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WORKS PROGRESS ADMINSTRATION OF VIRGINIA
HISTORICAL INVENTORY
106
COUNTY: Spotsylvania
CLASS: Home
Photograph
SEE PICTURE COLLECTION
"ST. JULIEN"
This write-up is a part of the Virginia W.P.A.
Historical Inventory Project sponsored by the
Virginia Conservation Commission under the
direction of its Division of History. Credit to both
the Commission and W.P.A. is requested for
publication, in whole or in part. Unless otherwise
stated, this information has not been checked for
accuracy by the sponsor.
Research made by
Sue K. Gordon,
Fredericksburg, Virginia November 30, 1936.
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5P-106
1. SUBJECT:
"St. Julien".
2. LOCATION:
Six miles south from Fredericksburg, on the Bowling
Green Road or Old Stage Road, Route #2, Spotsylvania
County. Follow this road for five miles, turn to your
right, west from Fredericksburg, where sign indicates
"St. Julien", and go over private dirt road for one
mile.
3. DATE:
About 1805.
4. OWNERS:
William Dangerfield's Estate, 1796
Francis T. Brooke 1796--1851
Francis T. Brooke Estate from 1851--1879
Aubin L. Boulware, 1879--1897
Mrs. Brockenborough Lamb, (daughter of Aubin Boulware)
Mr. Preston B. Boulware, (son of Aubin L. Boulware)
1897--to present time.
Deed: August 30, 1796, Samuel Moseley and H. Bassett
of Borough of Norfolk, his wife to Francis T. Brooke
eight hundred and twenty five pounds for two hundred
and twenty acres in Spotsylvania County being one sev-
enth part of the tract called "Belvedeira," the Estate
of William Dangerfield, deceased and allotted his
daughter the said Bassett wife of the said Moseley by
a decree of the High Court of Chancery etc.
Witnesses: Dangerfield Starke, W. J. Starke, P. Kirby,
February 7, 1797. Deed Book "O", pages 488-489, 1797.
Spotsylvania County Records.
5. DESCRIPTION:
In General Dabney Maury's book he speaks of "St. Julien"
as follows:
"It was on the main stage road to Richmond, embowered
in fine shade trees, and surrounded by acres of choice
fruits and flowers. The vegetable garden was closely
guarded by a cedar hedge, which a cat could not pene-
trate, while way to the left stretched a meadow bor-
dered by a clear running brook, a tributary of the
Massaponox, along which my brother and I, escorted by
old John, the carriage driver, used to hunt with old
Oreon, a black and white pointer to help us."
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5P-106
2
I will try, in my poor way, to describe the old home as
it looks now.
In Summer, the grass is pretty and green, with many old
trees in the yard, plenty to make restful shade without
giving the appearance of being overgrown. The original
circular driveway to the house, right at the door a
graceful old magnolia tree with large blossoms in the
Spring, which perfume the yard and house, and shades the
attractive little balcony which is right over the porch.
In Winter this old tree is equally as pretty, with its
wonderful, large shining leaves and graceful limbs.
You can see that evidently there were brick walks around
the old house and leading to the kitchen, a circular
driveway, and a hedge of cedars and lilacs. Out in the
yard stands a square frame building, which was Judge
Brooke's office, and later occupied by Dr. Frank Brooke,
as his office. Dr. Brooke was a surgeon in the Confederate
Army. In later years, this building was used as a school
house. An old fashion whitewashed plank fence encloses yard.
The small two story portico of stone makes a very pictur-
esque entrance to the old mansion. When you walk up the
four steps or stone, entrance to the portico, at the
front, you see this massive old mahogany door, which is
fastened with a cross bar in addition to the large orig-
inal lock with a brass key. On each side of the door
there are old fashioned diamond panes, with a fan light
over the door.
"St. Julien" is of Georgian architecture, brick construc-
tion. You enter a small hall with large airy high-ceiling
rooms on each side. The windows are tall and wide, hand
carved panelling around each recess window and over the
window. The baseboard is unusual in being hand carved at
both top and bottom. One unique feature about the ornamen-
tation of this old dwelling is that in each room the de-
signs of the hand carving on the enamelled panelling and
baseboards are different. A very graceful open, circular
mahogany stairway adds charm to the house.
At the top of the steps, a little to the right, are four
steps with a rather unique doorway entering the attic,
the doorway enclosed in wainscoting. Over the front porch
on the second floor is a heavy massive mahogany door, fan
lights over it and lights on the sides. This door has on
it the original lock, which is a very unusual one, being
made entirely of wood, wooden pegs are used instead of
nails and an old wooden bar. Leading from this door is the
small balcony from which you can see the lovely old
magnolia tree mentioned above.
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5P-106
3
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Judge Francis T. Brooke married first General Alexander
Spotswood's daughter Mary, in 1791. He never lived at
"St. Julien" during her life time. She died on January
5, 1803. The dates seem incorrect, but they are not as
they were taken from Judge Brooke's "Narrative to His
Family", "Some Prominent Virginia Families" Volume II
Chapter XI. Quote: "I was advised to go to the Virginia
Springs, which I did, and I began to look out for anoth-
er wife to supply the place to the children of their Mother. I
married Mary Champe Carter the fourteenth of
February following", meaning the year 1803.
Judge Brooke and his second wife, (Mary Champe Carter)
resided at St. Julien and are buried in the Brooke Grave-
yard on the hill.
