Ionia (Trevilians, Virginia) facts for kids
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Ionia
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Ionia, HABS Photo, May 1984
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 0.1 mi. E of VA 640 and 0.8 mi. N of jct. with VA 613, near Trevilians, Virginia |
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| Area | 640 acres (260 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001405 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 30, 1972 |
Ionia is a historic wooden house located near Trevilians, Virginia. It was once the main house of a very large farm, known as a plantation, in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The house was built around 1775 and was home to the Watson family for many years.
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The Story of Ionia
Ionia was first known as Clover Plains. It was built by Major James Watson, whose father came from Scotland. The house was in a very good farming area of Louisa County, Virginia. This area is now part of a special place called the Green Springs National Historic Landmark District. This district is important because it has many historic buildings and landscapes.
A Family's Legacy
In the late 1700s, the farm at Clover Plains was the third largest in Louisa County. Major Watson was very successful and wealthy from his farming. People even nicknamed him "Wheat Stacks" because of how much grain he grew!
After Major Watson passed away in 1845, his son, Dr. George Watson, took over the house. George renamed the house "Ionia." Since he lived in Richmond, Virginia, he used Ionia as a summer home. George Watson died in 1854, and his wife lived at Ionia until the 1870s. After she passed away in 1879, the large property was divided into smaller pieces. The Watson family built many other houses in the Green Springs area over time.
What Ionia Looks Like
Ionia is a wooden house with one main floor and a smaller upper floor. Its outside walls are covered with wooden planks called clapboards. There are smaller sections, or "wings," on each side of the main part of the house. An L-shaped section extends from the back. The house still has many of its original wooden parts inside.
Other Buildings at Ionia
Around the main house, there are several other important buildings. These "dependencies" helped the farm run smoothly. They include:
- a dairy house (for making and storing milk products)
- a smoke house (for preserving meat)
- a kitchen (where food was prepared)
- buildings for farm workers
- an old barn
A Special Historic Place
Because of its history and unique architecture, Ionia was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 30, 1972. This means it is recognized as an important historic site in the United States.
