05HP0301-July27.pdfJuly 27, 2005 BS
STAFF' S
REQUEST ANALYSIS
AND
RECOMMENDATION
05HP0301
Crystal Monroe
Point of Rocks House Structure and Property
Bermuda Magisterial District
Approximately 1,300 feet off the south line of Enon Church Road,
measured from a point 1,000 feet east of Cobbs Point Drive
REQUEST: Historic Landmark Designation.
PROPOSED LAND USE:
Single Family Residential (personal residence).
RECOMMENDATION
Recommend approval of landmark designation for the Point of Rocks House for the following
reasons:
The presence of one (1) or more distinguished buildings of high architectural
quality and historic interest; and
The presence of special historical or archeological interest relating to local, state
or national history; and
This designation will cause no significant adverse effect on the future
development of the County.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The Point of Rocks House is said to have been constructed in the 1830s on a perfectly
symmetrical central-passage, double-pile plan with a shallow hipped roof and interior chimneys,
Providing a FIRST CHOICE community through excellence in public service
said to be unique in Chesterfield. The building has been altered very little and retains its original
front porch and Greek Revival detailing, including door and window facings and plain mantels.
The property itself has had a colorful history. Abraham Wood patented 700 acres of land at this
site prior to 1642, passing the property down to his son-in-law, Thomas Chamberlayne, and his
heirs the Stratton and Batte families. In 1813, Jane H. Stratton and Dr. Alexander Glas Strachan
became married and moved to Point of Rocks. Their son, John Alexander Strachan, built the
present dwelling. His daughter, Ada Rebecca, married Oliver Wade Cox, and their descendants
still own the property to this day.
In 1864, General Benjamin F. Butler occupied Point of Rocks after the Strachan family, fleeing
to safety, abandoned it. General Butler built a field hospital on the property north of the house,
with the surgeons and attendants utilizing the dwelling as their quarters. Due to its elevation,
General Butler erected his famous observation tower between the house and the Appomattox
River. He later constructed a pontoon bridge across the river at Point of Rocks to allow his army
to escape the "bottleneck" of the Bermuda Peninsula. The memoirs of Private B. W. Jones,
published in 1902, recounted an episode in 1862 where a small band of Confederate Artillery
countered a Union attempt to force their gunboats up the Appomattox River in order to shell
Petersburg. The Confederates at Point of Rocks repulsed the attack, with the loss of a Union
gunboat that had to be abandoned and destroyed.
This property was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of
Historic Places in 2005.
Location:
GENERAL INFORMATION
Approximately 1,300 feet off the south line of Enon Church Road, measured from a point
1,000 feet east of Cobbs Point Drive. Tax ID 820-641-8483 (Sheet 34).
Existing Zoning:
A
Size:
10.0 acres
Existing Land Use:
Single Family Residential
05HP0301-JULY27-BOS
Adjacent Zonin~ and Land Use:
North
South
East
West
- A; Single family residential and Vacant
- A; Single family residential and Vacant
- A; Single family residential and Vacant
- A; Water (Appomattox River)
Comprehensive Plan:
LAND USE
Lies within the boundaries of the Consolidated Eastern Area Plan (2002) which suggests
the property is appropriate for residential use of 1.5 dwellings per acre or less.
Area Development Trends:
Area properties are zoned agriculturally and contain single family residential uses on
large acreage parcels. It is anticipated that single family residential zoning and land use
patterns will continue in the area as suggested by the Plan.
CONCLUSIONS
This area of the County has a rich and colorful history, as evidenced by this property's historical
background. This building and the surrounding property may yield significant historical artifacts
and information dating to Native American, Colonial and Ante-Bellum periods.
Given these considerations, approval of this request is recommended.
CASE HISTORY
Joint Preservation Committee and Planning Commission Meeting (6/21/05):
There was no opposition present.
On motion of Mr. Daniels, seconded by Mr. Emerson, the Preservation Committee
resolved to recommend approval of historic landmark designation for Case 05HP0301,
Point of Rocks House structure and property.
AYES: Unanimous
On motion of Mr. Wilson, seconded by Mr. Bass, the Planning Commission resolved to
recommend approval of historic landmark designation for Case 05HP0301, Point of
Rocks House structure and property.
3 05HP0301-JULY27-BOS
AYES: Unanimous
The Board of Supervisors, on Wednesday, July 27, 2005, beginning at 7:00 p.m. will take under
consideration this request.
05HP0301-JULY27-BOS