|
|
Idlewild, a beautiful, architecturally important mansion, is located behind the Home Depot site. It is caught in the tangle of highways and commercial ventures off State Route 3, yet seems to be miles away from such distractions.
The house and its outbuildings, four of which were built at the same time as the main structure and are still standing, are hidden away behind a screen of trees. This same stand of trees screens the commercial development surrounding the property from the mansion.
Idlewild is a brick structure built in 1858-59 by William Yates Downman for his family. Downman and his wife, Mary Ann Hayes Downman, settled into the mansion assuming that they would there lead a quiet, peaceful existence, raising their children and running their farm.
This was not meant to be. The Civil War found its way to their door on more than one occasion, and they found it necessary to flee their home, not knowing what they would find upon their return.
Idlewild served as the center of several minor skirmishes during the Civil War, and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee used the mansion as his headquarters one night in May 1863. The property was the burial ground for two Union soldiers until they were removed and reburied in the National Cemetery in Fredericksburg.
Downman did not live to see the end of the war. He was always in frail health and died in December 1864 of typhoid at Idlewild. He is buried at the family estate of Belle Isle in Lancaster County.
The Downmans had six children. Ann Hayes Downman was their firstborn and grew up to marry R. Innes Taylor of Fall Hill. Their second child was Sophia Chinn Downman, who married Marion Dimmock, a prominent architect of Richmond.
Their third child, Joseph Henry Downman, named after William's father who had himself died at a very early age, died just a few days after his birth and is buried in the churchyard of St. George's Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg.
Their fourth child was the Rev. John Yates Downman, who founded All Saints Episcopal Church in Richmond. The Rev. Downman held title to Idlewild until his death in 1949, thereby keeping the estate in the family for 91 years.
After Idlewild was completed, two more sons were born
James Hayes Downman became a successful businessman in New York City until he suffered a stroke while in his 40s. He died of a hunting accident while recuperating at Fall Hill, the marital home of his oldest sister.
Idlewild today stands empty, but may be restored and opened as a Civil War museum, focusing on the personal side of this great struggle. It would show daily life during this period as seen through the trials and tribulations of the Downmans and their offspring.
It also would serve as a gateway for visitors passing through the area on Interstate 95. Idlewild could guide these tourists to the nearby battlefields and the historical offerings of downtown Fredericksburg and its surrounding areas.
Donna Chasen, a member of the Spotsylvania Preservation Foundation Inc. board of directors, wrote this article.
SPFI's mission is to preserve and protect the historic and natural resources of Spotsylvania County through education, advocacy and community involvement. SPFI, a nonprofit and all-volunteer organization, was established in 1988 to help preserve and protect Spotsylvania County's natural and historic resources.
SPFI will occasionally submit articles to Spotsylvania & City EXTRA about historic places in the area.
To learn more about SPFI, e-mail to mail@SPFI.org or write to Box 1875, Spotsylvania, Va. 22553.