The Brookes were hospitable, genial, cultured Virginia
people and many distinguished people visited them and
gathered around their table. Henry Clay was a frequent
visitor.
Mr. Aubin L. Boulware, former owner of "St. Julien",
now owned by his children, was born in King and Queen
County, December 27, 1843, son of Andrew Moore Boulware
and Martha Ellen Todd, his wife.
Mr. Boulware studied at different private schools until
his education was interrupted by the outbreak of the War
Between the States. In 1862 he enlisted as a private in
the Ninth Regimant, Virginia Cavalry, Lee's Ranger,
serving with bravery until the close of the war, and
promoted to a lieutenant, but never commissioned.
At the close of the war he resumed his studies at Mr.
Schooler's Edge Hill Academy, and the following year he
went to the University of Virginia, from which he was
graduated three years later in the close of 1869, with
the degree of Master of Arts. He taught school at the
Kenmore High School, and when Judge R. L. Coleman, the
Principal, died the following Spring, Mr. Boulware opened
the University High School of which he was the Proprietor.
After one or two years, he commenced reading law in the
offices of Judge Barton and St. George R. Fitzhugh, in
Fredericksburg. He was admitted to the bar and finally
became a member of the firm of Johnston and Williams,
afterwards Johnston, Williams, and Boulware in Richmond.
When the Southern Railway Company was organized, Mr.
Boulware became a director, and served in this office un-
til his death. He acted as receiver in the United States
Courts in the White Sulphur Spring's case, the Arlington
Life Insurance Company's case, and the Southern Tele-
graph Company's case.
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5P-106
4
Mr. Boulware became President of the First National Bank
of Richmond in 1891 and later in the same year, President
of the Union Bank of Richmond. He died June 12, 1897, and
is buried in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.
Mr. Boulware married on November 4, 1878, Janie Grace
Preston, daughter of the late Honorable William Ballard
Preston of Montgomery County, Virginia, and they had three
children, two of whom now own "St. Julien".
It has been said that Dr. Julian, (John Julian) who served
as a surgeon in the Revolution and received bounty land,
at one time owned St. Julian, and gave the place its name.
I have been unable to find records to verify this, but I
have the following: Quote: "Dr. John Julian who served as
a surgeon in the Revolution and received bounty land, was
a native of Spotsylvania" Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents
Virginia Historical Magazine, Volume V. 1898.
Tradition also says that this estate was named for an
Italian town, the name being selected due to the fact
that St. Julian adjoins Marengo, which is also named for
a town in Italy.
Down at this tranquil old home you can well imagine how
these fine cultured old people lived and added so much
to the Christian, Civic, and Intellectual happiness of
this country. This spirit seems to still exist, even in
these turbulent times, with true old Virginia hospitality
prevailing.
7. ART:
Photograph
8. SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
Informants: Mrs. Brockenborough Lamb, 1525 Sunset Lane,
Richmond, Virginia. Mr. Preston Boulware, part owner of
the place, Has taken a great interest in improving and
beautifying St. Julien, and lives there.
Miss Nanny Barney, Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Spotsylvania County Records.
Recollections of A Virginian, By Dabney H. Maury, Page. 10.
Charles Scribners Sons, New York, 1894.
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5P-106
3686
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION OF BUILDING CALLED FOR IN
5-A. of BULLETIN 3400
Name of Building ST. JULIAN
EXTERIOR
1. Building Plan ________ Cellar ( )
2. No. of stories ( 2 ) Attic classed as 1/2 story.
3. Material: Brick (x) Frame ( ) Stone ( ) Log ( )
4. If brick, state what bond: Flemish (x) English ( ) Common ( ) Other ( )
5. Kind of roof: Hip (x) Gabled ( ) Gambrel ( ) Lean-to ( ) Deck ( )
6. If church, describe or draw sketch of roof on reverse side.
7. Roof Material: Slate ( ) Shingle ( ) Metal (x )[Formerly shingle.] Tile ( )
8. Chimneys: Number (3) Brick (x) Stone ( ) Location [Rise from cornice ] End
9. Weatherboarding: Early Georgian. Beaded ( ) Plain ( )
10. Cornices: Plain or Elaborate Material Wood
11. Windows: Number ( ) Size and number of panes
Wood-frame-Some old mountings and glazing in old section.
12. Shutters: Describe:
13. Dormers: Number, and Shape of roof None
14. Porch:
15. Type of Entrance:
16. Columns: Doric ( ) Ionic ( ) Corinthian ( ) Square ( )
None
INTERIOR
17. No. of Rooms: (6) Large ( ) Small ( ) Approimate ceiling height
18. Stairway: Open String ( ) Closed String ( ) Describe: Rail of trim walnut.
19. Cellar: Describe English basement, all plastered.
20. Doors: Style and type of wood Profile paneling, yellow pine,
large stiles and rails.
21. Walls: Panelled, papered, or painted. Paneled in east wall in dining
room.
22. Interior Cornices
23. Hardware: Locks and hinges Wrought iron.
24. Floors: Yellow pine.
25. Mantels: Yellow pine, Wall of Troy and Federal Trim.
26. Misc: Federal Dado in two rooms.
27. Present condition and state if spoiled architecturally by remodelling:
Fine
28. Does occupant seem to appreciate old architectural features?
Your Name Sue K. Gordon.