This is a hidden gem in Culpeper County on Route 3. The house was built in 1757. It is now an archeological site of 19 acres controlled by Germanna Community College Foundation. They rarely open this site to the public, but on Friday June 21, they opened it for 2 hours, and I had an opportunity to take a look.
Salubria, facing south.Close-up of a south-facing window. Notice the Flemish bond brick laying – one long side, one short side, alternating. This style created a thicker outside wall than the standard bond of today.At some point in the mid-19th century, the owners stoccoed over the brick exterior. Interestingly, they also “stamped” the stucco so it had the appearance of blocks. Over time, some of the stucco has fallen off, leaving an mix of stucco and brick appearance.Apparently the stucco process was abruptly stopped when the Civil War broke out. The east side of the house has no stucco at all. There is an obvious color difference in the brick on this wall – there was an attached kitchen here until at least the 1940s.This is an interesting landing at the south entrance. The bricks are laid out in a wagon wheel pattern, with river rock filling in the blank spaces. This historical marker indicates that Salubria was built in 1742, but it has been discovered that 1757 was the actual year. When the earthquake hit in 2011, it knocked over the western chimney, and severely damaged the roof. During the reconstruction of the roof the type of beams used in the were determined to have not been around in 1742, but 1757. Further confirmation was that some of the bricks that had tumbled had the builder’s name and the year 1757 etched into them.Salubria, facing north.Southeast room.Close-up of the dentil moulding.Woodwork above the fireplace.The northeast room is the only room with flooring original to the house. This is heart-of-pine plank flooring from 1757.Northwest room.Southeast room.Southwest room – the “family room”.Entrance hall facing north.Stairs to the second floor.The entire estate is a 19 acre archeological site. The site has been marked off (on paper!) into a grid of 50-foot squares. The archeologists are digging holes every 50 feet, and if nothing is found, the hole is filled in, and on to the next hole fifty feet away. There are no outbuildings on the site, so the professionals are hoping they can find foundations to map out the estate.Paydirt! This find is yet unidentified, but they will keep digging!They have not determined what this find represents.There are several graves on the site. The Graysons were owners of Salubria in the 19th century. One Grayson who was born here grew up to be the White House physician for President Woodrow Wilson during the 1910s.The house facing south from the family graves.
