Herta Jones' home and Columbus and Winchester VA

We're going to play that 6 degrees game, where everything is related to everything.

And Herta Jones' home on 215 N Washington Street, Winchester VA qualifies.

The Tower of "Angerona" may be seen in the background on the left. More on that later.

Herta Jones, the last owner of this house, passed away on June 30, 2022.

She was planning to have hip surgery until, sadly, they found something worse.

Her house was open to the public this Friday 19 Aug 2022.

They come into the house to buy up all the furniture and leftovers of her life.

Herta used to walk by our house and eat our blackberries. She told me she would steal them if I don't mind. She provided me her sticks to hold up my tomato plants last year. She would make various cutting observations on how I could do things better. Apparently she was famous for those. It was memorable to have those observations directed at you. She visited my wife, Fay, after her hip surgery years ago. I still want to hear those remarks on my messy, experimental garden on her walkby. I remember her talking to the woman who owns the Warsaw Gallery on the Loudoun Street walking mall. Those two -- both have a big story to their lives. I miss Herta walking by. I want her to walk by my messy garden one more time and steal my blackberries.

The Year 1827:

The late local historian, Quarles, thinks the house was built around 1827.

This was the same year the first English translation of the diary of Columbus was published.

On 16 July 1827, George Pelter conveyed Lot Number 80, the location of this house, to George Folk (Frederick Co Deed Book 53, page 177).

One month before, on 29 June 1827, Samuel Kettell handed to a publisher his translation of the Columbus' diary of the first voyage. The following shows on one of the first opening pages of that book:

DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, TO WIT: 
District Clerk's Office. 
Be it Remembered, that on the twenty-ninth day of June, A.D. 1827, in the fifty-first year of the Independence of the United States of America, Samuel Kettell, of the said District, has deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as Proprietor, in the words following to wit : 

" Personal Narrative of the First Voyage of Columbus to America. From a Manuscript recently discovered in Spain. Translated from the Spanish."

Source:
Personal narrative of the first voyage of Columbus to America : from a manuscript recently discovered in Spain
by Columbus, Christopher; Casas, Bartolomé de las, 1474-1566; Kettell, Samuel, 1800-1855; John Boyd Thacher Collection (Library of Congress) DLC; Jay I. Kislak Collection (Library of Congress) DLC  Publication date 1827

Quarles, a local historian since long passed away, writes, "Godfrey Miller says in his notes on Winchester that this house was built by George Fulk (Folk) whose wife was Harriet McKewan (Miller transcript). If this is true, it was built shortly after 1827. "

But earlier, Quarles mentions, that on 16 July 1827, George Pelter conveyed Lot Number 80 to George Folk (Frederick Co Deed Book 53, page 177).

Could the house have been built sometime between July and Dec 1827?

See Quarles sources.

Why this Columbus connection?

We bring up the Columbus connection only because this house and others in 1827 were built when the nation was only 51 years old and that same year of 1827 was when the Columbus diary was published in English.

The Nation was still working on a Unifying Identity.

Instead of that

symbol of

Britannia,

why not

Columbus

or Columbia

to represent this new world,

this new start,

this new hope?

The Founding Fathers were looking for a non-British symbol.

A year before,

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams

had both died

on the same day of July 4, 1826,

on the nation's 50th anniversary.

Thomas Jefferson was particularly interested in Columbus as a symbol for this new nation.

He was searching for a painting of him. See that timeline of Jefferson trying to find everything on Columbus below.

And during this year of 1827, not only is the first English translation of Columbus diary published but so too is the picture of Columbus purchased by Jefferson being sold in Boston during that same year.

Was that diary real? Was that picture an accurate representation of Columbus?

Is Columbus the symbol we still want? Maybe not.

But at the time Columbus was a symbol to replace Britannia.

Are the dark stories about Columbus irrefutably true? That research is still ongoing despite the claim that proof has been found.

That's it.

That's our lead story.

There's always more.

Skip around.

Read bits and pieces.

