Page 119 - WPA Book
P. 119
Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
HOUSES
1. SUBJECT:
Brenneman Home.
2. LOCATION:
At Edom, Virginia, on Linville Creek, about 11 miles north of Harrisonburg, Virginia, on Route 260, on west
side of and adjoining the highway.
3. DATE:
1804.
4. OWNERS:
Abraham Brenneman from George Chrisman, March 20, 1810. Record burnt in 1864, during the War
Between the States, B.R.D.B. 1, page 316.
Christian Brenneman from Abraham Brenneman’s executors, October 4, 1851, 153 acres (The Shank
Tract), B.R.D.B. 23, page 539.
Christian Brenneman from Joseph Chrisman January 9, 1837, 17 acres, 7 poles, D.B. 12, page 18.
Christian Brenneman by survey, February 12, 1837, 74 acres, Survey Book, page 269.
Christian Brenneman from Erasmus and Gambyses Chrisman, February 23, 1845, 227 acres, $11250,
B.R.D.B. 19, page 200.
Christian Brenneman from George H. Chrisman, May 9, 1845, 65 acres, 5 poles, B.R.D.B. 18, page 168.
Christian Brenneman from Richard Maupin, May 21, 1849, B.R.D.B. 21, page 459.
Christian Brenneman from Christian Brunk, March 31, 1855, March 31, 1855, two tracts, one 89 acres on
Linville Creek, one 60 acres in the “Gravels,” B.R.D.B. 27, page 446.
Rebecca Brenneman from father, Christian Brenneman, by will, the “Homestead” place, etc.
Henry Geil, life interest, “Homestead” place, January 9, 1875, D.B. 11, page 444.
Heirs of Rebecca Brenneman Geil from John S. Geil, January 29, 1905, 130 acres, 3 rods, 2 poles, and 25
acres, 4 poles, D.B. 74, page 168.
D.C. Brenneman and J.H. Brunk from heirs of Rebecca Geil, April 12, 1905, 156 acres, including 25 acres
of timber land. D.B. 78, page 42.
J.W. Brunk from D.C. Brenneman, March 1, 1913, $11505, for 115 acres, 19.7 poles, D.B. 101, page 35.
D.A. Hill from J.W. Brunk November 1, 1929, $11000, 56 acres including the house, D.B. 145, page 216.
5. DESCRIPTION:
The house is rectangular, built of brick, and now plastered. There are two stories. Originally there was but one
kitchen, but now there are two.
See form 3686, attached.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Abraham Brenneman (or Branaman) was one of the early settlers on Linville Creek. There was also an Anthony
Branaman who owned land in the eastern part of the county on Humes Run. A survey was made to him as
assignee of Peter Conrad for two hundred and forty acres, April 8th, 1783, cornering or following his own patent
land, indicating that previously to 1783 he owned land there, either by patent and survey or by purchase.
According to figures in the garret of the old Brenneman home at Edom, the house was built in 1804 and of
brick. Originally it had but one kitchen but later, two. It has undergone some changes in after years, but it is still
practically as it was when built, though plastered on the outside. One door leading from the dining room into the
original kitchen is paneled but reinforced on the other side with rather wide boards running diagonally across.
Some of the doors have long strap hinges while others have the old L hinges; the floor boards are about six
inches wide and one and three quarters thick and are still good and strong. There were seven fireplaces in seven
rooms; a nine-foot hallway with closed string stairway leads to the garret or attic.
Page 118 of 482
HOUSES
1. SUBJECT:
Brenneman Home.
2. LOCATION:
At Edom, Virginia, on Linville Creek, about 11 miles north of Harrisonburg, Virginia, on Route 260, on west
side of and adjoining the highway.
3. DATE:
1804.
4. OWNERS:
Abraham Brenneman from George Chrisman, March 20, 1810. Record burnt in 1864, during the War
Between the States, B.R.D.B. 1, page 316.
Christian Brenneman from Abraham Brenneman’s executors, October 4, 1851, 153 acres (The Shank
Tract), B.R.D.B. 23, page 539.
Christian Brenneman from Joseph Chrisman January 9, 1837, 17 acres, 7 poles, D.B. 12, page 18.
Christian Brenneman by survey, February 12, 1837, 74 acres, Survey Book, page 269.
Christian Brenneman from Erasmus and Gambyses Chrisman, February 23, 1845, 227 acres, $11250,
B.R.D.B. 19, page 200.
Christian Brenneman from George H. Chrisman, May 9, 1845, 65 acres, 5 poles, B.R.D.B. 18, page 168.
Christian Brenneman from Richard Maupin, May 21, 1849, B.R.D.B. 21, page 459.
Christian Brenneman from Christian Brunk, March 31, 1855, March 31, 1855, two tracts, one 89 acres on
Linville Creek, one 60 acres in the “Gravels,” B.R.D.B. 27, page 446.
Rebecca Brenneman from father, Christian Brenneman, by will, the “Homestead” place, etc.
Henry Geil, life interest, “Homestead” place, January 9, 1875, D.B. 11, page 444.
Heirs of Rebecca Brenneman Geil from John S. Geil, January 29, 1905, 130 acres, 3 rods, 2 poles, and 25
acres, 4 poles, D.B. 74, page 168.
D.C. Brenneman and J.H. Brunk from heirs of Rebecca Geil, April 12, 1905, 156 acres, including 25 acres
of timber land. D.B. 78, page 42.
J.W. Brunk from D.C. Brenneman, March 1, 1913, $11505, for 115 acres, 19.7 poles, D.B. 101, page 35.
D.A. Hill from J.W. Brunk November 1, 1929, $11000, 56 acres including the house, D.B. 145, page 216.
5. DESCRIPTION:
The house is rectangular, built of brick, and now plastered. There are two stories. Originally there was but one
kitchen, but now there are two.
See form 3686, attached.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Abraham Brenneman (or Branaman) was one of the early settlers on Linville Creek. There was also an Anthony
Branaman who owned land in the eastern part of the county on Humes Run. A survey was made to him as
assignee of Peter Conrad for two hundred and forty acres, April 8th, 1783, cornering or following his own patent
land, indicating that previously to 1783 he owned land there, either by patent and survey or by purchase.
According to figures in the garret of the old Brenneman home at Edom, the house was built in 1804 and of
brick. Originally it had but one kitchen but later, two. It has undergone some changes in after years, but it is still
practically as it was when built, though plastered on the outside. One door leading from the dining room into the
original kitchen is paneled but reinforced on the other side with rather wide boards running diagonally across.
Some of the doors have long strap hinges while others have the old L hinges; the floor boards are about six
inches wide and one and three quarters thick and are still good and strong. There were seven fireplaces in seven
rooms; a nine-foot hallway with closed string stairway leads to the garret or attic.
Page 118 of 482
