History Right at the Tips of Our Fingers
Living in the Fredericksburg area, it is likely that you have heard of or even visited Chatham Manor. Whether you know it as the place popular for its scenic walkthrough or have visited to take high school prom photos, there is more to why Chatham Manor plays such an important role in our nation’s history.
The sizable Georgian structure, later to be coined Chatham Manor, was built in 1771 through the grueling work of craftsmen and enslaved laborers. It was built under the direction of William Fitzhugh and purposely placed atop Stafford Heights, overlooking Fredericksburg, to flaunt his riches. Fitzhugh’s finances later took a dip as all of his hosting to show off his riches led his pocket to run dry. As a result, Fitzhugh sold Chatham Manor after only a brief 35 years of residence there.
During the years leading up to the Civil War, Betty and J. Horace Lacy owned Chatham, residing there only through the winters. At the beginning of the war, Mr. Lacy enlisted as a volunteer for the Confederate army, so Mrs. Lacy left Chatham empty. This was a move that, further down the road, highly benefited the US Army during the Battle of Fredericksburg. Chatham became a headquarters for the battle and a hospital for troops succeeding. As countless sick and injured soldiers sought the makeshift hospital for help, famous historical figures such as Clara Barton and Walt Whitman held fundamental roles within the hospital.
After the war, the property quickly cycled through nine different owners, who ran into financial difficulty when keeping up the grounds and had to sell. Finally, in 1920, Chatham took a sharp turn towards how we know it today. Helen and Daniel Devore purchased the property and decided to work to utilize it in historical regard, transforming the property from a former slave plantation to a rural retreat.
In 1975, Chatham Manor was officially given to the National Parks Service. In 1984, the National Park Service began the restoration process for the 1920s version of the grounds, beginning with the east garden. Many original pieces are still visible, and all of the reconstructed aspects were built to fit in with the style of the 1920s era. One significant remnant left from the original manor can be seen on the riverside at the front entrance. There, you can see the outlines of the 2-story Greek Revival porch that stood for almost 100 years before the addition of the current limestone entrance in the 1920s.
Chatham has stood on the bank of the Rappahannock River, overlooking the city of Fredericksburg, for 250 years. During this time, it was visited by many notable historical figures, including George Washington, Robert E. Lee, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln.
One thing is certain: the grounds are full of history and legacy and are beautiful to visit and learn more about.
