Mary Rawlings

“ As the Revolutionary War drew to its end the little building knew a brief notoriety. Before the threat of Cornwallis, Governor Jefferson and the Legislature refugeed, May 24, 1781, to re-convene in Charlottesville. The Legislature met in the Court House, the overflow occupying the Swan Tavern across the street. ”

“ Thomas Jonathan Jackson—Virginian by birth, graduate of West Point, distinguished in the Mexican War—resigned from the regular army, 1851, and became a Presbyterian elder and a professor of natural philosophy and artillery tactics at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington. Ten years later, at the outbreak of the War-between-the-States, he entered the Confederate army and rose to a rank second in authority only to Lee. His military genius was fully recognized abroad, and his campaigns have long been studied in England’s military schools. ”

“ A circle with that diameter would include Monticello, Ash Lawn and Locust Hill. As members of a small and closely integrated social class these men knew each other intimately in private life. Despite the difference in age, Jefferson and Lewis had attended the same private classical school; Monroe had at one time studied law under Jefferson’s supervision.
Monroe came to Albemarle in 1789 and made it his home until his retirement from public life. His choice of home was dictated by his oft-expressed desire to be near Jefferson, their friendship being early formed and life-long. ”

“ Jefferson, who at intervals brought in other European artisans: Italians to introduce wine-making, an Italian coach-builder, and stone-cutters to carve the capitols at the University.
EAGLE TAVERN
On the Square’s South side stood the famous Eagle Tavern. Its site is now the East wing of the Monticello Hotel. For almost two centuries this spot has been the site of a house of entertainment, and has never had any other use.
The date of the first building is not recorded. The lot was cut off and sold in 1765; the village then was two years old, and the lot was new. ”

“ Writings of James Monroe, Stanislaus Murray, Hamilton, Vol. I, p. 158.
Mr. Jefferson’s reply is also pleasant.
“To Colonel Monroe from Jefferson, December 18, 1786. Paris. When I return, 18 which will be early in the Spring, I shall send you ... the plan of your house. I wish to heaven you may continue in the disposition to fix it in Albemarle. Short (Washington’s Minister to Holland) will establish himself there, and perhaps Madison may be tempted to do so. This will be society enough, and it will be the great sweetener of our lives.” Papers of Thos. Jefferson, edited by T. J. Randolph, Vol. ”

“ Reaching Jefferson Street he found the company was already at the court house and disbanding. Dashing through unrecognized he cleared High Street at one jump, ‘with mud splashing to Heaven,’ and escaped down Park Street after all.
7
Sixth Street. Eastern Boundary of Village. J. Rawlings Thomson
BUILDINGS ON THE SQUARE TOWN HALL
These old, early nineteenth-century houses have a grave and quaint charm of their own. At the corner of Park and East High Streets stands a large red brick building now known as the Park View Apartment, 350 Park Street. ”

“ This seven-figure group portrays the mounted Conqueror of the North West in conference with a standing Indian chief, who shares the central focus. Their attendants complete the vital and finely balanced conception. A surrounding planting of pine suggests a forest atmosphere. ”

“ Until towards the middle of the 1800’s this court house was the sole voting place in Albemarle County. Elections were held on court days. Only “Freeholders”—white, adult males owning at least twenty-five acres of land with a building on it—had the franchise. ”

“ James Monroe was born in 1758 at his father’s home, Monroe’s Creek, Westmoreland County, Virginia. He studied at Williamsburg, served with distinction in the Revolutionary War, and practiced law for eighteen months in Fredericksburg. His removal to Albemarle was the fulfillment of a long-cherished plan, as his pleasant letters to Mr. Jefferson show. One reads as follows:
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Ash Lawn. The “Cabin-Castle”. J. Rawlings Thomson
August 19, 1786. ”

“ They would then force all passers-by to halt and salute. War feeling was still too high for this to be accepted; the populace boycotted that walk and passed in single file down the middle of the street, with eyes straight ahead. After a few days this came to the attention of the officer. The flag was removed and the men reproved, on the grounds that to use the flag for purposes of malice or sport was degrading to its honor.
Another story:
One regulation was that Confederate uniforms might not be worn in public. ”

“ Jefferson came down hurriedly from Monticello and lobbied on this green for Monroe, who at that time was undergoing a brief decline in popular favor. The contest was for the State Assembly. The local party had gone so far as to decide to nominate another man; Mr. Jefferson’s intervention, however, nipped this in the bud; the proposed candidate withdrew at Jefferson’s solicitation; Monroe was substituted and elected.
JOHN S. MOSBY.
Coming momentarily down to the War-Between-the-States era, Virginia’s famous cavalry officer, Col. John S. Mosby, is doubly connected with this building. ”

“ She may want to keep them. Have her sew plain buttons on your jacket, and in future, young man, don’t be so handy with your fists.”
Also, this officer showed exceptional confidence in the community. A distressing problem for the county was to provide for the returned men who lacked the essentials for resuming work and a normal life. A committee of three prominent men, headed by Col. Thomas Jefferson Randolph, grandson of Jefferson, visited the officer and asked permission to hold a public meeting for discussion of the situation. ”