Mirador Landscape

Hidden Jewel: The Mirador Landscape
Greenwood, Virginia
Mirador in 1909, painted by Hoffbaur. (couresy of Becker)
A report documenting the history of the Mirador landscape and its six generations of owners.
Written by Andrew Kohr

Prepared for the Garden Club of Virginia
2004 Rudy J. Favretti Fellowship
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Rose Garden in full bloom, looking northeast. (Photo by author, August 2004)
Hidden Jewel: The Mirador Landscape Garden Club of Virginia Rudy J. Favretti Fellowship 2004 V
Acknowledgements
The Rudy J. Favretti Fellowship is successful in large part

due to the efforts of those who wish to see continued the tradition of the
documentation of culturally significant and influential landscapes. The Gar-
den Club of Virginia and specifically the past and present members of the
Restoration Committee have supported this type of work through this fel-
lowship. I will always remember the gardens and sites I have visited with
Garden Club members and especially the friendships I have made during the
course of this fellowship.
The supervision, mentorship, and friendship provided by Will Rieley,

the Landscape Architect for the Garden Club or Virginia, and the landscape
architects at the office of Rieley and Associates have been invaluable to the
successful completion of this project. I would like to thank all of them for
their help with this fellowship and especially Will Rieley. His passion and
knowledge of historic landscapes inspired me throughout the fellowship and
has greatly influenced me as I prepare for entry into the landscape architec-
ture profession.
Much of the knowledge, photographs, and plans of the

Lancaster and Scott periods at Mirador can be attributed to Jeannie
(Scott) Rutherfoord, past owner of Mirador, who was very interested in the
restoration of the gardens and landscape. She provided me with access to
drawings, photographs, and intimate knowledge of the changing Mirador land-
scape. I would like to thank her for her time and interest in the project and her
care in preserving the historical record of Mirador.
I would like to extend my gratitude to Dana Angell, and the Archive

staff at the Library of Virginia for providing digital photographs of Mirador
following the Tree family renovation. Finally, I would like to thank Stephanie
Jacobs at the Virginia Historical Society for providing digital images of Mirador
from the Lady Astor photograph album.
VI Hidden Jewel: The Mirador Landscape Garden Club of Virginia Rudy J. Favretti Fellowship 2004
Croquet lawn and serpentine wall, looking northeast.
(Photo by author, July 2004)
Hidden Jewel: The Mirador Landscape Garden Club of Virginia Rudy J. Favretti Fellowship 2004 VII
Preface
Mirador has played a significant role in the history of Albemarle County

and Virginia. Its setting at the base ofthe Blue Ridge Mountains continues
to inspire those who reside, work, and visit the estate. Despite its impor-
tance as an architectural gem and former home of the famous Langhorne
sisters, to date there has been no document written specifically about this
estate. This report is the first attempt to tell the story of Mirador and its
landscape.
Studying the rich history of Mirador involved the documentation of

the existing landscape, an examination of the landscape’s evolution, and an
exploration of its social and cultural context . To accomplish these objec-
tives, the author attempted to identify and locate resources that referenced
Mirador and to compile as many images of the property that extant. This
report makes an effort to dispel past myths about Mirador and concretize
dates of construction, ownership, and events, as well as accurately identify
changes made to the landscape.
The report is divided into four major areas of ownership that parallel
significant changes to the landscape and societal shifts at Mirador. Included
in this report is a rendered plan of the Mirador gardens that supplements
information in the report and provides an accurate documentation of the
exisiting landscape. Taken together these elements help portray Mirador in an
accurate and fascinating light, thereby justifying it as the “Hidden Jewel” of
Albemarle County.
Notes: The report uses a layout that is representative of the stationary