Compiled and authored by Jim Moyer 8/21/2022, 8/26/2022

Timeline of Jefferson looking at Columbus

Timeline of Herta Jones' house and lot, thru the Civil War years

Timeline of Angerona

Research Notes, Links

Timeline of Jefferson looking at Columbus

Monticello website article

https://www.monticello.org/research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/christopher-columbus-painting/

Artist/Maker: copy by Giuseppe Calendi (active c. 1800) after an anonymous portrait in the Gioviana Collection of the Gallery of the Uffizi, Florence Created: 1788 Origin/Purchase: Florence Materials: oil on canvas Dimensions: 61.2 × 47.2 (24 1/8 × 18 9/16 in.) Owner: New-York Historical Society Location: Parlor

Provenance: Thomas Jefferson; by purchase to Israel Thorndike at the Harding Gallery sale in 1833; by gift with Jefferson's portrait of Washington to the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1835

Historical Notes:

While in Paris, Jefferson wrote his friend Philip Mazzei in 1787 to obtain portraits of "Americus Vespucius, of Columbus, of Magellan and Cortez." He told Mazzei:

Mazzei was successful, for on January 12, 1789, Jefferson advised John Trumbull that the pictures had arrived in Paris.

"I was much gratified to receive yesterday from Italy the portraits of Columbus, Americus Vespuciu[s], Cortez, and Magellan. Observing by the list of the pictures in the gallery of the Grand duke at Florence that these were there, I sent to have them copied. They appear to be well done."[2]

Jefferson valued these works very highly.

In 1814, Joseph Delaplaine, who was preparing Repository of the Lives and Portraits of Distinguished American Characters (1815-1816), asked Jefferson if he might borrow the portraits of Columbus and Vespucius. Jefferson told him:

[W]hile I resided at Paris, knowing that these portraits, & those of some other of the early American worthies were in the gallery of Medicis at Florence, I took measures for engaging a good artist to take and send me copies of them. I considered it as even of some public concern that our country should not be without the portraits of it's first discoverers. these copies have already run the risks of transportations from Florence to Paris, to Philadelphia, to Washington, & lastly to this place, where they are at length safely deposited. ... I think that these portraits ought not to be hazarded from their present deposit.[3]

Jefferson offered, however, to make the paintings available for copying, if Delaplaine were to send an artist to Monticello. Jefferson eventually loaned Delaplaine an engraving of Vespucius from one of his books.

In 1816, Delaplaine commissioned Bass Otis to paint Jefferson for inclusion in his Repository.

- Text from Stein, Worlds, 132

Primary Source References

1787 October 17. (Jefferson to Mazzei).

"'Si trova [Amerigo Vespucci] parimente dipinto nella real Galleria, tra' quadri del primo Corridore, e similmente nella Volta XXI. della medesima, tragli uomeni illustri in arme.' Vita di Amerigo Vespucci. dal Bandini pa. lxviii. Nella 'tavola de' ritratti del Museo dell' illustriss. e eccellentiss. Sig. Cosimo Duca di Firenza e Siena' al fine del libro Delle vita da' pittori di Giorgio Vaseri, si trova queste parola. 'Seconda fila della banda di Mezzo dè Huomini harvi. Amerigo Vespucci. Colombo Genovese. Ferdinando Magellanes. Ferdinando Cortese.'

By these passages it would seem that the pictures of Americus Vespucius, of Columbus, of Magellan and Cortez exist at Florence.

I should wish extremely to obtain copies of the two first, and even of the two last also, if not too expensive. Painters of high reputation are either above copying, or ask extravagant prices. But there are always men of good talents, who being kept in obscurity by untoward circumstances, work cheap, and work well. Copies by such hands as these might probably be obtained at such prices as I would be willing to give. But how to find out those good hands, covered by the veil of obscurity? Can Mr. Mazzei put me on a method of knowing

1. whether these portraits still exist?

