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FARMINGTON FARMINGTON, the home of Mrs. Warner Wood, il! situated three miles west of the University of Virginia, 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 [273]
