Oakley (Spotsylvania County, Virginia) facts for kids
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Oakley
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The home at Oakley in Spotsylvania County, Virginia
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 Location in Northern Virginia
Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 10,000 Corbin Ln., Spotsylvania, Virginia |
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| Area | 12 acres (4.9 ha) |
| Built | 1828 |
| Built by | Alsop, Jr., Samuel |
| Architectural style | Federal / Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 02000533 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 22, 2002 |
Oakley is a very old and important house in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. It's known as a historic plantation home, which means it was part of a large farm where crops were grown a long time ago. The house was built in 1828 and has a classic style called Federal and Georgian architecture. It's a two-and-a-half-story building that has seen a lot of history.
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Building Oakley's History
The Oakley house was built by a man named Samuel Alsop, Jr. He was a skilled builder who created many important houses in Spotsylvania County. He built Oakley as a special wedding gift for his daughter, Clementina, in 1828. Some other famous houses Alsop built include Kenmore and Fairview.
A Gift and Its Land
The land where Oakley stands was once part of a huge area. This land, about 7,777 acres, was given to Gawain Corbin by the King of England. Later, in 1816, Samuel Alsop, Jr. bought 849 acres of this land. The beautiful bricks used to build the Georgian-style house were made right there on the property. Alsop built two special ovens, called kilns, to make these bricks.
Oakley During the Civil War
Oakley is located in an area where many big battles of the American Civil War took place. Because of this, several fights and small battles happened on or very close to the property. A person who lived in the house during that time wrote a letter describing what happened. They said that during one two-day period, the house was visited by "at least 2000 soldiers." These soldiers walked through the house, looking for supplies. There's also a story that a Union soldier was told to burn the house down, but he didn't obey the order, saving Oakley.
New Owners and Modern Updates
After the Civil War, in the late 1800s, the house was not well cared for. It was even used more like a barn than a home for a while. In 1919, a man named Mr. McHenry bought the property. He hoped to find silver and gold there, but his mining project didn't work out.
In 1926, the property was sold again to George C. Beals. The Beals family has owned Oakley ever since. Over the years, they made many important updates. Running water and electricity were added in the 1940s. Central heating, which keeps the whole house warm, was put in during the 1960s.
Oakley Today
As of 2005, the Oakley farm is still quite large, covering almost 2,000 acres. Because of its long history and special architecture, Oakley was added to the National Register of Historic Places in May 2002. This means it's recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
