Edmondson Hall facts for kids
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Edmondson Hall
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Meadowview, Virginia |
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| Built | 1856 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000697 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 11, 1998 |
Edmondson Hall is a historic brick house built in 1856. It is located near Meadowview, Virginia. This beautiful home was built by William Campbell Edmondson, who was an early settler and a merchant. The property originally covered about 383 acres (155 km2) in a rich valley. Because of its history and unique style, Edmondson Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 11, 1998.
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Life at Edmondson Hall: The Early Years
When Edmondson Hall was first built, it was a busy home filled with children. William and Susan Edmondson had five children. After Susan passed away, William married Sarah Edmondson, and they had three more children together.
In 1860, the Edmondson family also had 14 enslaved people living on their property. Seven of these enslaved individuals were children under the age of 12. There were also two small cabins on the property where the enslaved people lived.
What Does Edmondson Hall Look Like?
Edmondson Hall was considered a very grand house for its time. It shows a style called Greek Revival, which was popular for buildings that looked like ancient Greek temples. The most noticeable part of the outside is the two-story porch at the front entrance.
Inside, the house has a main hallway in the center. On each floor, there are four rooms, and every room has its own fireplace. There are also two more rooms in a section at the back of the house. Many of the original details are still there, like the special paint designs on the fireplace frames, doors, and other wooden parts.
The furniture inside the house was also very fancy. Records from 1881 show that the main living room had a special carpet, sofas, a piano, a fancy mirror, and several chairs. Upstairs, two bedrooms were called the "Ladies' room" and the "Gentlemen's room." These rooms had beds, washstands (for washing up), wardrobes, dressers, and carpets.
Who Owned Edmondson Hall?
After William Edmondson passed away in 1883, his wife, Mrs. Edmondson, continued to live in the house until about 1894. The house was then sold in 1895 to Dr. William T. Delaney, who owned it until 1911.
Over the years, several other families owned Edmondson Hall:
- H. M. Brooks (1911–1918)
- Walter Gregory (1918–1951)
- W. A. and Mary G. Megginson (1951–1991)
- Robert M and DeVonne Salyer (1991–present)
The Salyer family has spent a lot of time and effort restoring the house to its original beauty.
Local Stories and Legends
Some people who study unexplained events have said they feel unusual presences when they visit Edmondson Hall. However, the Salyer family, who lives there, says they have never felt scared by any of these presences. They believe these "spirits" also consider the house their home.
There are several local stories about strange happenings at the house:
- Some tales mention a mysterious rider on horseback who seems to chase people away from the yard.
- One visitor felt a strange sensation in an empty room.
- An interior decorator working on the house once felt her hair being gently tugged in an upstairs bedroom, even though no one else was nearby.
One older member of the Salyer family, nicknamed GMA, shared a unique story. She claimed to have seen two young women, who looked like identical twins, in her room all night. She described them as beautiful with long blonde hair. One stood at the foot of her bed, and the other by her bedroom door. The family later learned that twins had indeed lived in the house a long time ago. GMA joked that she wished the twins hadn't whispered so much, as it kept her awake!
