Location of Algoma Apple Packing Farm? (Richmond, Roanoke: wood floors, attorney, house)

[Waterfront]

Can anyone tell me the location of where the Guerrant family plantation was located? I just learned that some land I purchased and thought was considered Callaway is/was actually located in Algoma, and that the property may have been part of the original Guerrant plantation. Any info you can share would be appreciated.


I found this neat article about the old wood taken from the buildings there bu Carlisle Wide Plank Flooring company...

Reclaimed wood floors are a popular option for homeowners and for public buildings as well. The floors give a sense of history to any building. The craftsmen at Carlisle Wide Plank Floors understand the importance of maintaining that history. A good example of this is the flooring that they have reclaimed from the Guerrant Family Plantation and Algoma Apple Packing Farm.

Two hundred and fifty years ago the 3,000-acre plantation and farm was the site of 100 buildings. The apples grown on this land near Boones Mill, Va., were harvested and shipped to England and played a role in the nourishment of soldiers from the Civil War to the Second World War. Today only a few buildings made from the plantation trees almost three centuries ago remain, but the wood from these structures is still playing vital roles in today’s construction. It’s the story of the Many Lives of An Apple Farm Tree and the Green alternatives it provides for your home.

Their first lifetime was spent as majestic trees providing shelter and shade for forest animals as an integral part in the eco-system. They grew to great proportions and were likely more than 200 to 300 years old before being harvested.

Their second lifetime was spent as components of the Apple Farm’s many buildings: the large packing barn where slaves prepared apples for shipment to England was built of chestnut; the farmhand’s quarters were constructed of heart pine; and the main building was oak.

In 2002 when the Apple Farm structures were dismantled, the wood was reincarnated again to live out a third lifetime as Carlisle Wide Plank Floors. Some of the wood found new life in the Jeffersonian-style Southern National Bank in Sugarland, Texas, which was being converted into a museum. The customer requested antique oak flooring with a historical connection.

The story of Robert E. Lee’s personal note to the Guerrant family thanking them for apples donated to Confederate troops made the Apple Farm’s oak a perfect choice for the museum project. Today you can find a portion of an Algoma Apple crate framed and hanging in the museum.

[seanpecor]

Hey Waterfront,

When do you plan on building? We're in the Boones Mill area, about 9 miles or 15 minutes from the Gap Gate / 602 intersection. Algoma isn't really a "place" anymore. I suppose when the time came to pick which growing homesteads got a post office, Callaway won out There are other such "places" near to your future home like Gogginsville and such. While we are in Boones Mill now, the old maps labeled our vicinity as "Helm". Being a Tolkien fan I would have preferred Helm rather than Boones Mill

I searched for "Guerrant" in the subdivision field here:

Franklin Co., VA

I also searched for the same surname in the last name field as well. Both searches came up with parcels in the general vicinity of one another. It looks like the last in the Guerrant line with land holdings is a Mr. Guerrant on Tiffany Drive (off Callaway, a bit further south than the Gap Gate intersection).

Another link of interest:

Re: Peter I Guerrant-Sarah AkersMarried 1838

If you haven't already you can goof with the county GIS site with aerial images enabled and you might be able to tell if your land adjoins remnants of the original 5,000 acre farm and in turn if the aerial indicates evidence of past agricultural use that matches the original.

Another neat link:

RootsWeb: REVELEY-L [REVELEY] Papers of John Reveley Guerrant

Sean

[Waterfront]

Sean,

Thanks for providing those links -- that will be my homework assignment today!

I hoped there would be some historical markers along the roads somewhere. The Franklin County website has a document with a list of FC historic sites (that includes Algoma Apple Orchard, Algoma Packing House & Dr. John Guerrant's place) and says for 'more information' contact the Virginia Department of Historic Resources in Richmond or the Roanoke Historic Preservation Office.

Next time I'm up that way, I'll drive down Algoma Road and ask some of the neighbors there.

We don't have a time table for building now -- we'd have to sell our home here in Northern Neck, and we're debating if it's worthwhile to even try this year. Homes below $ 250K and homes above $ 1.0M are moving, but not so much in between! We are happy to have found the land and look forward to joining you soon!

[wennicho5]

Originally Posted by Waterfront

Can anyone tell me the location of where the Guerrant family plantation was located? I just learned that some land I purchased and thought was considered Callaway is/was actually located in Algoma, and that the property may have been part of the original Guerrant plantation. Any info you can share would be appreciated.


I found this neat article about the old wood taken from the buildings there bu Carlisle Wide Plank Flooring company...

Reclaimed wood floors are a popular option for homeowners and for public buildings as well. The floors give a sense of history to any building. The craftsmen at Carlisle Wide Plank Floors understand the importance of maintaining that history. A good example of this is the flooring that they have reclaimed from the Guerrant Family Plantation and Algoma Apple Packing Farm.

Two hundred and fifty years ago the 3,000-acre plantation and farm was the site of 100 buildings. The apples grown on this land near Boones Mill, Va., were harvested and shipped to England and played a role in the nourishment of soldiers from the Civil War to the Second World War. Today only a few buildings made from the plantation trees almost three centuries ago remain, but the wood from these structures is still playing vital roles in today’s construction. It’s the story of the Many Lives of An Apple Farm Tree and the Green alternatives it provides for your home.

Their first lifetime was spent as majestic trees providing shelter and shade for forest animals as an integral part in the eco-system. They grew to great proportions and were likely more than 200 to 300 years old before being harvested.

Their second lifetime was spent as components of the Apple Farm’s many buildings: the large packing barn where slaves prepared apples for shipment to England was built of chestnut; the farmhand’s quarters were constructed of heart pine; and the main building was oak.

In 2002 when the Apple Farm structures were dismantled, the wood was reincarnated again to live out a third lifetime as Carlisle Wide Plank Floors. Some of the wood found new life in the Jeffersonian-style Southern National Bank in Sugarland, Texas, which was being converted into a museum. The customer requested antique oak flooring with a historical connection.

The story of Robert E. Lee’s personal note to the Guerrant family thanking them for apples donated to Confederate troops made the Apple Farm’s oak a perfect choice for the museum project. Today you can find a portion of an Algoma Apple crate framed and hanging in the museum.

My husband grew up here on Algoma and the remaining property is owned by his family if you would like any info on the Guerrants feel free to ask

[Waterfront]

Wennicho5,

Thank you for your response, and I will follow up with you sometime soon. My wife and I just sold our house and will be moving 'up your way' in late August. We're getting frantic now with our impending move, so I'll try and send a direct email to you this weekend!

Waterfront

[wennicho5]

hey did you guys get moved up here to Franklin Co. look forward to talking to you about Algoma

[Waterfront]

WENNICHO,

Thanks for asking! Yes we did make the move, but ended buying a patio home in North Roanoke county as a temporary solution to give us time to figure out what we'll do long-term with our property.

I'll send a direct message with my email and phone#.

Here's a pic taken 9/11/2008 looking down Callaway Rd:

[nellieh]

Waterfront,
Are you still looking for information on Algoma? My mother was raised on Algoma which later became a place on the map.

[Waterfront]

NELLIEH,

Yes I am! I sent two private messages to reader WENNICHO5 with no response.

The Rocky Mount attorney that handled the closing on my land said he thought my parcel may have been part of the original plantation, but I think maybe not. That was the reason for my original post.

I recently drove out Algoma Road thinking there may be some historical markers, but didn't see any or any evidence of a old apple orchard.

So any info would be greatly appreciated. I can send you my email and phone if you like?