2. Whether permission can be obtained to copy them?

3. If a painter, such as above described, can be found?

4. What he would ask for half length copies, of the size of the life?"[4]

1788 February 2. (Jefferson to William Stephens Smith).

"I have sent to Florence for those [portraits] of Columbus (if it exists) of Americus Vesputius, Magellan &c."[5]

c. 1789. (List of Paintings). "Columbus from originals in the gallery of Medicis in Florence."[6]

1789 January 18. (Jefferson to Trumbull).

"Those [portraits] of Columbus, Vespucius, Cortez, and Magellan are well done and cost a guinea and a half each. I do not expect as cheap work in England, tho' I do not expect better."[7]

1809-1815. (List of Paintings). "24. Christopher Columbus ... Copied from Originals in the gallery of Medicis, for Th. J."[8]

1809-1826. "The [Parlor] walls were hung with fine portraits in oil of Columbus, Americus Vespucius, Andrea Doria, Castrucio Castracani, Raleigh, Cortez ...."[9]

1814 May 3. (Jefferson to Delaplaine).

"[W]hile I resided at Paris, knowing that these portraits, & those of some other of the early American worthies were in the gallery of Medicis at Florence, I took measures for engaging a good artist to take and send me copies of them. I considered it as even of some public concern that our country should not be without the portraits of it's first discoverers. ... like public records, I make them free to be copied, but, being as originals in this country, they should not be exposed to the accidents & injuries of travelling post. .... I wish them to be multiplied for safe preservation, and consider them as worthy a place in every collection."[10]

1814 August 9. (Jefferson to Delaplaine).

"Between the 4th & 5th parts of the great work of De Bry, is a print of Columbus, and an account of it which should give it some authority. it is very small, and not very much resembling my copy of his portrait from the Florentine gallery. De Bry's book is very rare and very expensive. yet probably it may be in some of the libraries of Philadelphia, perhaps the Loganian. if not, mr Wood, if he comes on to copy my Columbus, may copy this print also from my Debry. both may be worth inserting in your work. DeBry says his was given to him by the painter who drew the portrait of Columbus."[11]

1814 August 28. (Jefferson to Delaplaine).

"I have not the book of Munoz containing the print of Columbus. ... I have no doubt that entire credit is to be given to the account of the print rendered by him in the extract from his work, which you have sent me:

Note: Jefferson collates translations and explains the account for Delaplaine] ....

I have taken from the 2d vol. of De Bry a rough model of the leaf on which is the print he has given of Columbus, and his preface. it gives the exact size and outline of the print, which, with a part of the preface, is on the 1st page of the leaf, and the rest on the 2d. I have extracted from it what related to the print, which you will percieve could not be cut out without a great mutilation of the book. ...

We have then three likenesses of Columbus from which a choice is to be made

1. the print in Munoz' work, from a copy of Rincon's original, taken in the 17th century by an indifferent hand, with conjectural alterations suggested by the verbal description of the younger Columbus of the countenance of his father.

2. the Miniature of De Bry, from a copy taken in the 16th century from the portrait made by order of the K. & Queen, probably that of Rincon.

3. the copy in my possession, of the size of the life, taken for me from the original which is in the gallery of Florence. I say, from an original, because it is well known that in collections of any note, & that of Florence is the first in the world, no copy is ever admitted; and an original existing in Genoa would readily be obtained for a royal collection in Florence. Vasari, in his lives of the painters, names this portrait in his catalogue of the paintings in that gallery, but does not say by whom it was made. it has the aspect of a man of 35. still smooth-faced, & in the vigor of life, which would place it's date about 1477. 15 years earlier than that of Rincon—accordingly in the miniature of De Bry, the face appears more furrowed by time. on the whole I should have no hesitation at giving this the preference over the conjectural one of Mu√±oz, and the miniature of De Bry."[12]

1815 February 7. (George Ticknor).

"Here [Parlor] are the best pictures of the collection. Over the fireplace is the Laughing and Weeping Philosophers, dividing the world between them; on its right, the earliest navigators to America, — Columbus ... etc., copied, Mr. Jefferson said, from originals in the Florence Gallery."[13]

1816 May 11. (Delaplaine to Jefferson).

"I take the liberty of enclosing a head of Columbus which be pleased to do me the favor to accept."[14]

