The George Rieley home place, built 1852, from bricks molded and baked on the premises.

The George Rieley home place, built 1852, from bricks molded and baked on the premises.

1. SUBJECT: Old Riley [sic] Place. 2. LOCATION: 1/16 mile east of Blue Ridge Va. on Route /460. House on north side of road. In plain view of road. 3. DATE OR PERIOD: 1852. 4. OWNERS: Geo. Ri[e]ley 1852 to 1901. Estate of Geo. Ri[e]ley; 1901 to 1902. Marshall Ri[e]ley[,] Youngest heir, 1902-1928 Blue Ridge Stone Co. 1928 present owners. George Rieley, 1898 5. DESCRIPTION: The manor is a two story brick southern Colonial building with a one story porch. Unlike most of the manors of that style,.it has a middle chimney as well as the usual one at each end. The bricks are Flemish bond pattern and were made on the place. The porch originally had Doric pillars. The stairway is of the open string style, three-flight type. A wide hall runs from the front of the house to the back. On the west of the hall there are two large rooms, and also on the left. All of this home is original except the front and back porches which have been replaced. The floors are of 6-inch oak boards, uniform in width. The walls are plastered, there is a base board with molding on top of it, but no chair rail. 6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Mr. Ri[e]ley was not a believer in slavery, being a Dunkard. He had one slave, a [N]egro girl, whom he purchased in Liberty for five hundred dollars when his wife needed assistance. He raised no tobacco in accordance with his religion but gave his land wholly to wheat which he carried in large quantity to Fincastle. There were three sons, R. W., S. H., and Samuel, who were in the War Between the States, Samuel being shot off his horse at Gettysburg as the Confederates were retreating. His brother riding next to him dismounted, and took the body on his own horse. Samuel is buried on the battlefield and his grave is marked by the Federal Government. John, another son, was also

6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: (Continued) in the service of the Confederacy securing in West Virginia for the army. He died there of fever and is buried there. At the time of the retreat of Hunter's raid the Federal troops bivouacked on the ridge 100 yards from the manor, mounting their cannon there. Thee troops entered the house, searching for food, money, etc., and tore up carpets, featherbeds, and pillows. Some hams stored in the chimney flue they did not get. Some of Mr. Riley's sheep were killed for food that night by the troops, his horses and cows he had taken several miles south of the mountains. Just as he entered his home from this trip he saw a Northern soldier fumbling among the papers of his desk. He managed to decoy him away, for, hidden in a secret drawer, was a bag of money. His wife had been buried that same day on top of the ridge. In spite of one of the family protesting, the soldiers sunk [sic] their bayonets down until they felt the coffin length. ART: None. 8. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: Court records, clerks office, Bedford County, Bedford, VA. Mrs. Marshall Ri[e]ley. Blue Ridge, Va., [Wife of] Direct Descendant.[i.e., George s son Marshall!] George s oldest child, Lucy, was about 14 when the family moved into their new home, just east of Blue Ridge, VA. She married Lewis G. Layman in 1861. This photo was probably made about 1880.

Architectural Description of Building Called for in 5-a. Of Bulletin 3400 [3686 written in in ink] Name of Building Old: Ri[e]ley Place EXTERIOR 1. Building Plan: Rectangular Cellar ( ) 2. No. of stories: (2 ½) Attic classed as ½ story. 3. Material: Brick ( x) Frame ( ) Stone ( ) Log (. ) 4. If brick, state what bond: Flemish (x) English ( ) Common ( ) Other ( ) 5. Kind of roof: Hip (X) Gabled ( ) Gambrel ( ) Lean-to ( ) Deck ( ) 6. If church, describe or draw sketch of roof on reverse side. 7. Roof Material: Slate ( ) Shingle ( ) Metal (x) Tile ( ) 8. Chimneys: Number ( 3 ) Brick (X) Stone ( ). Location: 0ne at each end and one in the middle of house, 9. Weatherboarding: Beaded( ) Plain ( ) 10. Cornices: Plain or Elaborate: None Material 11. Windows: Number (20 ) Size and number of panes: 9x18, 6 panes to sash. 12. Shutters: Describe: Wooden slats. 13. Dormers: Number, and Shape of roof: None 14. Porch:. One story. 15. Type of Entrance: 4 panel door, side lights, and glass over door. 16. Columns: Doric ( ) Ionic ( ) Corinthian ( ) Square ( x) INTERIOR 17. No. of Rooms: (10) Large (x) Small ( ) Approx. ceiling height. 9 feet. 18. Stairway: Open String (x) Very plain, 3 flight though the blausters [sic] are turned. 19. Collar: Describe: None. 20. Doors: Style and type of wood: 6-panel, stained mahogany, except front door which is 4 panel, made out of hard pine. 21. Walls: Panelled, papered or painted Painted. 22. Interior Cornices: None. 23. Hardware:. Locks and hinges: Common iron 24. Floors: Regular widths 6 inches. 25. Mantels One in each room, in design. 26. Misc: 27. Present condition, and state if spoiled architecturally by remodeling: No Not spoiled. Well preserved and in good condition. 28. Does occupant seem to appreciate old architectural features? No Your Name: Nora A. Carter.