Know Your History: The Birdwood Mansion & Plantation

Apr 2

Karnage Construction has recently gotten the privilege of restoring the windows within this historic mansion in Charlottesville, Virginia. When we approach our historic restoration jobs, we like to do a little digging to learn the story behind where we’re working. So here’s some info on the history of Birdwood and its architecture…

The History

The Birdwood Mansion sits on land stolen from the Monacan people. The original 3,000-acre property was given away as part of Virginia’s first land grant in 1734. In 1759, Terrell’s Ordinary became the first business to take up residence on the premises. It operated for several years as an inn for travelers in the area. During the early 1800s, the Trist family moved to Albemarle County, purchased the land, and gave it the signature name Birdwood after an English county vicar.

Between 1819 and 1830, the Birdwood Plantation passed to William Garth. In 1832, construction began on the Birdwood Mansion. Garth intentionally built what was described as “the finest mansion in Charlottesville” across from the main road. This was a public display of his accumulated wealth and luxury. Passersby would see the mansion from the road as they traveled and marvel at its splendor.

In Garth’s time as owner, the Birdwood Plantation profited greatly off of the enslaved people working the farmlands with the primary crops being wheat, corn, and tobacco. Birdwood also had an onsite sawmill where timber was cut, stored, and sold. By his death in 1860, the enslaved population had expanded from 16 people to 76 people. It's unknown where on the premises the enslaved workers lived since the majority of land surrounding Birdwood has now been developed as a golf course.

The Birdwood Mansion and Plantation had its own experiences with the Civil War. In 1865, we learn from an account by Garth’s granddaughter Ada that Union soldiers who arrived in Charlottesville made their way to Birdwood. After claiming the area for themselves, they looted Birdwood’s stores, the mansion, freed some of the enslaved people, and burned parts of the plantation. Once General Custer had secured a surrender from Confederate troops, he apologized and promised protections for Birdwood and the Garth family.

As a member of the planter class, Garth would have used his home to demonstrate his wealth, power, and privilege. Based on the Will and Account of Sales of William Garth, we can see that the Garth family spent much of their time entertaining guests, dining on lavish food, and drinking champagne. These social gatherings were a major part of Southern Plantation culture and often a way to further build power and act out their status.

The Architecture

The Birdwood Mansion that Garth began constructing in 1832 was inspired by Thomas Jefferson’s own design style, mirroring some of the structures crafted by Jefferson’s builders in the Charlottesville area. This two-story brick home features four Doric columns, elliptical door transoms, latticed sidelights, and intricate interior woodwork.

Not all of the inner workings of this mansion date back to its original construction, some of the additions were added after Hollis Rinehart purchased the property in 1909. Rinehart was responsible for reviving the Birdwood mansion in the Colonial Revival style. As part of the restoration, Rinehart enclosed the south porch and added two rooms to host large gatherings.

In 1928 when Henry L. Fonda purchased Birdwood, he commissioned the creation of lush gardens and gorgeous entrance gates that mimicked Italian Renaissance and English style. He was the first owner of Birdwood to raise show horses on the property. This became a tradition for future owners of this historic mansion.

The UVA Foundation first acquired the Birdwood Mansion and Boar’s Head Resort in 1967 and again for a final time in 1989. Today, this historic structure is preserved, restored, and maintained by the Foundation. That’s where Karnage comes in! We enter the story of the Birdwood Mansion in the present day where we are restoring nearly 100 historic windows inside.