1816 May 20. (Jefferson to Delaplaine).

"Your's of the 11th is just recieved, and with it the head of Columbus for which accept my thanks. it has been evidently taken at an earlier period of his life than that of the Florentine gallery, which I think you will deem worthy of taking additionally."[15]

1823 April 12. (Jefferson to George Erving).

"Mr Madison, a few days ago, presented me, in your name a case of bronze medals, for which I pray you to accept my best thanks. I shall place them in our University as soon as it's ready, as a deposit in which more probably than elsewhere, they will be preserved longer to eternize the memory & effigies of men who have deserved well of all mankind. the fruits of their labors are now in growth."[16]

1826. (Cornelia Jefferson Randolph, Floor Plan of Monticello). "Columbus located on south wall of Parlor."[17]

1827? (Martha Jefferson Randolph to Thomas Jefferson Randolph). "Christopher Columbus. In a list of paintings to be sent to Boston for sale."[18]

1828. (Catalogue for Boston Athenaeum Sale). "302. Christopher Columbus, copied from the original in the Florence Gallery."[19]

1828 May 28. (Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge to Martha Jefferson Randolph).

"I went the other afternoon to the Gallery of the Ath√¶neum, where it made my heart swell to see so many of my old friends the paintings from Monticello. they had been new-varnished & Jones had done his best to set them off, but they are evidently in a state of decay & ruin, which must prevent their bringing any thing like what was expected. they have been valued by three different persons, two estimating them at what they considered them as ... worth, & a third at what they are likely to bring. the valuation struck me as very low except for one or two pieces. ... Cortez, Vespatius & Magellan are put down at as, about equal in value by the three gentlemen, who however differ in their estimates, giving $ 75. 35. & 20. Christopher Columbus $ 75. $ 35. $ 30."[20]

1833 July 21. (Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge to Martha Jefferson Randolph).

"I write to inform you of the sale of the pictures which took place a few days ago. ... the head of Columbus went for $20."[21] Further Sources

Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Vol. VII of the Third Series. Boston: Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1838. See page 285.
Delaplaine, Joseph. Delaplaine's Repository of the Lives and Portraits of Distinguished American Characters. Philadelphia, 1815-16.
Dickson, Harold E. "Th.J. Art Collector." In Jefferson and the Arts: An Extended View, edited by William Howard Adams, 101-32. Washington, DC: National Gallery of Art, 1976.

References

^ Jefferson to Mazzei, October 17, 1787, in PTJ, 12:245. Transcription available at Founders Online.
^ Jefferson to Trumbull, January 12, 1789, in PTJ, 14:440. Transcription available at Founders Online.
^ Jefferson to Delaplaine, May 3, 1814, in PTJ:RS, 14:132-33. Transcription available at Founders Online.
^ PTJ, 12:245. Transcription available at Founders Online.
^ PTJ, 12:558. Transcription available at Founders Online.
^ Jefferson's Catalogue of Paintings &c., Accession #2958-b, The Thomas Jefferson Papers, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library. For a transcription of Jefferson's catalogue, see Seymour Howard, "Thomas Jefferson's Art Gallery for Monticello," The Art Bulletin 59, no. 4 (1977): 583-600.
^ PTJ, 14:467-68. Transcription available at Founders Online.
^ Jefferson's Catalogue of Paintings &c., Accession #2958-b, The Thomas Jefferson Papers, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library.
^ Randall, Life of Thomas Jefferson, 3:337. This description was probably provided to Henry Randall by one of Jefferson's family members.
^ PTJ:RS, 7:340-42. Transcription available at Founders Online.
^ PTJ:RS, 7:522-23. Transcription available at Founders Online.
^ PTJ:RS, 7:611-13. Transcription available at Founders Online.
^ George Ticknor, et al. Life, Letters, and Journals of George Ticknor (Boston: J.R. Osgood, 1876), 1:35.
^ PTJ:RS, 10:38-39. Transcription available at Founders Online.
^ PTJ:RS, 10:71. Transcription available at Founders Online.
^ Thomas Jefferson Papers, Library of Congress. Transcription available at Founders Online.
^ Cornelia Jefferson Randolph, Drawing N-563, "Monticello. Two sketches of plan showing location of furnishings and works of art," post July 4, 1826, The Thomas Jefferson Papers, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library.
^ The Thomas Jefferson Papers, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library.
^ Catalogue for Boston Athenaeum Sale of 1828.
^ Correspondence of Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge, 1810-1861, Accession #38-584, 9090, 9090-c, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library. Transcription available at Jefferson Quotes and Family Letters.
^ Correspondence of Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge, 1810-1861, Accession #38-584, 9090, 9090-c, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library. Transcription available at Jefferson Quotes and Family Letters.

