"Homeland".
Just within the corporate limits of Harrisonburg, Virginia.
About 1825.
The house is colonial with four high Doric Columns about the portico. It is brick has two stories and heavy walls. There is a wide hall and a colonial stairway to top; doors open into eight large, airy, high ceilinged rooms, with a fireplace in each room and plain simple mantels. One unusual feature is that the floorboards are of one continuous length making a floor without joints except the tongue and groove sides; these floors are as solid as when first laid. In recent years three rooms have been added including bathroom, the house now having eleven rooms and bathrooms.
See form #3686, attached.
"Homeland" is located just within the southwestern boundary line of the city of Harrisonburg, Virginia and is one of the most delightful of the many Colonial homes of the Valley of Virginia. With beautiful Doric Columns and spacious lawn in front sloping upward from the highway, its elevation is such as to give it a commanding view of the surrounding country. At the foot of the driveway runs the Warm Springs Pike, perhaps a hundred years distant from the house; and on the other side of the pike, beautiful meadow and farming lands furnish a very pleasing foreground.
Directly east and in front of the house about a quarter of a mile distant are the splendid buildings of the State Teachers College, with the majestic Woodward Wilson Hall, towering in the center, a benediction and an inspiration over a lovely campus; while farther to the east, the ever beautiful Massanutten rear their heads sublime in all their majesty, silently withstanding times mutations, yet over speaking with a thousand tongues the glories of their Creator and the glory yet to be.
The first house of this old plantation seems to have been built and stood in the low land to the east of the pike and about three hundred yards distant from the present house. Who built it and just when is not now known, possibly it was built by John Cravens who acquired the land by grant in 1755. To the west of the pike, and not far away stands what is left of the old stone spring house, not used now, though the spring is a never failing one. No doubt it was built at the same time as the first house on the opposite side of the road or pike.
"Homeland"
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Robert M. Kyle was the son of Jeremiah Kyle, and was one of, if not the richest, men of his day in this section, even after the losses sustained by reason of the War Between the States. He was born November 11, 2024 and died November 26, 1862. He married Mary Byrd, daughter of Abram Byrd of Shenandoah County, who built Stoneleigh Inn, though not as it now is because of changes afterwards made.
Robert M. Kyle built the present lovely home about, or shortly after 1825 in which year his father deeded to him the property of three hundred and eighteen acres. The whole of the plantation embraced at one time between five and six hundred acres. As said the house is of brick construction, the walls being not less than fifteen inches thick and is just as it was when built except for the sun parlor and flower conservatory on the south end, and the Porte-co, chere, on the north end.
The colonial portico which acorns this house is a most excellent specimen and the Doric columns of which there are four should be mentioned not only for their simplicity of line, but also because of their size, being so in keeping with the lines of the house. The interior also remains as it was when first built, except the addition of several rooms and baths. The colonial stairway paneled at the bottom and running to the top of the house, is in keeping with the reception—like hall. On the left as you enter is the parlor, opening into the conservatory, while o the right is the drawing or sitting room, and back of that the dining room.
Truly, "Homeland" as it is called today is one of the lovelier homes of the Valley, and its warm reception and gracious hospitality is still maintained by it present owner, Mr. W.H. Rickard and his charming hostess, his daughter, Miss Edna Rickard. Besides farming Robert M. Kyle had other interests and was ever busily engaged in the business affairs of the community, amassing an estate amounting to between two hundred and fifty and three hundred thousand dollars at his death which offered in 1862,
W.H. Rickard the present owner of "Homeland" is also a farmer and man of affairs, though not actively engaged as in former years. He is a man of fine judgment and of very decided convictions as well, always well informed on current topics, especially those touching the public interests.
Mr. Richard has a fine farm in Rockbridge County, and besides his farming interests, was in earlier years a promoter and builder of Railroads. He and two others built the Chesapeake-Western Railroad from Elkton, Virginia to Bridgewater, Virginia as well as the Coal and iron Road from Elkins, West Virginia to Durbin, West Virginia.
Mr. Rickard’s father was Benjamin Franklin Rickard and for many years prior to 1860 was a merchant tailor in Washington, D.C. His eyes were much affected by that work and for fifteen years before his death he was confined to a dark room on account of them.
During the War Between the States he was Head Ward Master of Hospitals where the wounded from the opposing armies were brought for treatment, and where every consideration was shown them without favor or partiality. Such is the history of the Robert M. Kyle place and "Homeland", though told rather sketchily.
Photograph.
Informants: Mr. W.H. Rickard, Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Mr. Joseph Byrd, Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Rockingham County Court Records at Harrisonburg, VA.;
Settlers on the Long Gray Trail by Houston Harrison.
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August 19, 1936 Geo. W. Fetzer
Harrisonburg, VA