Ferry Plantation House Facts for Kids

This page is about the plantation home in Virginia Beach, Virginia. For George Washington's boyhood home, see Ferry Farm.

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

Ferry Plantation House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Ferry Plantation House
Location in Virginia Show map of Virginia Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	4136 Cheswick Lane Virginia Beach, Virginia
Built	1830
Architect	McIntosh, George
Architectural style	Federal
NRHP reference No.	04001545
Added to NRHP	January 20, 2005

The Ferry Plantation House, also known as Old Donation Farm or Walke Manor House, is a historic brick house in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Its story began way back in 1642. That's when Savill Gaskin started the second ferry service in the Hampton Roads area. This ferry helped people travel across the Lynnhaven River. They could reach the local courthouse or visit other large farms along the water. To call the ferry, people would fire a cannon! This ferry had 11 different stops along the river.

This house has a long and interesting history. People even say it's haunted by 11 spirits! Over the years, it has been a large farm, a courthouse, a school, and even a post office. Today, it's a museum and a place for learning. They even have a Summer History Camp there. Kids can learn what life was like in the 1700s and 1800s.

A Look at the House's History
- Building the Current House
- Saving the House
Haunted Stories
- The Witch of Pungo
Images for kids
See also

A Look at the House's History

The land where the house stands was first cleared by local Native American tribes. This happened in the 1500s. Many of their old tools and items have been found here. Later, the third courthouse for Princess Anne County was built on this spot. It was the first brick courthouse in the county. It even had stocks and a pillory, which were tools used to punish people in public. This courthouse was used from 1735 until a new mansion was built.

The Walke Mansion was built in 1751 and owned by William Walke. Sadly, it was destroyed by a fire on September 12, 1828. Some people think Walke might have run a tavern (a type of inn) here during the American Revolution.

Building the Current House

The house you see today was built in 1830. It's made of brick in a style called Federal style. All the bricks used came from the ruins of the old Walke Mansion! In 1850, a new section was added to the west side of the house.

The house has 10 rooms. The floors are made of strong pine wood. Many parts of the house are still original from when it was built. At one time, the outside of the house was covered with a special plaster made from oyster shells. The back of the house faces the western part of the Lynnhaven River.

The house itself sits on a small piece of land owned by the city. It's surrounded by a larger open area. There are also some small gardens on the property. In the backyard, there's a very large Southern Magnolia tree. It was planted on April 6, 1863, by Sally Rebecca Walke. She planted it to remember her fiancé.

Saving the House

Virginia Higgins lived in Ferry Plantation until 1986. After she moved out, the house was empty for about 10 years, from 1986 to 1996. It was almost torn down! But a group of people worked hard to save it around 1996.

In 1994, some investors bought the house. But their plan to sell it fell apart. The city decided the house couldn't be a private home because of old rules. So, in June 1996, the house was given to the City of Virginia Beach. Then, a group called the "Friends of the Ferry Plantation House, Inc." started working with the city to fix it up. Even today, you can still see old courthouse bars on one of the windows!

The house was recognized as an important historical place in Virginia in 2004. It was also added to the US National Register of Historic Places in 2005. Belinda Nash has been a big part of the Friends of the Ferry Plantation House since 1996. She became the director in 1999. She and many other volunteers help keep the house open for everyone to enjoy. They host summer camps and special events to share its history.

Haunted Stories

Many people believe the Ferry Plantation House is haunted by 11 different spirits! You can even take special "spirit tours" there. One popular tour happens around Halloween and is called "The Stroll of Lost Souls."

Some of the spirits people talk about include:

People who died in a shipwreck near the ferry landing in 1810.
A former slave.
Sally Rebecca Walke, who is said to be sad about her fiancé.
A soldier who died.
The "Lady in White," who supposedly broke her neck falling down the stairs.
The artist Thomas Williamson, who owned the Manor House, has been seen painting at the top of the stairs.

Groups that study ghosts often visit the house to do their research. People have even reported hearing the sound of dragging chains. This might be from the days when the house was a courthouse.

The Witch of Pungo

The museum also honors Grace Sherwood, known as the "Witch of Pungo." She was tried by "ducking" not far from the house. Ducking was a way people used to test if someone was a witch. The museum holds an annual Grace Sherwood Festival. During the festival, you can watch a play that shows the ducking. The real ducking happened about 200 yards out in the river from where a private home now stands. The Ferry Plantation House has a Red Maple tree and a special marker in its side yard to remember Grace Sherwood.