Green Springs (Trevilians, Virginia)

Green Springs was built in the late 18th century on lands in Louisa County, Virginia assembled by Sylvanus Morris. His son Richard (c.1740-1821) developed 1,746 acres (707 ha) near the mineral springs that gave the property its name and built the two-story frame house. The property stands in an unusually fertile region of central Virginia, surrounded by a number of 18th and 19th century farms and plantations. The district has been designated a National Historic Landmark district, comprising about 14,000 acres (5,700 ha) under scenic easement protection.[3][4]

Green Springs
Green Springs, HABS Photo, 1984
Green Springs (Trevilians, Virginia) is located in Virginia
Green Springs (Trevilians, Virginia)
Green Springs (Trevilians, Virginia) is located in the United States
Green Springs (Trevilians, Virginia)
Location0.2 mi. S of VA 617 and 1.5 mi. SW of jct. with VA 640, near Trevilians, Virginia
Coordinates38°00′17.63″N 78°10′49.66″W / 38.0048972°N 78.1804611°W / 38.0048972; -78.1804611
Area640 acres (260 ha)
NRHP reference No.72001406[1]
VLR No.054-0057
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJune 30, 1972
Designated VLRMay 16, 1972[2]

Description

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The main house is a two-story frame structure with a compact plan. The house forgoes the typical Virginia central-hall plan, employing instead a simple four-room plan on the main floor, with the stairs relegated to a small space at the rear. The two front rooms each have their own entry in the five-bay main elevation. The rear has received a shed-roofed addition, and a two-story frame addition has been added on the west side of the house. The interior features its original woodwork, using simple shapes and patterns. The property includes a number of barns, slave quarters and other dependencies.[3]

The Morris family

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Colonel Richard Morris held a number of public offices, including Commissary for the Commonwealth, and was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1788. Morris operated a small resort at the Green Springs with two houses, an icehouse, servant quarters, a blacksmith shop and utility buildings, which were abandoned by Richard's son and heir James Maury Morris.[3]

Green Springs was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 30, 1972.[1] It is a component of the Green Springs National Historic Landmark District.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff (May 1972). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Green Springs" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  4. ^ a b Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff (February 1973). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Green Springs Historic District" (PDF). Retrieved 19 October 2011.
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