Historical Guide to Old Charlottesville / With mention of its statues and of Albemarle's shrines

GEORGE ROGERS CLARK STATUE
West Main Street near Twelfth

Sculptor, Robert Ingersol Aitkin. Unveiled, January 6th, 1922. This seven-figure group portrays the mounted Conqueror of the North West in conference with a standing Indian chief, who shares the central focus. Their attendants complete the vital and finely balanced conception. A surrounding planting of pine suggests a forest atmosphere.

This frontier military leader was born in Albemarle County, 1752, on the Stony Point Road. His family removed to Caroline County when he was five years of age, and he early migrated to Kentucky. Upon the coming on of the Revolution he threw himself ardently into the protection of the exposed northwestern regions. At Williamsburg he presented their dangers to the Assembly and obtained a military commission for their defense against British and Indian forces. He was in chief command and rose to Brig. General. During this period, 1778-1783, he was a popular idol and was called “the George Washington of the West.”

His later life was tragically darkened by debts contracted for the necessities of his men and never made good by Virginia. Political intrigue and calumny added to his misfortunes. He died in poverty and neglect near Louisville, Kentucky, 1818.

LEE STATUE
Lee Park. East Jefferson and N. 2nd Streets
Opposite Charlottesville Library

Sculptor, Leo Lentelli. Unveiled, May 21, 1924. This equestrian figure of Lee is in monument style. The block which it occupies was from 1929 the Southall-Venable home.

Robert Edward Lee was born, 1807, at Stratford, Virginia, of distinguished ancestry. The family’s founder came to Virginia in the reign of Charles I, and became the colony’s Secretary of State and a member of the privy Council of Virginia.

A graduate of West Point (later its Superintendent), and distinguished in the Mexican War, Lee had resigned from active service when Lincoln offered him command of the Federal forces in the field. With a heavy heart he declined. (He had earlier freed his slaves.) Writing on the eve of the crisis, he said “—I can anticipate no greater calamity for the country than the dissolution of the Union.... Still a Union that can only be maintained by swords and bayonets ... has no charms for me. If the Union is dissolved and the Government dispersed, I shall return to my native State and share the miseries of my people, and, save in defense, will draw my sword no more.”

After the war, Lee set himself to heal the wounds of his people. He refused public office and became President of Washington College (now Washington and Lee) in Lexington. Died, 1870.

“Lee’s high character, his moral courage, his noble nature, and his mastery of the art of war, make him a notable figure in history.”

MINIATURE MODEL OF LEE
Charlottesville Library
N. 2nd and East Jefferson Streets

Sculptor, Henry M. Shrady. Presented by the Honourable and Mrs. Alexander Wilbourne Weddell through the Richmond Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. 1937. This charming equestrian figure of the Confederate General, by Shrady, was executed as the first step in a heroic statue commissioned by Mr. McIntire. The sculptor’s sudden death prevented the fulfillment of this contract, but Charlottesville is fortunate in owning this model of the artist’s noble conception.

ENVOI

In the 1870’s the town’s postmaster lay in his final illness. In the manner of the day a friend sat beside his bed and extolled the blessedness of heaven. The old gentleman assented quietly, adding, “but I believe I should prefer to compromise and remain in Charlottesville.”

1. Old Court House

2. Sixth Street

3. Farrish House

4. Stonewall Jackson

5. Lee Statue

6. Monticello; Ash Lawn; Michie Tavern

7. Lewis & Clark

8. George Rogers Clark

Shaded Area—Old Town

Transcriber’s Notes

• Silently corrected a few typos.
• Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook is public-domain in the country of publication.
• Added page numbers, and generated a hyperlinked Table of Contents.
• In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by _underscores_.