November 10th, 2009
I’m going to get back to the history of Culpepper Landing but I digress to bring you up to date on what’s happening in the neighborhood.
This has been a time to remember for us the Culpepper Team…. we had Homearama 2009 at the site and the good news is of the 12 showcase homes we currently have 8 under contract (some families moved in right after the show)! We had 61,000 visitors come visit our neighborhood and view our homes. Our on site traffic has been terrific with folks coming back for a second look and since the show we’ve contracted to build a few more homes. The first row homes now have homeowner’s moving in and our neighborhood is really taking shape. Soon the Mercantile District will start taking shape we already have folks interested in opening businesses there. I can’t wait to see how it turns out!
Please visit the web site if you would like to see virtual tours of the homes in homearama, in case you couldn’t make it to the show. www.culpepperlanding.com
The Thanksgiving House, (Camellia floor plan) built by Definitive Homes won the People’s Choice Award. This was a one story floor plan with a room over the garage. A candle wall in the family room, was the first I had ever seen. A deep inviting porch, found visitors sitting on the porch enjoying a moment of rest. Many times I’d come out to hear someone say, ” Now, we just need a cool drink and I could sit here all day.” The double sided fireplace which warmed both family room and screened porch side porch was another crowd pleaser. This is an Earth Craft certified home. In fact all homes Definitive Homes build in Culpepper Landing will be EarthCraft Certified.
EarthCraft Virginia provides a certification process for single family and multifamilyprojects. It serves as a blueprint for healthy, comfortable homes that reduces utility bills and protects the environment. EarthCraft House is your best assurance for a quality home. (Taken from the EarthCraft web site).
If you have questions about “green building” or EarthCraft certified homes we will do our best to answer them. Feel free to post to blog or email me directly jonire1@gmail.com.
Till the next time …. Peace
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July 20th, 2009
It’s exciting to know a little history of the “Culpepper Farm”. In September 1881, Henry Holland and A.H. Linsey were highest bidders at a public auction on the steps of the court house in Portsmouth, Virginia. The land was at that time known as the Carr Farm. The bid was $5700.00 and the land was actually sold on September 12, 1879. Linsey later sold his half to Holland on 21 March 1881 before it was actually recorded in the Norfolk County record books.
As I drove along the farm road here in the community, I wondered about the Carr’s and why their land was auctioned… could it be lost due to economic struggles or maybe an estate auction. The records did not reveal that fact. Before the deed of sale was actually recorded Mr. Linsey sold his half to Holland on March 21, 1881. During those days, it seems folks didn’t rush to record the land transfers.
In January, 1899 Henry Holland and his wife Johanna sold 493 1/3 acres to J.M. Johnson for $5,000.00. In 1890 Mr. Johnson and his wife Ella sold for $625.00 a 100 ft wide strip of land to Lake Drummond Canal and Water Company. In total this was about 8 1/3 acres. This is the area I refer to as the “farm road”. Taking a drive one day down they road which is treed on both sides it looked like a Cardinal sanctuary. So many of the bright red birds were fluttering through the trees, I wished I’d had my camera at the ready. What a beautiful sight. The great news is this road will eventually be a trail for the residents of this lovely neighborhood to walk. Have your camera’s ready!
The land finally was bought in July 1926, by brothers, William Thomas Culpepper and Leroy Norman Culpepper. They bought it from Harry a Brinkley as trustee for American National Bank. That again leaves us open to ponder why Mr. & Mrs. Johnson sold the property, a trustee sale makes me think it may have been lost to the bank. Now in the hands of the Culpepper’s they farmed the land. I will continue this story in the next post.
In the mean time, I want to go back to the drive along the farm road. The tree line bank of the inter coastal waterway is pleasant and a chance to see as I mentioned not only the Virginia State bird, cardinals but many other birds as well. Follow this link for more information about bird watching along the Great Dismal Swamp. http://www.fws.gov/northeast/greatdismalswamp/
In the fall work to cut in the trails and jogging paths in the 144 acres designated in the community as the Conservation Area will begin. Our residents will be able to hike or jog the trails and camp sites will be available for the residents to go camping with the kids! Forget the marsh mallows no problem… run home and retrieve them.
That’s all for now.. Check back more to come
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June 15th, 2009
Welcome to Culpepper Landing’s Blog. That offers me the chance to introduce you to this “Traditional Neighborhood Design” neighborhood but more importantly to the history of this lovely neighborhood and the surrounding area. We are bordered by the intra coastal water way and the Dismal Swamp, so there are lots of history and interesting stories.
My first adventure into the Dismal Swamp was many years ago as a lass of 2 or 3. My parents stopped on their way to my Mom’s hometown for a bit of a picnic. There I was -brave little adventuress in my most beautiful dress with a sash and full skirt sitting on the bank of the canal. I can remember thinking okay, here I am with my legs dangling towards the water… now how do I gently get up and over to the picnic table where my Mom was laying out the good stuff? Suffice it to say I must have taken a slide forward instead of backwards and so, with no ceremony but plenty of tears,I fell into the drink. My next memory is of my Dad reaching down and probably by the same tied-in-a-bow sash plunking me out of the water.
A few decades later, I find myself the Co-Mayor (self appointed) of Culpepper Landing, along with Doreen Giuliano, my partner in selling these homes. We have the privilege of watching this community grow. Developed on the Culpepper family farm, bordered by the Dismal Swamp and intra coastal waterway, this development has a vision of a return to a lifestyle of yester year. While the Village of Deep Creek is a memory, we hope here on the Culpepper farm to recreate that community where neighbors know one another, watch each others children grow up and have the kids know the family next door and down the street! In the suburbs it’s a sad fact that type of community doesn’t always exist.
I’ll share the saga of Culpepper Landing as it grows and share a few stories of the history of this area. From the Culpeppers who owned the land and now are the developers, to the street people, (those whose names are used to designate the streets in Culpepper Landing), to the farmers who farmed the area. From Robert Frost to Harriet Beecher Stowe and Moses Grandy, I’ll tell the story of each and more. I want you to know the Village of Deep Creek and how we are turning back time to that way of neighborly living.
We are a traditional neighborhood development that emphasizes a to return to a style of development which encourages neighbors to get to know one another. Front porches and decks look out over the streetscape so as you rock away the cares of the day on your front porch, you can wave and commiserate with the neighbors taking their evening stroll, whether pushing a baby stroller or walking the family dog.
Check back, I’m gabby and have lots to share!
Tags: Culpepper Landing, Deep Creek Village, Dismal Swamp, Doreen Giuliano, Joan Revell
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