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L Verge · (This post was last modified: 01-10-2014 06:07 PM by L Verge.)

Amen to that, Roger, great research. And keep your fingers crossed; the fight to save this historic site is still going on.

I should have also added to watch for another great article in the February issue. Our own Dr. Blaine Houmes has written on the orderly who defended Seward against Powell's attack, George Robinson. And, Jim Garrett reveals where he will be spending eternity. There will also be a great reminiscence article from a Surratt member who touched the hand that touched the hand...

Lincoln Wonk · (This post was last modified: 01-10-2014 06:33 PM by Lincoln Wonk.)

(01-10-2014 05:21 PM)RJNorton Wrote: I just read Dave Taylor's article entitled "A History of Rich Hill." Dave, you did an outstanding job!

Great info and great footnotes. Thanks, Dave

Dave Taylor · 01-10-2014, 10:57 PM

Thanks, guys and gals. Rich Hill is such a unique place. It would truly be a shame if it disappeared.

[Image: cropped-rich-hill-header-2.jpg?w=800]

L Verge · 01-11-2014, 11:47 AM

How I wish that restoration could include reproducing the long wing and the front porch that was on the house at the time of Booth's visit - and was still on the house until the 1970s. It was a very impressive structure at that time. Today, It looks like the last piece of "flesh" is waiting to be picked off by the buzzards.

Anita · 01-11-2014, 01:34 PM

I haven't received my Surratt Courier yet for but looking forward to Dave's article. I have a few questions he may have answered.

BettyO · 01-11-2014, 01:56 PM

Just got mine today -- can't wait to get into this - Congratulations, Dave!

Lincoln Wonk · (This post was last modified: 01-11-2014 04:55 PM by Lincoln Wonk.)

(01-11-2014 11:47 AM)L Verge Wrote: How I wish that restoration could include reproducing the long wing and the front porch that was on the house at the time of Booth's visit - and was still on the house until the 1970s. It was a very impressive structure at that time. Today, It looks like the last piece of "flesh" is waiting to be picked off by the buzzards.

I wish every building could be restored as well beautifully as Surratt House or Ford's Theatre or Dr. Mudd's house. Government backing or historical commission support would be best, but a private investment in a historic tavern or restaurant might pay for itself with the anticipated heritage-tourism wave coming when the baby boomers start retiring en masse.

L Verge · 01-11-2014, 06:10 PM

The current issue of Preservation Magazine (from the National Trust) has a short article on historic firehouses that are being converted into restaurants. One of them is in northwest D.C., and they have retained as much of the original interior as possible. It looks fascinating. Road trip...

Our county of Prince George's has a very strong Historic Preservation Commission made up of government officers as well as citizen advisers. We also have the Natural and Historical Resources Division of the Dept. of Parks and Recreation that governs nearly fifty sites - one of which is Surratt House. They have developed a "curatorship" program where private citizens agree to inhabit and restore historic properties while following correct restoration procedures as closely as possible. This helps greatly in saving old homes with no redeemable history for museum business.

Lincoln Wonk · 01-11-2014, 07:26 PM

What a good program.

BettyO · (This post was last modified: 01-12-2014 08:19 AM by BettyO.)

Dave -

Outstanding research and writing! Read the article last night ---

Please tell us that you are working on a book.....your research is impeccable - we're proud of you!

Articles such as Dave's are what is needed to bring awareness so that we can possibly change "history" as it were, in order to get the ball rolling and save such historic property....

I remember Rich Hill in it's better days.... Years ago, myself and three others were upstairs eating lunch in the front room when the BERT bus was stuck in the mud and the gentlemen were trying to rock it out....what memories....

Linda Anderson · 01-12-2014, 11:47 AM

I agree with everyone about Dave's article. The research is amazing and the writing is very descriptive. I especially like the first paragraph where Dave brings the reader right into the assassination story by describing the three men arriving at Rich Hill. "For the briefest period of time, the knocker was silently suspended in the air. In a fraction of a second, the handle would fall striking the metal plate beneath it... The silence of the night would be shattered and the lives of the family sleeping within the house's walls would be changed forever."

Dave Taylor · 01-12-2014, 12:07 PM

Thank you, Betty and Linda. You ladies are too kind.

I realized after reading the Courier that I embarrassingly forgot to include an actual picture of Rich Hill in the article. I haven't updated the Rich Hill Picture Gallery in a while but there are some modern photographs of it there.

Here's another taken in 1944 that shows the side of Rich Hill with the addition that served as Samuel Cox's bedroom:

[Image: rich-hill-from-the-side-1944.jpg?w=628]

[Image: rich-hill-from-the-side-1944.jpg?w=628]

And here's a closer picture of the sad state it's in today:

[Image: img_2523.jpg?w=600]

BettyO · 01-12-2014, 05:34 PM

It makes me sad to see how this glorious old historic house has fallen into disrepair.....

Thanks, Dave! This only reenforces the fact that something needs to be done - and soon!

Craig Hipkins · (This post was last modified: 01-12-2014 08:26 PM by Craig Hipkins.)

Does anyone know how much that the house is worth if it were to go on the market?

Craig

Interesting article! I really enjoyed it.

L Verge · 01-12-2014, 08:36 PM

The acreage around it is what gives it the value. I'm not sure how much is left, but I think around thirty acres. Several years ago, most of the land was sold to a developer with the understanding that he would put environmental barriers to protect the historic site. I believe I'm correct that the developer went bankrupt, and the property reverted back to the owner.