Hickory Hill (Glasgow, Virginia)
Encyclopedia
Hickory Hill is a historic estate in Rockbridge County, Virginia
.
The main house at Hickory Hill was built from 1823 to 1824 for Reuben Grigsby who was born June 6, 1780.
He was one of many children, cousin to educator Hugh Blair Grigsby
(1806–1881).
Daughter Mary Ann Grigsby (1828–1878) married William Sanderson McCormick
(1815–1865) on July 11, 1848. McCormick was son of Robert McCormick (1780–1846) of the plantation called Walnut Grove
which was located on the northern end of the same county. Aftter giving birth to Robert Sanderson McCormick
(1849–1919), the family moved to Chicago
to go into business with brothers Cyrus McCormick
and Leander J. McCormick
.
Reuben Grigsby died on the estate on February 6, 1863. Son Lucien Porter Grigsby (1820–1893), was the last Grigsby to own the farm. The estate was broken up in 1874 with some going to various daughters. In 1878 the house was sold to settle Lucien's debts, and passed through a number of owners. On June 10, 1929, it was purchased by Robert Rutherford "Colonel" McCormick
(1880–1955), and Chauncey McCormick
(1884–1954), cousins who were great grandsons of Reuben Grigsby.
The main house is constructed in the Federal architecture
style from Flemish bond brick with three integrated chimneys. The south side has a two-story portico with Doric columns.
Hickory Hill was owned by the McCormick family until 1944.
It was added to Virginia state list of historic places as site 081-0022 on June 8, 2006 and the National Register of Historic Places on August 30, 2006.
At the time its owners were Donald J.Hasfurther and his wife Cameron F. Bushnell, and about 123 acre remained preserved.
It is located at 197 Hickory Hill Lane between State Route 608 (Forge Road) and Interstate 81
, north of the current town of Glasgow, Virginia
.
Rockbridge County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,808 people, 8,486 households, and 6,075 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile . There were 9,550 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
.
The main house at Hickory Hill was built from 1823 to 1824 for Reuben Grigsby who was born June 6, 1780.
He was one of many children, cousin to educator Hugh Blair Grigsby
Hugh Blair Grigsby
Hugh Blair Grigsby was a historical scholar from Virginia.Grigsby was born in Norfolk, Virginia. He represented Norfolk in the legislature when scarcely more than a boy, and in 1829-30 was a member of the State convention with Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and other noted men...
(1806–1881).
Daughter Mary Ann Grigsby (1828–1878) married William Sanderson McCormick
William Sanderson McCormick
William Sanderson McCormick was an American businessman who developed the company that became the major producer of agricultural equipment in the 19th century...
(1815–1865) on July 11, 1848. McCormick was son of Robert McCormick (1780–1846) of the plantation called Walnut Grove
Cyrus McCormick Farm
The Cyrus McCormick Farm and Workshop is on the family farm of inventor Cyrus Hall McCormick known as Walnut Grove. Cyrus Hall McCormick improved and patented the mechanical reaper, which eventually led to the creation of the combine harvester...
which was located on the northern end of the same county. Aftter giving birth to Robert Sanderson McCormick
Robert Sanderson McCormick
Robert Sanderson McCormick was a United States diplomat. Born in rural Virginia, his extended McCormick family became influential in Chicago.-Life:...
(1849–1919), the family moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to go into business with brothers Cyrus McCormick
Cyrus McCormick
Cyrus Hall McCormick, Sr. was an American inventor and founder of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, which became part of International Harvester Company in 1902.He and many members of the McCormick family became prominent Chicagoans....
and Leander J. McCormick
Leander J. McCormick
Leander James McCormick was an American farmer, inventor, manufacturer, and businessman. Although born in rural Virginia, he later owned vast amounts of real estate in downtown Chicago.-Life:...
.
Reuben Grigsby died on the estate on February 6, 1863. Son Lucien Porter Grigsby (1820–1893), was the last Grigsby to own the farm. The estate was broken up in 1874 with some going to various daughters. In 1878 the house was sold to settle Lucien's debts, and passed through a number of owners. On June 10, 1929, it was purchased by Robert Rutherford "Colonel" McCormick
Robert R. McCormick
Robert Rutherford "Colonel" McCormick was a member of the McCormick family of Chicago who became owner and publisher of the Chicago Tribune newspaper...
(1880–1955), and Chauncey McCormick
Chauncey McCormick
Chauncey Brooks McCormick was an American businessman and art collector in the McCormick family.-Life:His mother was Eleanor Brooks, daughter of Walter Brooks of Baltimore....
(1884–1954), cousins who were great grandsons of Reuben Grigsby.
The main house is constructed in the Federal architecture
Federal architecture
Federal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the United States between c. 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815. This style shares its name with its era, the Federal Period. The name Federal style is also used in association with furniture design...
style from Flemish bond brick with three integrated chimneys. The south side has a two-story portico with Doric columns.
Hickory Hill was owned by the McCormick family until 1944.
It was added to Virginia state list of historic places as site 081-0022 on June 8, 2006 and the National Register of Historic Places on August 30, 2006.
At the time its owners were Donald J.Hasfurther and his wife Cameron F. Bushnell, and about 123 acre remained preserved.
It is located at 197 Hickory Hill Lane between State Route 608 (Forge Road) and Interstate 81
Interstate 81
Interstate 81 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern part of the United States. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 40 in Dandridge, Tennessee; its northern terminus is on Wellesley Island at the Canadian border, where the Thousand Islands Bridge connects it to Highway 401, the main freeway...
, north of the current town of Glasgow, Virginia
Glasgow, Virginia
Glasgow is a town in Rockbridge County, Virginia, United States, at the confluence of the James and Maury Rivers. The population was 1,046 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Glasgow is located at ....
.