Belle Grove Makes the Presses!
Belle Grove makes the Fredericksburg Free Lance Star!
Many thanks to Cathy Dyson and Reza Mavashti from the Fredericksburg Free Lance Star
for taking the time to visit with us at Belle Grove Plantation!
Read their wonderful piece on Belle Grove Plantation!
http://fredericksburg.com/
The Darnells have big plans for the future of Belle Grove Planation, the birthplace of James Madison.
PHOTOS BY REZA MARVASHTI/THE FREE LANCE-STAR
Historic site could have a B&B future
Couple hopes to open bed-and-breakfast in King George County at Belle Grove, the birthplace of President James Madison
Date published: 9/29/2012
By CATHY DYSON
Michelle Darnell wants people who visit Belle Grove Plantation to have the same reaction she did when she pulled into the driveway for the first time.
She gasped in awe.
And she wasn’t even looking at the grandest side of the house, which is the “river side” that faces the Rappahannock.
Darnell had arrived on the “carriage side,” accessible off U.S. 301 in the Port Conway area of King George County.
Still, she was amazed by the elegant grace of the home built in 1791 as a basic farmhouse, then later complemented with extended wings, curved porches and porticos, as well as a balcony that runs along a portion of the second floor.
Darnell and her husband, Brett, want others to feel the same rush at Belle Grove, the birthplace of President James Madison.
The Darnells, who live in Chesapeake, hope to open a bed-and-breakfast at Belle Grove. They plan to apply for a special exception from the county and are in the process of gathering paperwork. They’ve been told it can take up to four months to get approval.
Michelle Darnell would like to open the suites at Belle Grove by March 16, Madison’s birthday.
“When you think about the history that we carry and the men who might have walked here on this property, it’s mind-boggling,” she said, adding it’s a history that others can share. “How many presidential birthplaces can you go to and spend the night?”
‘A FORTRESS NOW’
The Darnells don’t own the plantation; they have a lease to operate the bed-and-breakfast. The property is owned by the Austrian company Franz Haas Machinery. Company officials said they didn’t want to be quoted.
According to a 2003 story in The Free Lance-Star, the company bought the home in 1988 and later undertook a renovation to strip the walls down to the studs. Years of neglect and weather had taken their toll, and the Austrians spent $3.5 million to restore Belle Grove.
“This house is a fortress now,” Michelle Darnell said.
Madison wasn’t born in the home that faces the Rappahannock and the Caroline County town of Port Royal. That structure burned and the current home was built.
There’s been some question as to where the original home was, and Michelle Darnell has studied historical documents and newspaper clippings religiously.
The Darnells came across a foundation in the crawl space and believe it may be part of the original home. They’d like to look into it more, once they open the bed-and-breakfast and move onto the property.
Michelle Darnell’s grandmother probably would be proud of the way her granddaughter has taken to Belle Grove’s history as if it were her own.
Michelle Darnell grew up in South Carolina, and when her grandmother took her to the state capital or the family cemetery, she shared stories about past events and the people who carried the same blood in their veins.
Little Michelle became the family historian. She embraced the Belle Grove history with the same enthusiasm–to the point her husband regularly tells her to shorten her history lesson when showing visitors around.
‘TO MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL’
The Darnells hope to host weddings, receptions and other gatherings on the lawn of Belle Grove. The bed-and-breakfast will offer four suites of rooms.
Two are on the ground floor and are junior suites with sitting rooms and spacious bathrooms.
The two master suites on the second floor include one named for James Madison. From the “soaking tub” in the bathroom, guests can gaze out the window at the flowing Rappahannock.
The Austrian company will pay for some of the antiques and reproductions the Darnells will use to furnish Belle Grove, once they get county permission to open.
Michelle Darnell plans to uphold some of the traditions observed by people who once lived there.
She’ll have a wine and cheese reception in the grand hallway every day but Sunday and serve mint juleps. That’s in honor of the Turner family, whose male members gathered promptly at 5 p.m. for refreshments.
On Sunday afternoons, she’ll have a lemonade social, which was the custom observed by the last person to live on the property, Mary Hooker.
