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WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION OF VIRGINIA
HISTORICAL INVENTORY
116
COUNTY: Stafford
CLASS: Home (site)
and Cemetery.
Photograph
SEE PICTURE COLLECTION
----"HOLLYWOOD"----
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
Julia Marie Heflin,
Cropp, Virginia. January 7, 1937.
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5T-116
1. SUBJECT:
"Hollywood" and Cemetery.
2. LOCATION:
9 miles east of Falmouth, Virginia, and 3 miles west of Route
#601.
3. DATE:
1823.
4. OWNERS:
This was a portion of the land granted to John Alexander, by
the King of England, When he came to Stafford County.
Alexander Morson owned it for a while.
Colonel Thomas Purkins bought the place in 1850.
Mr. N. S. Greenlaw, grandson of Colonel Thomas Purkins, has
charge of the property now.
5. DESCRIPTION:
A description of the Old Colonial house, that was built in 1823
and destroyed by fire in 1889, is given. The house was built
of large bricks, weighing seven pounds. They were burnt on the
place by slaves. From the southeast view of the original house
and lawn, there was a beautiful commanding view of the
Rappahannock Valley. The Valley can be seen today from the
lawn. The driveway to the original house was from the north
entrance through a lane of cedars. The cedars have been cut
down but a portion of the driveway is still there.
The present house, which was the kitchen is rectangular.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
There were 1740 acres of land in the tract when Colonel Thomas
Purkins bought it from Alexander Morson.
The Purkins' cemetery is about twenty-five yards north of the
original "Hollywood" house.
It is a very large cemetery but all of the graves are not marked.
There is no fence around it and it has grown up, in weeks and
bushes. The following are inscriptions from the stones:
Colonel Thomas Purkins, son of William and Sarah Purkins, born
April 23, 1791, died June 16, 1855.
Thomas C.F. Purkins, son of Thomas and Fannie P. Purkins,
born January 18, 1833, died March 11, 1857.
Fannie P. Purkins, daughter of William and Sarah Greenlaw,
born August 4, 1804, died May 11, 1857.
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5T-116
#2.
Mary B. Greenlaw, daughter of R. M. and A. M. Greenlaw,
born February 23, 1877, died September 2, 1881.
Ed. A., son of Roy and A. Greenlaw, born November 6, 1885,
died June 6, 1887.
Virginia B., wife of William Price Greenlaw, born September
14, 1838, died December 3, 1903.
Ethel Roy, daughter of W. R. and Ida Greenlaw, born
February 3, 1909, died May 13, 1909.
W. T. Brooks, son of Winter T. and Sarah G. Brooks, born
October 29, 1848, died November 25, 1911.
"A kind and good father"
Marion Ringgolia, wife of W. T. Brooks, daughter of Colonel
T. O. and F. P. Purkins, born May 1, 1847, died December 6, 1915
"A good Christian and loved by all who knew her".
William T. Brooks, son of W. T. and M. R. Brooks, born
January 11, 1884, died June 29, 1917.
"A happy go lucky boy".
7. ART:
Photograph
8. SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
Informant: Mr. N. S. Greenlaw, Fredericksburg, Virginia,
grandson of Colonel Thomas Purkins.
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5T-116
3686
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION OF BUILDING CALLED FOR IN
5-A. of BULLETIN 3400
Name of Building "HOLLYWOOD"
EXTERIOR
1. Building Plan Rectangular Cellar ( )
2. No. of stories ( 1 1/2 ) Attic classed as 1/2 story.
3. Material: Brick (x) Frame ( ) Stone ( ) Log ( )
4. If brick, state what bond: Flemish ( ) English ( ) Common (x) Other ( )
5. Kind of roof: Hip ( ) Gabled (x) Gambrel ( ) Lean-to ( ) Deck ( )
6. If church, describe or draw sketch of roof on reverse side.
7. Roof Material: Slate ( ) Shingle ( ) Metal (x) Tile ( )
8. Chimneys: Number (2) Brick (x) Stone ( ) North and south.
9. Weatherboarding: None. Beaded ( ) Plain ( )
10. Cornices: Plain or Elaborate None. Material
11. Windows: Number (8) Size and number of panes 32 panes each 14" x 22"
12. Shutters: Describe: None.
13. Dormers: Number, and Shape of roof None.
14. Porch: None.
15. Type of Entrance: Double, four-panel doors
16. Columns: Doric ( ) Ionic ( ) Corinthian ( ) Square ( ) None.
INTERIOR
17. No. of Rooms: (4) Large (x) Small ( ) Approximate ceiling height. 8 feet.
18. Stairway: Open String (x) Closed String ( ) Describe:
19. Cellar: Describe None.
20. Doors: Style and type of wood Originally the doors were large but
have been replaced by smaller four-panel doors.
21. Walls: Panelled, papered, or painted. Plastered.
22. Interior Cornices None.
23. Hardware: Locks and hinges Common iron.
24. Floors: Wide; uniform in width.
25. Mantels: Plain.
26. Misc: None.
27. Present condition and state if spoiled architecturally by remodelling: Poor.
A small porch has been added.
28. Does occupant seem to appreciate old architectural features? No.
Your Name Julia Marie Heflin.