Morven Farms

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Morven Farm is a 2,913 acre farm created out of the 7,379-acres donated to the University of Virginia Foundation by philanthropist John W. Kluge in 2001. [1] Many retreats are held there.

Overhead view of Morven Farms. Photo by Jack Looney.

History

Early surveys of Morven Farms. Reproduced from the University of Virginia.

Colonial era

In 1730, John Carter, Secretary of the Colony of Virginia acquired a 1,334 acre land grant in Albemarle County, VA. The land that would later come to be known as Morven, was a part of that land grant. The Morven site was thought to have likely been utilized as a seasonal hunting ground by local Native American tribes (such as the Monacan Nation) during the pre-Columbian era. That theory came about in part due to a known Native American presence within the vicinity. The other part was the discovery that one of the property's former names was "Indian Camp", which at the time was believed to be the property's first name.

In April 20, 1795 Thomas Jefferson purchased Indian Camp on behalf of his "adopted son" William Short. Because Short soon took up diplomatic service representing the United States in various nations within Europe, Jefferson managed the property in his stead and rented small plots of land to different tenant farmers. These farmers made use of crop rotation methods developed by Jefferson to revitalize the soil from the detrimental effects of decades of exclusively cultivating tobacco and corn crops.

Nineteenth century

In 1813, Jefferson deeded the property to David Higginbotham, a prominent merchant at the nearby port of Milton on the Rivanna River. Higginbotham renamed the property Morven, and constructed his home there. The property was largely returned to its former use, that of a full-fledged slave plantation. After Higginbotham's death in 1853, the house and the majority of the property was acquired by Daniel Groff Smith. After the property was sold, the Higgibotham's slaves were sold at auction. Smith like Higginbotham, was a merchant and a planter. Edward Buckey Smith acquired ownership after the death of his father in 1879.

Twentieth century

In 1906, Samuel and Joesphine Marshall purchased Morven. They expanded the Main House on the north side with a two-story addition by the Baltimore architect Howard Sill. The Albemarle Chapter of the Garden Club of Virginia frequently met on the property following its founding in 1919, with Josephine Marshall serving as its first president. After Samuel Marshall's death in 1923, Morven briefly served as the home of a local land broker, David C. Patterson, and his wife Margaret G. Patterson.

In 1926, Charles and Mary Stone purchased Morven. The Stones refashioned the farm into "Morven Stud," utilizing the land for thoroughbred horse breeding and cattle. They also commissioned the Boston architect Joseph Chandler to add a west terrace and attic dormers to the Main House in 1928. Working with the renowned landscape architect Annette Hoyt Flanders, Mary Stone redeveloped the formal gardens and opened them to visitors of the first Virginia Garden Week in 1933. These grounds, mostly unchanged from the era, now represent one of the few intact gardens from the 1930's and have remained open to the public for every Virginia Garden Week up to the present day.

After Charles Stone's death in 1941, Whitney Stone and his wife Anne assumed ownership of Morven, focusing their efforts on stud operations and founding the United States Equestrian Team. During this time, a number of famous racehorses were bred on the property, including the Hall of Fame mare Shuvee, who won the Filly Triple Crown in 1969. Morven was also added to both the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register in 1973. Whitney and Anne Stone died at Morven in 1979 and 1987 respectively.

In 1988, Morven was purchased from the Stone family by the philanthropist John W. Kluge, who already owned a number of farms in Albemarle County. Kluge installed sculptures by Rodin, Maillol, Moore, and others across the landscape of Morven, utilizing the farm's space as an outdoor gallery. In 1992, Kluge supervised the building of a four-acre Japanese garden and tea pavilion on the property that were designed by the Japanese architect Koji Tsunoda and aided locally by the Charlottesville landscape architect Will Reilly. These facilities incorporated traditional ancient techniques and over 50 plants native to both Japan and America.

Twenty-first century

In 2001, Kluge donated Morven to the University of Virginia Foundation. This organization later sold approximately half of the property, returning the land to active farming and creating an endowment that today totals over $45 million. Annual proceeds help support both property maintenance and university programming at Morven.[2]

Conservation

In early 2020, the University of Virginia Foundation agreed to place 1,150 acres of land at Morven under conservation easement. The deed was recorded on January 15, 2020. The Albemarle Conservation Easement Authority accepted the deal in October 2019. [3]

Location

The farms are located at 600 Morven Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22902.

References

  1. Web. History & Gardens, UVA Foundation, 2009, retrieved 28 Feb 2011.
  2. Web. History of Morven Farm, Morven Farm
  3. Web. Morven property placed under conservation easement, Allison Wrabel, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, January 19, 2020, retrieved January 19, 2020. Print. January 19, 2020 page A1.

External Links

Official Site