“We’re trying to think of every little detail that might make somebody comfortable,” Michelle Darnell said. “We want to make it beautiful.”
Michelle Darnell posts a blog about Belle Grove at virginiaplantation.wordpress.com.
Cathy Dyson: 540/374-5425
Email: cdyson@freelancestar.com
Well done Michelle and a nice article on Belle Grove. Supernova.
Thank you! We are excited to be considered for the paper!
Awesome news. And congrats. All good publicity 🙂
Thank you! It was really a nice honor to have it done so soon!
Congratulations!!
Thank you! We are really excited about what this might bring!
You must be so pleased with that article
We are! It really was very nicely done.
Congratulations! This is great!
Thank you! It is the first of many we hope!
Great article to highlight all your plans. Congrats!
It really was well done! We have another interview on Monday!
Excellent article. congrats!
Thank you! We are very excited to have done it and look forward to more in the future!
Well done!
Thank you so much! We are so excited to have been consider so early on!
AWESOME, Michelle! That kind of press and implied emotional support is fantastic.
Thank you! It was wonderful! Cathy did an awesome job!
Great article, congratulations on the press. Very excited for you!
Thank you! We are excited too! And we have another interview on Monday!
Congratulations, nicely done!
Thank you! It was so much fun to do and she did a great job!
congratulations!!!! i am so proud of you and for you with the newspaper article. I can’t wait to continue this journey with you!!!
Thank you Terri!!
I’ve been up and down Route 301 a thousand times over the years and had no idea this magnificent place was on the road. Wow. Dianne
I have heard that same kind of statement before. You just never know what kind of treasures are just beyond those front gates!
What a wonderful article! Here is to more free press! Congratulations!
Yes I have to totally agree with you! Thank you!
Hi! virginiaplantation. I’ve nominated you for the “Tell Me About Yourself Award” for your good articles and beautiful places in your nice community. Of course, you are feel free to accept or not this award.
Greetings.
Thank you so much for sharing us with your readers! We really appreciate it!
Well written article. How exciting. Congratulations!
Thank you! We think Cathy did a great job too!
I’m sure this write up is the start of many many more periodical reviews to come. Even I am fond of Belle Grove and I’ve only had the virtual tour. I can’t wait to visit in person. Oh yes! I’ve got your establishment on my ‘places to visit’ list for sure. BEAUTIFUL.
Thank you! We have loved sharing it with everyone! We can’t wait to see you at the plantation!
grinning ear to ear for you.
Aw thank you!
What an great story! I cannot wait til y’all open, we’re coming to see it. I love history and that area, I very much appreciate what you are doing.
Thank you so much! We really love the piece too! We can’t wait to meet you at the plantation!
Good job! Nice to see independent businesses doing well.
Thank you! We are proud to be a small independent business!
I am so excited for you!!!
Thank you! We are so excited and honored to be written about!
Such a beautiful place! How fortunate you are to live there and share it with others. I enjoyed reading some of your blogs and will read more. Thanks for taking time to read my blog of Vance Birthplace. I hope you will come back and read more. I will be following your blog now. Best wishes, beebeesworld
Thank you so much for stopping by! We do look forward to seeing more of your blog! We hope to see you some day at the plantation too!
Good press.! Just wait until you open – this is all so very very exciting. Virginia
Thank you Virginia! We are so excited to have this chance. We have another interview today too!
Everything seems to coming together … how wonderful!
It really does feel that way. We can hope it will keep happening that way!
Great article!!
Yes, Cathy did a great job! And the best part is that it has lead us to more history!
Congrats! Beautiful place!
Thank you! We have really enjoyed each new turn with this journey.
So fun!! I’m glad for you!
Thank you! It has been a lot of fun!
Reblogged this on Colmel's Blog and commented:
I will be posting a new blog of my own shortly, but thought I’d share another post from beautiful Belle Grove. Please check their blog out as they are having a silent auction to fund more restoration of one of our country’s most beautiful and historic homes.
Congratulations! Great article!
Thank you! It was so much fun doing!