Rural Plains facts for kids
|
Rural Plains
|
|
Rural Plains, November 2010
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | 6 mi. N of Mechanicsville off VA 606, near Mechanicsville, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Area | 125 acres (51 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 75002021 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | June 5, 1975 |
Rural Plains, also called Shelton House, is a very old farm house in Mechanicsville, Virginia. It was built way back in the 1660s! This historic home is part of the Richmond National Battlefield Park. In 1975, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a really important place in American history.
Contents
Discovering Rural Plains' Past
Rural Plains was built by John Shelton in 1670. Later, another John Shelton, who ran a tavern, became famous. He was the father of Sarah Shelton.
Sarah Shelton married a very important person named Patrick Henry in 1754. Patrick Henry was a famous speaker and leader during the American Revolution. People often say they got married in the house's first-floor living room.
As a wedding gift, Sarah's father gave the couple 300 acres of land from Rural Plains. This land became known as Pine Slash. Their first home there burned down in 1757. After that, they moved into a smaller house nearby. This house is still called the "Honeymoon Cottage" today.
The Civil War Battle at Rural Plains
Rural Plains saw a lot of action during the Battle of Totopotomoy Creek. This battle happened on May 30, 1864, during the American Civil War. The house is very close to Totopotomoy Creek.
During the battle, the house was badly damaged by cannons. Union signalmen (people who send messages) climbed onto the roof. They were trying to send messages to their army. Confederate soldiers tried to shoot them down with cannons. The house was hit 51 times, but the signalmen were safe!
The marks from the cannonballs can still be seen on the house today. The Shelton family hid in the basement during the battle. They continued to live in the house even after all the damage.
Rural Plains Joins a National Park
Nine generations, or family groups, of Sheltons lived in Rural Plains. They lived there continuously for hundreds of years! In 2006, the property became part of the Richmond National Battlefield Park.
The park now owns 124 acres of the land. They work with a private group called the Rural Plains Foundation. This foundation was started in 2013 to help take care of the historic site.
Exploring the House's Design
For a long time, people thought Rural Plains was built right when the land was bought. But experts looked closely at the house's features. Things like the brickwork, window sizes, and the original roof style showed something different. These features were not common in Virginia until many years later.
The house has a special design with a central hallway. The rooms at the front are deeper than the rooms at the back. Each room also has a fireplace in the corner.
Changes Over Time
Many parts of the house that the National Park Service received were not original. A lot of the wooden parts had been replaced. The back porch was also built more recently. More windows were added over the years too.
The biggest change to the house happened during a major update. This update likely took place in the early to mid-1800s. Fancy doors, windows, and trim were added then. Since the park took over, they have been working to find the original parts of the Shelton House. Their goal is to make it look like it did when it was first built.
Gallery
-
Rural_Plains, HABS Photo
,_Richmond_National_Battlefield_Park_(Hanover_County,_Virginia).jpg)
