Preserving the historic heritage of the original settlers of the Fort Germanna Colonies in Virginia
Please join us for a short presentation by Dr. Katharine Brown about Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mother’s Day and her Germanna and Culpeper connections at 1:00 pm on Saturday, May 9th, at historic Salubria in Stevensburg, Virginia.
The mansion will be open for walk-through tours immediately afterwards until 2:30 pm.
Admission is FREE and donations are welcome.
Take a look at these beautiful wedding photos taken at Germanna Foundation’s historic Salubria manor!
(Culpeper Star-Exponent) The Germanna Foundation’s ongoing efforts to preserve the historic mansion Salubria in Culpeper County was recognized Saturday morning with the dedication of a bronze plaque atop a brick historic marker by the House of Burgesses Chapter of the Colonial Dames XVII Century.
“(The) House of Burgesses Chapter honors the Germanna Foundation for the preservation of Salubria,” the bronze marker located near the property’s entrance states. “Built by the Rev. John Thompson of St. Mark’s Parish for his first wife, Butler Brayne Spotswood. Subsequent owners were (the) Barbour, Hansbrough and Grayson families.”
The house was build around 1757, after Thompson, the fourth rector of Little Fork Episcopal Church, married Spotswood, the widow of former Virginia Lt. Gov. Alexander Spotswood.
The property was donated to the Germanna Foundation in 2001 by owner Laura Grayson for its care and preservation.
Germanna Foundation President Marc Wheat, who was the featured speaker during Saturday’s dedication ceremony at Salubria, thanked the Colonial Dames for “the distinct honor you ladies have given the Germanna Foundation.”
In keeping with those goals, the organization welcomed members of the foundation and their guests to the Georgian mansion’s grounds Saturday morning for the marker dedication.
During his remarks, Wheat noted that the house has faced serious challenges over the past few years.
Several years ago the house suffered “a glancing blow” by a large tree on the grounds which was toppled by a mini-tornado, and then sustained serious damage during the earthquake in August of 2011, which Wheat said left both brick chimneys on the roof of the house severely damaged.
“There were 2,000 pounds of heavy brick ready to come crashing down through Salubria,” Wheat said.
The earthquake damage has since been repaired with the help of a half-million dollars in donations from foundation members and other supporters, Wheat said.
“The building is probably in the best condition it’s been in since the French and Indian War,” he said.
Wheat said on one of his many visits to Salubria years ago, his young son asked him why Salubria is being preserved.
“When you’re able to return to a place, it speaks to you in a way a book never could,” Wheat said.
Emily Tongue Richardson, the Colonial Dames’ Virginia state vice president, commended the local chapter on its work in recognizing historic Salubria and the work the Germanna Foundation has done preserving it.
“This is a great legacy you are leaving for future generation.”
Saturday, September 27, 2014 5:59 pm
By Vincent Vala
vvala@starexponent.com
(540) 825-0771 ext. 132
(Click on images to enlarge)
The House of Burgesses Chapter of the Colonial Dames XVII Century will be dedicating a brick historic marker and bronze plaque honoring the Germanna Foundation’s stewardship of Salubria, the mid-18th century Georgian brick mansion, in Stevensburg, Virginia this Saturday, September 27th at 11:00 am in a ceremony at Salubria.
Ms. Julie Langan, Director of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and State Historic Preservation Officer, is expected to attend and tour Salubria.
Salubria sustained significant damage during the 2011 earthquake, and those repairs are now completed through the generous support of the Germanna Foundation’s efforts by Russell and Joan Hitt, Dr. Michael and Ginger Frost, the Hitt Foundation, HITT Contracting, the Gwathmey Memorial Trust, and the William T. Kemper Foundation, and many other Germanna members and supporters.
Thanks to the generosity of designated gifts by Germanna Foundation members, we can now resume our preservation and restoration work on the property.
As a special thank you to our major sponsors of this critical work on Salubria, the Germanna Foundation will be presenting each of them with a copy of the book, The Chesapeake House: Architectural Investigation by Colonial Williamsburg
Germanna Foundation members and supporters who attend this weekend’s historic marker dedication ceremony at Salubria will be asked to sign these books as a personal thank you to our generous supporters.
You are invited to attend this ceremony on Saturday, September 27, at 11:00 am at Salubria, located at 19173 Salubria Lane (off Route 3/Germanna Highway) in Stevensburg, VA. See map below.
(Please note that the Colonial Dames will be holding a chapter meeting and a private picnic on the grounds following the ceremony.)
We hope you can join us!
Saturday, October 19, 2013
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Come to the first Fall Festival at the Germanna Foundation’s circa 1757 Salubria mansion in Stevensburg, Virginia on Saturday, October 19, 2013 from 1-4 pm.
For all ages, there will be a costume contest, desserts, crafts, games and a scavenger hunt.
Children can paint small pumpkins to take home.
$10 for adults, $5 for children, $1 discount for wearing a costume.
Wear sturdy shoes for the woodsy trails on the hunt.
Come have some fall fun!
Call the Germanna Foundation at 540-423-1700 to pre-register or use the contact form.
