Smithfield (Rosedale, Virginia) facts for kids
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Smithfield
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Smithfield, c. 2019
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Northwestern side of U.S. Route 19, 3 mi. SW of Rosedale, near Rosedale, Virginia |
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| Area | 980 acres (400 ha) |
| Built | 1848 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Central passage plan |
| NRHP reference No. | 94000988 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 16, 1994 |
Smithfield is a historic home and farm located near Rosedale in Russell County, Virginia. It is also a national historic district. This means it's a special area with important old buildings and sites.
Smithfield was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. This list helps protect places that are important to American history.
Contents
Exploring Smithfield's History
Smithfield is a large property with many interesting features. It covers about 980 acres. The main house and other buildings tell us about life long ago.
The Main House
The main house at Smithfield was built in the 1850s. It is a two-story building made of brick. The house has a "central passage plan." This means it has a long hallway in the middle with rooms on both sides.
The house is built in the Greek Revival style. This style was popular in the 1800s. It often includes tall columns and designs that look like ancient Greek temples.
Other Important Buildings
The Smithfield property includes 13 important old buildings. These buildings helped the farm run every day.
- A brick spring house was used to keep food cool. It was built over a natural spring.
- A brick acetylene house stored gas for lighting.
- A meat house was used for curing and storing meat.
- A former school house shows that children on the farm learned right there.
- There are also several barns, including a horse barn, a sheep barn, and a cow barn.
- A milking parlor was where cows were milked.
- A shop was likely used for repairs or crafts.
Special Sites on the Farm
Besides the buildings, there are five special sites at Smithfield. These places are important parts of the farm's history.
- One site is where an even older house once stood.
- There are three cemeteries (burial grounds) on the property. These are where people who lived and worked at Smithfield were buried.
- Another site is where a slave house used to be. This was a place where enslaved people lived long ago.