Source:

Monticello website article

https://www.monticello.org/research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/christopher-columbus-painting/

Timeline of Herta Jones' house and lot

SOURCE:

Garland Redd Quarles book:

The Story of One Hundred Homes in Winchester Virginia, Copyright by Quarles in 1967, Revised edition 1993, 2nd Printing 2005, published by Winchester - Frederick County Historical Society. Publishing rights were conveyed to the Winchester-Frederick Co Historical Society, 1989, by Nancy Quarles Teichmann and George W Quarles. Printed by Commercial Press Inc, Stephens City VA 2655

Pages 214 to 217

Quarles calls Herta Jones' home

THE FRED BOYD HOME

"This old home stands on a part of in-lot Number 80 as designated in the plot of John Bayliss when the Town of Winchester was chartered in 1752. This half-acre-in-lot, together with five-acre-out-lot Number 74, was granted by Lord Fairfax to Peter Sperry (Prop's Grants - Book H - Page 397). The original in-lot fronted on the west side of Washington Street or St Martin's Lane a distance of 119 feet and conveyed the two lots on April 13, 1798, to Michael Chisler (FDB 30 Page 459); and on September 20, 1869, Michael Chisler sold in-lot 80 to George Pelter, the cost to Pelter being $1000. This price clearly indicates that by this date there was a dwelling of some consequence on the lot (WDB 3 Page 315).

On July 16, 1827, George Pelter conveyed Lot Number 80 to George Folk (FDB 53 - Page 177). Folk gave a deed of trust to Joseph Long on this property on February 18, 1845 (FDB 73 Page 270), and on January 19, 1853 James P Riely, Trustee, conveyed it to Elizabeth D Smith, it being described as a house and lot onf the west side of Washington Street adjoining Fairfax Lane and formerly belonging to George Folk (FDB 79 Page 448). Elizabeth D Smith was the widow of Augustine C Smith, the daughter of Charles Magill, and the mother of Archibald Magill Smith.

CIVIL WAR YEARS

Mrs Smith's will was probated in January 1861. In it she left all of her property in trust to Thomas T Fauntleroy Jr, her son in law. She mentions as utlitmate beneficiaries her daughter Ann Morgan, wife of William A Morgan, and her daughter Josepha N Swartzwelder, who was the wife of Leonard E Swartzwelder (WWB 2- Page241). Fauntleroy renounced his right to qualify and Archibald M Smith was appointed administrator. On October 7, 1865, Archibald M Smith conveyed the Smith property to John Vilwig for $3000, the deed describing it as the house "at the north end of Washington Street and on the west side thereof where Elizabeth D Smith formerly lived" (FDB 85 Page 547). The deed further recited that "the said Archibald M Smith was appointed by the Corporation Court of Winchester as Administrator of the will of Elizabeth D Smith, and whereas it was thought best on the 3rd day of December 1862 to sell the said house and lot, under a well-founded belief that it would be destroyed if not sold, Leonard E Swartzwelder, undertaking to act as agent for the siad A.M.Smith, on the 3rd day of December 1862 sold the house and lot to John Vilwig." The deed given by A.M.Smith on October 7, 1865 to John Vilwigh was, therefore a confirmation of the prior conveyance on December 3, 1862. If we know what the situation was in Winchester on December 3, 1862, we wil understand why the heir of Mrs Smith thought the house on Washington Street should be sold. The following two entries from the journal of Mrs Hugh Holmes Lee covering the period are of pertinence to our inquiry:

"December 3, 1862: Strange to say, although our men have gone, the Yankees have not come and we occupy the same position we held the 1st of June; or pickets surround the town; one rumour is that the Yankees have crossed the river, the other that their baggage train is in sight of the town."

