Oldal 442 [442]
FARMINGTON
FARMINGTON, the home of Mrs. Warner Wood,
il! situated three miles west of the University of Vir¬
ginia, has long been noted as one of the most
beautiful places in Virginia. The charm of its
hospitality, the beautiful paintings, and other
objects of art in the house, and its unsurpassed
landscape view are known throughout the United States.
The history of Farmington is quite interesting and reads like
a romance. Jhe tract of land on which the house is situated
originally consisted of about four thousand four hundred acres,
and was first patented and owned by Michael Holland, in 1744.
In 1745, Holland sold his patent to Charles Lewis, of Goochland
County, and he, in turn, sold the place to Francis Jourdone, in 1758.
In 1760, Jourdone (now spelled Jerdone) began the erection
of the present stately dwelling, which commands such a beautiful
view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The massive brick walls range
in thickness from two feet on the sides to three feet on the gable
end, and show the quality of the material used. Even now, after
more than one hundred years, they look as if the builder intended
them to stand, as the pyramids, for all time. In 1785, Jerdone
sold the estate to George Divers, who is said to have been a great
friend of Thomas Jefferson.
Being a man of considerable wealth, and holding Mr. Jefferson
in high esteem, Mr. Divers asked the Sage of Monticello to design
for him a fine home. Jefterson’s design is seen in the octagonal
front of the present residence, which was begun in 1803, and which
is said to have been inspired by the country house seen by him while
abroad. The tradition is that one day Jefferson drove out to
Farmington and, finding that his plans were not being carried out
as he designed them, he dismissed all the workmen, thus ending for
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