Pine Knot (cabin)

Pine Knot
Location VA 712, Glendower, near Charlottesville, Virginia
Coordinates 37°51′0″N 78°31′25″W / 37.85000°N 78.52361°W / 37.85000; -78.52361Coordinates: 37°51′0″N 78°31′25″W / 37.85000°N 78.52361°W / 37.85000; -78.52361
Area 90 acres (36 ha)
Built 1905
NRHP Reference # 88003211[1]
VLR # 002-0617
Significant dates
Added to NRHP February 01, 1989
Designated VLR April 19, 1988[2]

Pine Knot is a historic cabin located 14 miles south of Charlottesville, Virginia in Albemarle County, Virginia. The cabin was owned and occupied by former President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt and his wife Edith Kermit Roosevelt, and used by Roosevelt and the first lady while he was president, although no official business took place there.[3] The "rustic worker's cabin" along with fifteen acres was bought by Mrs. Roosevelt for $280 with the purchase being finalized June 15, 1905. In 1911, Mrs. Roosevelt would include an additional seventy-five acres to the initial purchase. The cabin is owned by the Theodore Roosevelt Association and is open for visits by appointment.

Background

The idea of purchasing the cabin was to be an escape for both the First Lady and the President. President Roosevelt was known throughout his presidency to travel frequently, many times to experience the natural wonders of certain areas such as in the states of Oklahoma and Colorado. While traveling Mrs. Roosevelt decided to purchase the property after visiting family friends Joe and Will Wilmer on May 6, 1905. Realizing her husband's love for the Blue Ridge Mountains, Mrs. Roosevelt decided to purchase the cabin to help her and her husband "rest and repair" from the strain of political life in Washington D.C. The cabin was surrounded by the wilderness, which appealed to Mrs. Roosevelt. A description characterized it thusly: "tucked away among red and white oak, red cedars, dogwoods, red maples and black cherry trees, was a rustic worker's cabin.[4]"

The cabin was built in 1905, and is a simple two-story, single-pile frame dwelling. It features a deep, full two-story front porch which extends across the front of the facade. It has an unfinished interior and without modern conveniences of any kind.[5]

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Staff (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  3. Patrick Robbins (July 2, 2010). "Pine Knot: Theodore Roosevelt’s Rustic Virginia Retreat". Rural Virginian. Media General. Retrieved 20 Dec 2010.
  4. Brinkley, Douglas 'The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America' 2009, pg.615-616
  5. John S. Salmon and Julie L. Vosmik (December 1987). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Pine Knot" (PDF). Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Historic Resources. and Accompanying photo

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, November 29, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.