"December 4, 1862: This has been one of the era days --- a sort of landmark for memory to dwell on. I was very busy after breakfast --- and in the midst of it hear Yankees were on the edge of town."

This incident concerns the period when, after the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, the Confederate Army under General Lee withdrew to a position north of Winchester. The town was, of course, free of enemy troops. On November 22, 1862, the Confederates began to withdraw fro the region and to mover over the Blue Ridge. By December 3, as the Journal of Mrs. Lee indicates, the Town was empty of Confederate troops, and on December 4 elements of the Union Army under General Geary moved in. On December 24 General Milroy, one of the most hated commanders of occupation forces, took full possession of Winchester.

The house on Washington Street was vacant.

It would probably be seized and occupied by Yankee troops.

A.M. Smith was away, an officer in the Confederate Army.

It seemed sensible to sell the house while there was a buyer.

This accounts for the acquisition of it by John Vilwig, actually in December 1862. John Vilwig (1822-1895) conducted for many years a furniture business on North Loudoun Street at the site of Jno. S Solenberger Store, 142 North Loudoun Street (Russell - Pages 75 and 88).

POST BELLUM

AFTER THE CIVIL WAR

On July 12, 1898, the heirs of John Vilwig conveyed the property at 215 North Washington Street to James P Whitacre, it being described as bounded by Washington Street on the east, Fairfax Lane on the north, Fairmont Avenue on the west, and the property of Lew F Cooper on the south (WDB 23 Page 241 AND 268).

[Blog author's Note: Herta Jones had two pictures hangiing the hallway to the right of the stairway. One was a picture of the house shown above in this blog. The other was a picture of the advertisement of conveying the house in 1898.]

On December 19, 1910, R T Barton, Special Commissioner settling the estate of JPWhitacre, conveyed this interesting old home to the late Frederick S Boyd, for many years the proprietor of Boyd's Drug Store on Loudoun Street (WDB 28 Page 370).

Godfrey Miller says in his notes on Winchester that this house was built by George Fulk (Folk) whose wife was Harriet McKewan (Miller transcript). If this is true, it was built shortly after 1827

Sources in parentheses by Quarles are as follows:

WDB = Winchester Deed Books

FDB = Frederick County Deed Books

Russell = What I know about Winchester by William Greenway Russell

Timeline of Angerona

SOURCE:

Garland Redd Quarles book:

Winchester Virginia Streets-Churches-Schools, Copyright by Quarles for Historic Winchester Virginia 1952, The Streets of Winchester 1958, The Churches of Winchester 1960, The Schools of Winchester 1964, published by Winchester - Frederick County Historical Society 1996. Publishing rights were conveyed to the Winchester-Frederick Co Historical Society, 1989, by Nancy Quarles Teichmann and George W Quarles. Printed by Commercial Press Inc, Stephens City VA 2655

Page 186 to 192

There were many Schools at Angerona which "stood close to the residence at 201 Fairmont Avenue. The building was on out-lot 68 in the plot of John Baylis drawn in 1752 when James Wood and Lord Fairfax united to establish the town of Winchester."

In 1931 Angerona was partially destroyed by fire. Page187

"March 2, 1931 H.M.Sartelle to WM Richards and CL Nicodemus. These last owners laid out on the Angerona property a development community of 22 residential lots (WDB 51 Page 148), which was known as "Angerona Terrace." Today these lots are all occupied by home on this street [Fairmont Ave, Piccadilly Street West] and Morgan Lane. " Page 188

The Winchester High School (1853-1856), page 188

Virginia College (1856-1860), page 188-189

The Valley Female Seminary (1868-1874), page 190-191

The Valley Female College (1874-1882), page 191-192 Ths school closed in 1882. in 1886 it was reopened to near the Fort Loudoun site, and later became the Fort Loudoun Seminary, Page 196. The school closed again in 1901. It was reopened in 1905 by Miss Katherine Glass and Miss Laura Gold. Page 197.