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Since the year 2000, Red Hill has
been boldly and subtly transformed. The transformation was
made possible by a generous gift to the Patrick Henry Memorial
Foundation by Margaret Henry Penick Nuttle, a direct descendant
of Patrick Henry, to establish the Barksdale Dabney Henry
Fund.
To implement the purposes of the gift,
the Foundation first engaged a prominent Richmond architectural
firm to develop a master plan. This plan provided a general
approach to the renewal with details developed by a noted
New York landscape architectural firm and two Lynchburg firms
– Harvey-Delaney Landscape Architects and Craddock Cunningham
Architectural Partners.
The dedication of the Commonwealth
Courtyard on Saturday, June 4, 2005, marked the completion
of the most important improvements to the grounds since the
restoration of Henry’s law office and reconstruction of his
house in the 1950s and 60s.
While further transformation is planned
and already underway, the renewal of Red Hill to date stands
as permanent testimony to the legacy of a great American patriot.
Funded in part by the Barksdale Dabney Henry Fund, current
and future projects include development of the Quarter Place
Trail, leading visitors through the history of tobacco production
on the Red Hill plantation, and the Staunton River Trail,
where visitors venture to sites Henry knew well, including
the remains of a Woodland Indian settlement, watchtower overlook,
bateaux landing, Falling River fish trap, and ferry overlook.
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