used by the Langhorne family and Nancy Lancaster while owners of Mirador.
Many of the photographs presented in the report are from three sources: Robert
Becker’s 1996 book Nancy Lancaster: Her Life, Her World, Her Art, Alice Winn’s
1974 book entitled Always a Virginian, and photographs and drawings from
the Jeannie (Scott) Rutherfoord collection.. Illustration credits have been
shortened to Becker, Winn, or Rutherfoord to save space and eliminate re-
dundancy. Finally, every attempt has been made to locate all books, docu-
ments, manuscripts, photographs, and collections that pertain to Mirador. While
not all have been researched for logistical reasons, they are listed in Appendix
Three: Bibliography.
VIII Hidden Jewel: The Mirador Landscape Garden Club of Virginia Rudy J. Favretti Fellowship 2004
2-ASC
LA
VAC, PC
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2-SV
4-VAC
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Tennis Court
Greenhouse
5-MS
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with WF
PS PC
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BS With 19-BS
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MS Beds: 26-BM RS BM
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2-AR
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BS AR 2-BS Brick Wall Enclosed
Bordered RS
With BS
by BM
CJ AR
BS AR
Wooded Area: HH, VM, LJ
Main House
AS PO
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29-BS
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BS AR
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AS AR BS
Plant List TS
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AR Acer rubrum Red Maple AG Abelia x grandiflora Shiny Abelia
CA BS AS
AS Acer saccharum Sugar Maple UA AT Asimina triloba Common Pawpaw
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ASC Acer saccharinum Silver Maple FA AZ Azalea sp. Azalea
Arch and
BP Broussonetia papyrifera Paper Mulberry MG BM Buxus microphylla Littleleaf Boxwood
Rock Wall
CJ Cercidiphyllum japonicum Katsuratree BS Buxus sempervirens American Boxwood
FA Fraxinus americana White Ash CA Caragana arborescens Siberian Peashrub
FG Fagus grandifolia American Beech EA Euonymus alatus Burning Bush
GD Gymnocladus dioicus Kentucky Coffeetree HS Hibiscus syriacus Rose-of-Sharon
IO Ilex opaca American Holly LA Ligustrum amurense Amur Privet
JV Juniperus virginiana Eastern Redcedar LI Lagerstroemia indica Crapemyrtle
LT Liriodendron tulipifera Tulip Tree PC Philadelphus coronarius Sweet Mockorange
MG Magnolia grandiflora Southern Magnolia RC Rhododendron carolinianum Carolina Rhododendrum
Barn
MS Malus sp. Crabapple RS Rhododendron sp. Rhododendrum
MXS Magnolia x soulangiana Saucer Magnolia SJ Spiraea japonica var. alpina Japanese Spirea
PO Platanus occidentalis Sycamore SP Syringa pekinensis Pekin Lilac
PS Prunus serotina Black Cherry SV Syringa vulgaris Common Lilac
PSP Prunus subhirtella Weeping Higan Cherry VAC Vitex agnus-castus Chastetree
var. pendulla
QG Quercus georgiana Georgia Oak
Groundcovers/Vines
QP Quercus palustris Pin Oak
QR Quercus rubra Red Oak HH Hedera helix English Ivy
TC Tilia cordata Littleleaf Linden LJ Lonicera japonica Japanese Honeysuckle
TS Tsuga canadensis Canadian Hemlock VM Vinca minor Vinca
UA Ulmus americana American Elm WF Wisteria floribunda Japanese Wisteria
Prepared by: Andrew Kohr

Rudy J. Favretti Fellow Mirador 1-0" = 40-0"
Garden Club of Virginia
Summer 2004 Greenwood, Virginia 0 20 40 80
1835-1892: The Building of Mirador
The property where Mirador now stands is located in western Albemarle

County, south of the village of Greenwood. Presently, Mirador is bounded by
US Route 250 to the south, County Road 690 to the east and County Road
691 to the west. Mirador ownership has included property north to the Blue
Ridge Mountains. However, as is the case today, the improved land for Mirador
is south of what is currently Interstate 64.
Little is known about the history of the Mirador property prior to the
Bowen’s ownership. The earliest records indicate that in the early nineteenth
century a miller named William Ramsay owned the property where Mirador
now stands. There is very little recorded information about Ramsay and his
landholdings. As early as 1802 he had constructed a one-story frame home
northwest of Mirador known as Millburne. The house was expanded in 1816
when Ramsay added an eight-foot wide piazza along its principal façade. The
property also included a barn and a combination mill and distillery on the
property.1 Today, Millburne is located across County Road 691west of Mirador.
Additional records from the Mutual Assurance Society of Virginia in-

dicate that Ramsay operated a mill on 863 acres as early as 1806 and presumably
lived on the property by 1822.2 In 1830 tax listings valued his collective land-
holdings in the $4,000-5,000 range which was comparable to other estates such
as the Redlands, Tufton, and even Monticello.3 This placed Ramsay in the
middle to upper half of landholders (in terms of property value) in Albemarle
County during the first third of the nineteenth century.
2 Hidden Jewel: The Mirador Landscape Garden Club of Virginia Rudy J. Favretti Fellowship 2004
View of Mirador looking southwest. (Photo by the author, August 2004)
Hidden Jewel: The Mirador Landscape Garden Club of Virginia Rudy J. Favretti Fellowship 2004 3
1835-1892
The exact date of William Ramsey’s death is unknown. However by

