Historic Blenheim facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Historic Blenheim
|
|
Blenheim (Willcoxon Farm)
|
|
 Location in Fairfax
Location in Northern Virginia
Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 3610 Old Lee Hwy Fairfax, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Built | c. 1859 |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000152 |
Historic Blenheim is an old brick farmhouse in City of Fairfax, Virginia. It was built around 1859 in the Greek Revival style. During the American Civil War, Union soldiers often stayed near the house. They even used it as a hospital.
What makes Blenheim special are the messages left by these soldiers. More than 115 soldiers wrote and drew on the walls. You can find these writings on the first and second floors, and even in the attic. Historic Blenheim was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.
Contents
Early Days of Blenheim Farm
The land where Historic Blenheim stands today once belonged to Captain Rezin Samuel Willcoxon. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. In the early 1800s, he bought a lot of land in what is now Fairfax, Virginia. At one point, he owned over a thousand acres!
Rezin married Elizabeth DeNeale in 1805, and they had ten children. After Elizabeth passed away in 1845, Rezin married Fanny Halley Bell in 1851.
Around 1850, Rezin Willcoxon was farming about 400 acres. He grew crops like wheat, Indian corn, and potatoes. In 1854, Rezin's son, Albert T. Willcoxon, bought a large part of the land from his father. Albert likely took over the family farm and lived in the farmhouse.
In 1855, a fire destroyed the original farmhouse. The house you see today was built to replace it. It might have been built on the old foundation.
The Willcoxon Family and the Farm
When Rezin Willcoxon died in 1855, his property was divided among his children. But Albert kept the main house and much of the land. In 1858, Albert married Mary Hunter Eskridge. They continued to run the farm.
They had help from several enslaved people. We know the names of three of them: Charles, Hanson, and Maria. These individuals were forced to work on the farm.
Blenheim During the Civil War
Albert and Mary Willcoxon supported the Confederate side. They sold many supplies to Confederate soldiers. These supplies included beef, hay, and horses.
By October 1862, the Union Army controlled Fairfax. The war caused a lot of damage to the area. The Willcoxon farm suffered too. Albert, Mary, and their two children left the farm sometime in 1862. They may have stayed with Mary's family in Leesburg until the war ended.
Fairfax and Blenheim's War Role
Fairfax was very important during the Civil War. It was close to Washington, D.C., the nation's capital. Blenheim, located at the edge of Fairfax, was right in the middle of the fighting.
In June 1861, a small Confederate force defended the town. A Union cavalry unit attacked them. Even though the Confederates were not ready, they fought back and kept control of the town. This skirmish was notable because it was where the first Confederate officer was killed in the war.
By July 1861, the Union Army occupied Fairfax. Later, the Army of the Potomac used the Fairfax courthouse as its headquarters. Some people think Blenheim might have been a headquarters too. Control of Fairfax changed hands many times. But by March 1863, it was firmly a Union stronghold.
Soldiers' Stories on the Walls
Because of its location and the owners leaving, Union soldiers eventually took over Blenheim. The house was likely used as a hospital for wounded soldiers.
The soldiers didn't just stay there; they left their mark. They wrote and drew on the walls of the first floor, second floor, and attic. There are over a hundred names, army units, dates, poems, and drawings. Soldiers from at least 23 different army groups wrote on the walls. Some of these groups include the 26th Wisconsin Infantry and the 1st Michigan Cavalry. The earliest writings are from March 1862.
Some of the soldiers who wrote on the walls later died in famous battles. These include battles like 2nd Manassas, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. Other writings might be from soldiers who were hurt in local fights or got sick in nearby camps.
Researchers started studying the Blenheim soldiers in 1997. They worked to figure out the names and army units. They used old records from the Civil War era and later. They also used the National Archives and Records Administration, historical societies, and the internet. This research helped them learn the stories of the men who stayed at Blenheim.
Blenheim After the War
When Albert Willcoxon died in 1889, his land was divided between his children, Harry and Bessie. Harry continued to run the farm. Under his care, the farm did very well. It became known for its excellent dairy products.
The name 'Blenheim' was first used for the farm in 1903. This was in the obituary for Albert's wife, Mary Eskridge Willcoxon. However, many people still called it 'Willcoxon Place' for a long time.
In the 1930s, a tenant farmer managed the farm. In 1939, Harry gave Blenheim to his niece, Marguerite (Daisy). He then moved to another farm and passed away in 1942. Farming continued at Blenheim into the 1950s.
By 1953, the Willcoxon family started selling parts of the farm for new buildings. The original large property shrank to just twelve acres. Before she died in 1959, Marguerite gave the estate to her daughter, Barbara Duras. Barbara and her husband, William, moved into the house in 1962. Barbara died in 1987, and William in 1997. The City of Fairfax bought the property in January 1999. A family cemetery next to the house holds four generations of the Willcoxon family.
Blenheim Today
The Willcoxon family never covered up the soldiers' writings in the attic. The attic was probably used for storage after the war. Over the years, many layers of wallpaper were added to the first and second floors. But the drawings on the walls were never destroyed. Today, the wallpaper has been removed, and you can see the amazing inscriptions.
In 2001, Historic Blenheim was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Next to the house is the Civil War Interpretive Center, which opened in 2008. This center helps visitors learn more about the site.
Inside the Interpretive Center, there's a gallery. It shows how the Union soldiers at Blenheim fit into the bigger story of the American Civil War. Since the second floor and attic of the house are not open to the public, the Center has a special display. It's an exact copy of two-thirds of Blenheim's attic, with life-sized images of the inscriptions. The Center also has a room for school groups, tours, and special events.
