Charlottesville in Albemarle County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

What Happened?

Photographed by William Pope, October 13, 2024

1. What happened? Marker

Inscription. The house was destroyed by fire after Monroe sold Highland in 1826, advertising a "commodious dwelling house" on the property. While the exact date is unknown, one tantalizing clue comes in a letter from later owner Edward Goodwyn to a neighbor on January 4, 1830. Goodwyn, who had purchased 907 acres from Monroe in 1826, wrote expressing gratitude for "kind, & very friendly attentions, to me, under the heavy loss...sustained, by fire..."

Adding to the puzzle, the tax value for the property decreased, but not until 1834, several years after Goodwyn's letter. It is not certain whether Goodwyn's letter describes the same fire that destroyed the main house, or whether the fire occurred a few years later.

(captions)
Edward Goodwyn to David Higginbotham, January 4, 1830, Virginia Historical Society
2015 excavation with exposed burned timbers Rivanna Archaeological Services

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical date for this entry is January 4, 1830.

Location. 37° 58.961′ N, 78° 27.357′ W. Marker is in Charlottesville, Virginia, in Albemarle County. It can be reached

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from Ashlawn-Highland Drive 0.4 miles west of James Monroe Parkway, on the right when traveling north. This marker is on the property of James Monroe's Highland Historic site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1941 Ashlawn-Highland Dr, Charlottesville VA 22902, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont

and in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Whose House Is This? (a few steps from this marker); Archaeology (a few steps from this marker); Ash Lawn - Highland (a few steps from this marker); Agriculture (a few steps from this marker); Iron Casting of a Mileage Marker (within shouting distance of this marker); Reconstructed Quarters

Photographed by William Pope, October 13, 2024

2. What happened? Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); Window To A New America (within shouting distance of this marker); Ash Lawn – Highland (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charlottesville.

Also see . . . James Monroe's Highland. (Submitted on November 30, 2024, by William Pope of Marietta, Pennsylvania.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 30, 2024, by William Pope of Marietta, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 203 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 30, 2024, by William Pope of Marietta, Pennsylvania. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.