North Newport News , Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
A Large Brick Kitchen
Sidebar: The plantation kitchen was second only to the dwelling house in importance. The cook and other slaves labored long hours preparing the plantation’s three main meals under the mistress’ supervision. Open-hearth cooking was an art with cranes for moving iron pots in and out of the flames. Holiday meals or special dinners would have taken weeks of preparations.
An 1870 description of this property listed “a large brick kitchen” as one of Richard Lee’s outbuildings. This solid structure contained a brick chimney and contrasted with the simple frame or hewn log plantation kitchens of colonial Virginia. Earlier models had archaic smoke bays or crude wooden chimneys. The Lee’s kitchen consisted of a main floor, root cellar and loft. Richard Lee owned a 65 year-old female slave who cooked for the family and more than likely lived in this building.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.
Location. 37° 11.974′ N, 76° 34.547′ W. Marker is in Newport News, Virginia. It is in North Newport News. Marker can be reached from Yorktown Road (Virginia Route 238), on the left when traveling north. Marker is located on the grounds of Lee Hall Mansion. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Newport News VA 23603, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Homestead by the Main Road (a few steps from this marker); Largest and Most Valuable Estate in the County (within shouting distance of this marker); An Earthwork In Front (within shouting distance of this marker); Master and Slaves (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lee Hall (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named Lee Hall (about 800 feet away); Lee Hall Village (approx. 0.4 miles away); C&O "Peninsula Extension" (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newport News.
More about this marker. The right side of the marker features a photograph of “The kitchen at Lee Hall Mansion, c. 1963.” Photo courtesy of Lee Hall Mansion Archives.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Markers located at Lee Hall.
Also see . . . Lee Hall Mansion. (Submitted on March 1, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 1, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,198 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 1, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.