Point of Honor facts for kids
|
Point of Honor
|
|
Point of Honor, Lynchburg VA, November 2008
|
|
 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 112 Cabell St., Lynchburg, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built | 1806 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000872 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | February 26, 1970 |
Point of Honor is an old house in Lynchburg, Virginia. It's now a museum for the city. This house has amazing views of Lynchburg and the James River. It got its name because the land it sits on was once a secret spot for duels.
Contents
The Story of Point of Honor
Building a Historic Home
The person who built and designed Point of Honor was Dr. George Cabell. He was a doctor and a friend of Thomas Jefferson. Dr. Cabell also cared for Patrick Henry, a famous American patriot.
Before building the house, Dr. Cabell bought a large piece of land. This land included a few islands in the river. He bought it from Lewellen Jones. Jones had bought it from Christopher Lynch. Christopher was the son of Charles Lynch, a Quaker patriot. He was also the nephew of John Lynch, who started the ferry that gave Lynchburg its name.
New Owners Over Time
Dr. Cabell passed away in 1823 after falling from a horse. His wife died three years later. The house then went to William Lewis Cabell. He might have rented it to the Langhorne family. William and his wife Eliza Daniel both died in 1830.
Eliza's father, Judge William Daniel, then inherited the house. He was a representative in the Virginia government. When he died in 1839, the house went to his son, William Daniel Jr. William Jr. was Eliza's brother. He was also the father of John Warwick Daniel, who became a United States Senator.
Changes and Challenges
In 1848, David P. Payne bought the house and two acres of land. He sold it back to Daniel in 1857. Daniel then sold it to Colonel Robert L. Owen Sr.. Colonel Owen was the president of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. His son, Robert Latham Owen, later became a U.S. Senator.
Colonel Owen managed the railroad during the American Civil War. After the war, he became a state senator. However, he resigned because he did not agree with combining his railroad with others. These other railroads were bought by William Mahone. Colonel Owen faced financial difficulties and died in 1873. The railroad he ran also went bankrupt that same year. The house changed hands again.
Famous Family Connections
The Langhorne family owned Point of Honor at two different times. Henry Langhorne, who owned mills in Lynchburg, bought it in 1828. Later, before the Civil War, John S. Langhorne owned the house.
John S. Langhorne's oldest son, Chiswell Langhorne, became a very rich businessman. His daughter, Elizabeth Langhorne Lewis, was a leader in the women's right to vote movement. John S. Langhorne's granddaughters were also famous. One was Mrs. Charles Dana Gibson, who was the model for the original Gibson Girl. Another was Nancy Langhorne, Viscountess Lady Astor. She was the first woman elected to the British Parliament.
Becoming a Museum
By 1878, L.E. Lichford owned Point of Honor. He was a grocery seller. His family owned the property for three generations. During this time, the area around the house grew and developed.
In 1928, James R. Gilliam Jr. bought the house. He then gave it to the City of Lynchburg. The city used part of the property as a recreation center. In 1968, the Historical Foundation received the deed.
The House's Design
Federal Style Architecture
Point of Honor is a two-story house made of brick covered in stucco. It has an unusual shape. The front of the house has a three-section middle part. On each side, there are two parts shaped like octagons.
Construction of the house began in 1806 and finished in 1815. About 20 years later, it was updated. New wallpaper and stucco were added. A porch might have been added then too, but it was removed during a restoration in 1977.
The house looks very similar to the Hancock-Wirt-Caskie House in Richmond, Virginia.
Point of Honor was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. It opened as a public museum in 1978.
Historic American Buildings Survey Photographs
-
Front view of the house
-
Side view of the house and office
-
The entrance hall with stairs
-
Detailed view of the doors
-
Carved decoration above a door in the parlor
-
Floor plan of the house
