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MUCH HAS BEEN written over the past few years about Idlewild, the Fredericksburg landmark that was severely damaged by fire last April. Not as well-known is that the local Idlewild mansion--off State Route 3 just east of Interstate 95 near Home Depot--was named in honor of another Gothic Revival home built in Cornwall, N.Y., several years earlier.
Nathaniel Parker Willis was a popular writer and poet in the mid-19th century. He was a Yale graduate and wrote several volumes of verse at the beginning of his literary career. He served as European correspondent for the New York Mirror and wrote "American Scenery," illustrated with engravings by W.H. Bartlett. This volume introduced Europeans to the splendor of America's many scenic wonders.
Willis became an associate editor for the popular weekly The Home Journal. His articles spoke gloriously of the Cornwall area, praising the scenery and the healthfulness of the climate or the area.
Willis was very well-liked in his chosen town of Cornwall. He was considered a quiet, kindly man. His manner of dress, however, spoke more of a dandy. He had a unique style. His clothes were custom-made in styles that were not in keeping with those in vogue at the time and the colors were more exuberant than were the general fashion. He had a large collection of hats, as he had a habit of losing them and felt that it was better to have many "spares" than to waste time searching for the stray one.
Willis was of frail health and, on the advice of his doctor, spent the summer of 1851 in Cornwall. His health improved greatly during his stay there. He was immediately smitten by the rugged beauty of the Hudson highlands as well and thus became determined to settle there permanently.
One particular parcel of land caught his eye. Its picturesque beauty featured a deep glen, described by the landowner as "nothing but an idle wild," meaning that it would never be suitable for farming. With this off-handed remark, the name of Willis' new estate and home was born. Little did he know that this name would proliferate across the nation in homes, parks and even airports. In 1908, Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote "Anne of Green Gables" in which the playhouse is named Idlewild.
Willis bought the land and began building his dream house in 1852. In 1853, he moved in with his family and began an idyllic country life. He wrote many articles from Idlewild, including the popular "Out-Doors at Idlewild," a book composed of former magazine articles, which featured the charming, peaceful life that he enjoyed at his home. He also created a colorful portrayal of daily life in the Cornwall area as well. His beloved Idlewild was the gathering place of many of the greatest names in the creative arts of the era.
Idlewild-on-Hudson was built in the American Gothic Revival style, which was extremely popular during this period. It recalled images of medieval times. This trend was also popular with poets of the era. In England, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was also returning to the days of long ago with their artistic revolution featuring paintings that illustrated the tales of King Arthur. The soaring gables and elaborate adornments of the Idlewild mansion also were reminiscent of the days of knights and fair ladies.
The house featured beautifully designed windows and featured many large rooms and modern conveniences. The first floor featured an elaborate central hall, a parlor, dining room and staircase hall. The second floor featured several bedrooms, all with closets and two with dressing rooms. There was also a water closet, bathroom, and linen room. The attic contained servants bedrooms and a large cheerful children's playroom. The cellar featured a kitchen, pantries, sink room, washroom, food storage cellar, coal cellar and furnace room.
Idlewild served as the beloved home of the Willis family until Nathaniel died there in 1867. It passed on to several other owners and eventually suffered a long state of neglect. In 1890, it was bought by Charles Curie who visited the site when his wife found an advertisement for the mansion while on a mission to look at another property. She convinced her husband to take a side trip to Cornwall where they found the house in an advanced state of disrepair.
Despite the daunting condition of the mansion on the day they discovered it, the family saw beyond the alarming appearance of the house and purchased it. They made extensive repairs to the house and grounds and added several new outbuildings and, once again, the house became the focal point of the area.
Sadly, Idlewild fell once again to the ravages of time and neglect. A housing development was built around the site and the mansion was taken down to a single floor design. Its unique features were removed and the remaining floor redesigned to fit the popular design of the mid-1900s. Today, although technically still standing, nothing remains to speak of the beauty of this once-heralded landmark.
William Yates Downman of Lancaster County and later Fredericksburg was a student at Princeton in the late 1840s and early 1850s. He, like Willis, was of frail health and moved from his riverfront family estate of Belle Isle to the drier climes of Fredericksburg in hopes of improving his disposition. He undoubtedly was greatly inspired by the engravings of the mystical Gothic mansion in the rugged Hudson highlands and by the popular writings of its owner.
In 1858-59, he built his own version of this perfect environment, centered around a wonderful American Gothic mansion. Like its inspiration, his home featured all of the wonderful features that made the style one to be proud of. His home featured steep gables, elaborate woodwork, ornate window treatments, stained glass, and many other elegant appointments that made his house unique and a local showplace. In honor of his earlier inspiration, William Downman named his new home Idlewild.
Fredericksburg's Idlewild remains today. A fire in April 2003 caused severe damage to the mansion, but it still stands upon its hill, elegantly beautiful in its ruinous state. Both of these Idlewilds spoke of a time long gone, a time when the pace was much slower and the quality of life was richer.
DONNA CHASEN is a member of the board of directors of the Spotsylvania Preservation Foundation and is a founding member of the Fredericksburg Regional Preservation Trust. She may be reached for comments or questions at saveidlewild@yahoo.com.
