Barboursville, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barboursville, Virginia
|
|
|---|---|
 Barboursville, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Barboursville, Virginia
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Orange |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 177 |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1492511 |
Barboursville is a small community in Orange County, Virginia, United States. It's known as the birthplace of Zachary Taylor, who later became a U.S. president. The community is also named after James Barbour, a former governor of Virginia, whose historic home ruins are now part of a local winery.
Barboursville was first officially recognized as a "census-designated place" (CDP) in 2020. At that time, it had a population of 177 people. The community is located where two main roads, VA 20 and US 33, meet. The area around Barboursville, including parts of Albemarle and Greene counties, also uses the Barboursville ZIP code.
Several important historical sites are located here. These include the Madison-Barbour Rural Historic District, the Hampstead Farm Archeological District, and Burlington. All of these are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
Historic Barboursville Ruins
The Barboursville mansion was a grand home built in 1822. Sadly, it was destroyed by fire on Christmas Day in 1884. This building was special because it was the only one in Orange County, Virginia, designed by Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was a close friend of James Barbour, the home's owner, and designed it with his own famous home, Monticello, in mind.
Originally, the house had a race track in front of it. Today, the ruins are a popular spot for visitors. They also serve as a unique outdoor stage for the Four County Players' "Shakespeare at the Ruins" performances in August.
Barboursville Vineyards
The land where Barboursville Vineyards now stands was used for farming for many years, from the mid-1700s to the mid-1900s. James Barbour was very good at farming the land. He would rotate his crops and let sheep graze in the fields. The winery today sees its work as a way to keep these traditional farming values alive.
Even though many people wanted to plant tobacco on the land, Gianni Zonin had a different idea. He came from a family of winemakers in Italy. In 1976, he bought the Barbour Plantation. He dreamed of creating a successful vineyard there. This was a big challenge, as even Thomas Jefferson had tried and failed to grow grapes at Monticello for many years.
The winery celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2006. By 2007, it was recognized as one of the best new places for wine. Today, the region has over 200 wineries. Much of their success can be linked to Zonin for starting the business.
Four County Players Theater
The Four County Players is a community theater group. It was started in 1973 and is the longest-running theater in Central Virginia. For over 40 years, they have entertained audiences with many different types of shows. Located in Barboursville, the theater is a key part of the community. It serves as a place for both art and learning. The Four County Players are known for their great musicals, funny comedies, and thoughtful dramas.
The idea for the group came from Lillian Morse and Bill Thomas. They believed that creative arts were important for rural communities. In January 1973, ten people met at Morse's home. They put their money together and had $70 to start their theater group. Their first step was to hold theater workshops for children. These workshops helped them find new members and put on their first two shows.
Lillian lived next to the old Barboursville High School auditorium. The empty school had been closed for years and was used for storage. The theater group made a deal with Orange County. They reopened the building as the Barboursville Community Center. This became the new home of the Four County Players. A few months later, they put on their first show in the new building. They even built the set over an old furnace that was still on stage!
The TREE Program
In 1979, the Players wanted to do more for the community. They started the Theater Related Employment Experience Program, or TREE Program. This program helped them hire young people who needed jobs. It taught them useful skills related to theater work.
Scholarship Program
In 1980, two long-time supporters, Ralph and Marcelia Hall, wanted to honor young actors and technicians. They started the Four County Players Scholarship program. Money raised from selling snacks at the theater helps fund this program.
Shakespeare at the Ruins
In 1990, Sara Smith Bossong suggested putting on Shakespeare plays outdoors. They partnered with Barboursville Vineyard. They used the ruins of the old mansion on the vineyard property as a backdrop for the plays. These red brick ruins are what is left of the home that Thomas Jefferson designed for Governor James Barbour. The house was destroyed by fire on Christmas Day, 1884.
The ruins, vineyards, and tall shrubs created a beautiful setting for 16 years of summer Shakespeare. Sara directed the first show, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in 1990. Sadly, the plays at the ruins ended in 2006. This was because the ruins needed a lot of repair work. The last play there was All’s Well That Ends Well. The tradition of Shakespeare plays continued, moving back to the theater building in 2007. In 2019, "Shakespeare at the Ruins" returned for one special summer production.
Season Productions
Every year, the Four County Players put on four to five main shows. These usually include at least one musical, a play, and a family Christmas show.
In 2009, the theater opened a second performance area. It's called the Cellar and is located on the lower level. The first show there was Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The Cellar is a great place for smaller shows, new types of plays, and special events like music concerts.
The Four County Players are proud to create great shows. They involve many community volunteers. This helps keep audiences coming back year after year.
Mining in Barboursville
Around 2001, the Barboursville community faced a challenge. A company wanted to start a mining operation nearby. This plan worried residents and local businesses, including two wineries. The company wanted to mine 89 acres of land. They needed the material because their other site was running out.
A group called Friends of Barboursville formed to oppose the mining. They spoke out at public meetings. The Friends of Barboursville and other community members fought for over three years. They argued that mining would harm the community's progress. A judge first dismissed their case in 2003. But the case went to the Virginia Supreme Court. In January 2005, the court decided in favor of the community. This meant that no mining was allowed at that site.
Famous People from Barboursville
- Zachary Taylor was born near Barboursville, Virginia, in 1784. He was a brave officer in many battles. In 1848, he was elected as the president of the United States. Taylor passed away in the White House two years later.
- James Barbour was born in Orange County, Virginia, in 1775. He studied law and became a politician. He served in the House of Delegates and was even the Speaker of the House for a time. He became governor of Virginia in 1812.
- James Madison was born in Port Conway, Virginia. He worked with Thomas Jefferson to create the Democratic-Republican Party. Madison became president in 1808. His large estate, Montpelier, was located near Barboursville in Orange County, Virginia. He died there in 1836.
