing/carrs-hill/2538/.
"History, Carr's Hill, U.Va." The University of Virginia. Accessed March 31, 2017. http://www.Virginia.edu/carrshill/history.html.
"U.Va. Web Map: Carr's Hill (President's House)." The University of Virginia. Accessed March 31, 2017. http://www.Virginia.edu/webmap/popPages/16-carrshill.html.
Carr's Hill; image by Rwhaley - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25745044.
"History, Carr's Hill, U.Va." The University of Virginia. Accessed March 31, 2017. http://www.Virginia.edu/carrshill/history.html.
"U.Va. Web Map: Carr's Hill (President's House)." The University of Virginia. Accessed March 31, 2017. http://www.Virginia.edu/webmap/popPages/16-carrshill.html.
Carr's Hill; image by Rwhaley - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25745044.