Curles Neck Plantation facts for kids
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Curles Neck Farm
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 4705 Curles Neck Rd., Henrico, Virginia |
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| Area | 156 acres (63 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 09001222 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 22, 2009 |
Curles Neck Plantation, also known as Curles Neck Farm, is a historic farm in Henrico County, Virginia. It sits between State Route 5 and the north bank of the James River. This farm is one of the famous James River Plantations. It has been used for farming for nearly 400 years. Today, it is still a working farm and is privately owned, so it is not open to the public.
In 2009, a large part of the property, about 5600 acres, was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
Contents
History of Curles Neck Farm
Early Days and Captain Harris
In November 1635, Henrico County was officially named one of the first eight counties in the Virginia Colony. Around this time, Captain Thomas Harris received a land grant for about 750 acres. He had served under Sir Thomas Dale, an important leader in the colony.
Captain Harris started a tobacco farm on this land. Early settlers called it "Longfield." But soon, it became known as Curles Neck. Captain Harris was also a representative for Curles Neck in the House of Burgesses at Jamestown. The House of Burgesses was like an early government assembly for the colonists.
Where Did the Name Curles Neck Come From?
No one is exactly sure how Curles Neck got its name. Many people thought it came from the curvy, winding shape of the James River in this area. You can see these curves clearly on a map. However, the name "Curle" appears in land records over a hundred years. This suggests the name might have come from a family named Curle who owned land there. One famous person from that family was Wilson Roscow Curle, who lived during the American Revolution.
Nathaniel Bacon and a Rebellion
In the early 1670s, Nathaniel Bacon owned Curles Neck. At that time, colonists living in areas like Henrico had problems with the Colony's Royal Governor, Sir William Berkeley. The colonists wanted to fight back against Native Americans for alleged thefts. Governor Berkeley disagreed with this.
In 1676, these disagreements led to a big conflict called Bacon's Rebellion. Governor Berkeley had to leave Jamestown. Bacon got sick and died in Gloucester, and his rebellion ended. After Bacon's death, he was found guilty of treason. His property was taken by the Crown and later sold to William Randolph.
Curles Neck During Wars
Revolutionary War Period
In the mid-1700s, John Pleasants owned part of Curles Neck. He gave land for the first Quaker meeting house there. He was also a trustee for the new Town of Richmond. In 1771, his will stated that his enslaved people should be freed.
Civil War Period
In 1852, Charles Senff, a sugar merchant from New York, bought the Curles Neck land. It was about 3,250 acres then. He also bought two nearby farms, making his total land more than 5,000 acres. Senff built the 15-room brick Georgian Revival mansion that stands today. It replaced an older house that had fallen apart during the Civil War.
Curles Neck in the 20th Century
Horse Breeding and Dairy Farming
In 1913, a rich businessman named C. K. G. Billings bought the property. He turned it into one of the most important horse breeding farms in the country.
The next owner, A. B. Ruddock, started Curles Neck Dairy. This dairy began selling milk to people in 1933. By the mid-1900s, under Fred Watkins who bought the farm in 1943, Curles Neck Farm became one of the biggest milk suppliers in the eastern United States. The company had a plant in Richmond for processing and distributing milk. They even had a small store. The dairy operated until 1980. For many years, school children would visit the large dairy barns on tours.
Eastern Airliner Crash Landing
On July 19, 1951, Eastern Airlines Flight 601 left Newark International Airport for Miami International Airport. The plane was a Lockheed Constellation. As it flew, it hit very bad weather with strong winds and hail. The pilots tried to avoid the storm.
Later, near Lynchburg, they hit another storm. The plane shook so badly that the crew worried it would break apart. They tried to slow down the plane, but the shaking continued. They were only a few miles from Richmond International Airport, where they hoped to land. The captain radioed for help.
The captain saw Curles Neck Farm below. He picked the biggest field he could find. He decided to land the plane straight ahead without lowering the flaps or landing gear. He didn't want to make any turns because he didn't know what was causing the severe shaking. As the plane touched down in a tall cornfield, the crew quickly turned off all the switches.
The right wing of the plane hit a power line pole. It then went over Curles Neck Road, tearing down a fence. The plane skidded for about 1,100 feet through another field and another fence. Finally, it stopped in a pasture. A small fire started near one engine, but rain and the local fire department quickly put it out.
Amazingly, no one died in this crash landing! Investigators later found that a hydraulic access door had opened during the flight. This caused the extreme shaking. The plane was repaired and used again, but it was damaged beyond repair in another accident in 1953.
Discoveries from Archaeological Digs
During archaeological digs at Curles Neck, scientists found the foundation of Captain Harris's first house. This house dated back to between 1635 and 1654. They also found parts of a later house, which was probably where Nathaniel Bacon lived.
Archaeologists also found interesting landscape features. These included detailed terraces and signs of tunnels that led down to the James River. These tunnels might have been used as escape routes if Native Americans invaded.
