Near Orange in Orange County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Oakley

Photographed By Craig Swain, September 6, 2009

1. Oakley Marker

Inscription. Dr. Robert Thomas, a prominent Orange County physician, constructed Oakley in the Greek Revival style in 1843. His daughter Sarah (Sally) Thomas Browning and her husband, G. Judson Browning, later owned it. George W. Bagby (1828-1883), Southern Literary Messenger editor and well-known humorist, cast Judson Browning as the fictional narrator of "Jud Brownin's Account of (Anton) Rubenstein's Playing" and "Fray Devilo," stories describing a piano concert and an opera in rural dialect. This genre remained popular into the 20th century. Browning organized the Orange Rangers during the Civil War and afterward served in the Virginia House of Delegates, 1865-1867.

Erected 2007 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number JJ-1.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Science & Medicine • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1843.

Location. 38° 14.352′ N, 78° 8.973′ W. Marker is near Orange, Virginia, in Orange County. Marker is on Constitution Highway (State Highway 20), on the right when

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traveling west. Located at a pull off in front of the Oakley Mansion. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Orange VA 22960, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Wreck at the Fat Nancy (a few steps from this marker); Orange Graded School (approx. 1.6 miles away); Madison-Barbour Rural Historic District (approx. 1.6 miles away); Confederate Camp & Freedman's Farm Trail (approx. 1.6 miles away); Civil War & Gilmore Farm Trail (approx. 1.6 miles away); Montpelier Flag Stop (approx. 1.7 miles away); Montpelier Train Station (approx. 1.7 miles away); The Blacksmith Shop (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Orange.

Also see . . .
1. Madison-Barbour Rural Historic District. (PDF) National Register documentation for the historic district, of which Oakley is a part. (Submitted on September 6, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

2. George W. Bagby's Selected Works. The selection includes "Jud Brownin's Account of Rubenstein's Playing." (Submitted on September 6, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Photographed By Craig Swain, September 6, 2009

2. Oakley Marker

Entrance to Oakley image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, September 6, 2009

3. Entrance to Oakley

Oakley as Seen from the Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, September 6, 2009

4. Oakley as Seen from the Road

Photographed By Pete Payette, March 19, 2012

5. Oakley

(private property)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 3, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 6, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,898 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 6, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5. submitted on May 2, 2017, by Pete Payette of Orange, Virginia.