In the last few days, I seem to have crossed the Rubicon with search engines, and am now consistently getting 1,500+ hits per day, and sometimes more than 2,000. That’s certainly happy news, as I’ve been faithfully blogging for five years and it is a major time sink.
Thus far, I have written 942 blogs here, each heavy laden with photos.
Ever since August, I’ve been wanting to do a blog on one of my favorite finds: A Sears Hillrose in Brandy Station, Virginia but I knew that this would be a time-intensive blog (requiring 4-5 hours to complete). With the holiday season, there is no time, so I thought it was time to do a truncated version of that time-intensive blog.
We’ll just call this a preview!
Brandy Station is also the site of a famous Civil War campaign. Learn more about that here.
This Hillrose was owned for many years by J. M. Cunningham, a famous Confederate war hero.
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The Hillrose has long been one of my favorites - and apparently is several people's favorites! It won a design prize (sponsored by Sears) in 1914.
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According to this image from the 1916 Sears Modern Homes catalog, there are also Hillroses built at Griffith Indiana, Alvado Ohio, Stratford Iowa, Waterman Illinois and Houghton New York.
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Four bedrooms and good layout.
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While it's true that I love them all, the Hillrose is a favorite.
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And here's the Hillrose in Brandy Station, Virginia. And best of all, for many years, it was owned by a famous Civil War hero, J. M. Cunningham, the highest ranking surviving field officer of the Confederate Army at the time of his death in 1939. He was 96 years old when he passed. More on this hero in the next blog. And interestingly enough, I discovered this glorious house thanks to a comment left at my blog! The home's owner contacted me and said he had a Sears Hillrose. If I had a nickle for every time I heard that! š But in this case, he really did!
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Beautiful, isn't it? It's a historically significant home, located in a historically significant city, and formerly owned by a historically impressive Confederate war hero. Wow.
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A true beauty from every angle!
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What a house, and it sits in such a beautiful, bucolic place. My oh my.
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In the next blog, we'll take a look at the inside of this fine old home.
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Brandy Station is also the site of a famous Civil War campaign. Learn more about that here.
This Hillrose was owned for many years by J. M. Cunningham, a famous Confederate war hero.
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Great scholarship! And very, very interesting.
If I can help in any way as you further reveal the history of Captain John Cunningham, please let me know. I would happy to send you background materials regarding the old captain, and nearby Elkwood Farm.
Congratulations on some fine detective work.
Clark B. Hall