1835 his children had inherited the 375-acre property and in turn sold it to
Colonel James M. Bowen. The deed of warranty on March 1, 1835, included a
“mansion house”, mills, and a half-acre reserved as a graveyard for the Ramsay
family and their heirs.4 Bowen’s grandfather, Richard Bowen, had been a sol-
dier in the French and Indiana Wars in the eighteenth century, and in 1758 he
was granted land in Virginia for his services.5 Two generations later James M.
Bowen was one of four brothers who purchased property within Albemarle
County. Although his other brothers were successful, James was the only one
who remained in the region. Bowen was an officer in the War of 1812, and
following the war he and his wife Frances Stark Bowen, moved to the Pied-
mont region of Virginia.6
After Bowen purchased Millburne in 1835 he and his family lived at the
Greenwood estate near the base of the Yellow Mountains. It is unclear whether
he built a new residence or simply lived in the single-story frame house con-
structed by his predecessor. Whatever the situation his living arrangements
were not in an ideal location for Bowen to manage his estate, and in 1842 he
relocated to a more central area of the property.7 He chose a hill that over-
looked a millpond and also provided a spectacular view of the Blue Ridge
Mountains. He located the house, so it faced southeast towards the current
US Route 250. At the time, this was the principal stagecoach turnpike from
Richmond to White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, in the nineteenth cen-
tury.8
Bowen built his new house in the popular Greek Revival style. This
style was all the more fashionable because of Thomas Jefferson’s private estate
Monticello, located in the eastern half of the county, as well as the University
of Virginia also designed by Jefferson. These influences established high stan-
dards for other Greek Revival residences in the area. The square house was
made of Flemish-bond brick construction with symmetrical facades that in-
cluded six-over-six double hung sash windows on the first and second floors.
Basement fenestration included six-paned fixed casement windows that con-
tinued the symmetrical pattern along the principal façade.
The Building of Mirador
The first and second floor entries on the southeast elevation had arched
fanlights with a rounded arch window in the attic above. There was also a
central, one-story portico with a second story porch supported by paired
Doric columns on the front elevation. The house was constructed with four
interior end chimneys and an additional front-gabled side entry on the south-
west elevation. In addition to these elements, the earliest picture of Mirador,
probably taken after the Civil War, shows a covered side entry on the south-
west elevation with stairs leading to a path. This path most likely led to the
one-story brick double pen kitchen.9 There was also a single room frame
smokehouse to the northeast of the main house.10 Bowen named his new
home “El Mirador” which is Spanish for “ the spectacular view.” Eventually
the name was shortened to its current title “Mirador.”
Earliest Photograph of
Mirador. Taken sometime after
Civil War. Left, shows enlclosed
side entry with path leading to
kitchen. (Courtesy of K. Ed-
ward Lay, C-D Rom)
1835-1892
Early maps of Albemarle County more precisely identify James Bowen’s

landholdings, other Bowen family members who lived nearby, and the loca-
tion of his mill. The 1866 Map of Albemarle County, Virginia, shows a Bowen
living in the present location of Mirador along the Rockfish Gap Road. There
is also another Bowen southwest of Mirador along the Brookville and
Scottsville Road. This may have been another member of his family, possibly
one of his three brothers.
A second, more detailed map of Albemarle County drawn in 1875,

and commonly referred to as the “Peyton Map,” shows a J. Bowen living at
Mirador. Immediately southwest on the opposite side of Rockfish Gap Road
is the location of “Bowen’s Mill.” North of Mirador there is a T. Bowen
living at a property called Fairview, and again there is a Bowen living south-
west of Mirador in the same location as the 1866 map. The mill owned by
James Bowen is located at the intersection of two roads and appears to be the
only one within several miles of the Greenwood neighborhood. This size and
location of his mill is another indication that Bowen contributed significantly
to the local economy.
The most informative document about James Bowen was an article

written by his granddaughter, Fanny Castleman. In the article she referred to
her grandfather as a “domestic economist” who believed in utilizing nearby
resources as much as possible to help make Mirador more self-sufficient.11
This was a philosophy held by many early farmers during the first half of the
nineteenth century in the nearby Shenandoah Valley. They created unique
property lines so they could fully utilize the resources on their plantations.12
There is no record of who may have been the builder of Mirador, however,
the early working landscape included brick kilns, sawmills, a carpenter shop,
and a blacksmith shop which were used to make materials for the mansion and
the outbuildings.13
Site of Bowen’s Mill, opposite US Route 250. Portion of the 1866 Map of Albemarle
(Photograph by author, August 2004) County. The Bowen properties are un-
derlined. (Courtesy of Rieley and As-
sociates)
Mirador and Bowen’s Mill. T. Bowen at Fairview.
Portions of the 1875 Peyton

map that identify the Bowen
properties. (Courtesy of Rieley
and Associates)
Bowen, southwest of Mirador.
1835-1892
The early landscape of Mirador paralleled James Bowen’s sense of per-

sonal responsibility he held regarding his life and family. His descendents re-
membered James Bowen as an influential person who preferred to remain at
home focusing on his domestic duties.
James M. Bowen was a man of fine business

sense and high integrity. He was on the most
influential men in that whole section of Vir-
ginia, and could have had any office of public
trust, but he was a quiet home-loving man.14
The Agriculture Census of 1850 and 1860 validate this description. By the
mid-nineteenth century he owned 3,000 acres, and half were considered “im-
proved,” i.e. farmland. Ten years later Bowen owned over 4,000 acres with
more than half of his property used as farmland. His three primary crops
were wheat, tobacco, and Indian corn. He also grew oats, hay, peas and beans,
potatoes, butter, and honey. However, Bowen was not limited to crops and
food but had a livestock inventory that included horses, mules, cattle, oxen,
sheep, and swine. These animals were used to farm the land, helped produce
wool or buttermilk, or were slaughtered for money.15 James Bowen was a
successful farmer who emphasized diversity and self-sufficiency on his planta-
tion.
Prior to the Civil War, Bowen used slaves to run his plantation. The
1850 Slave Schedule listed fourteen slaves owned by James Bowen including three
females. A decade later the 1860 Slave Schedule listed Bowen as owning forty-
three slaves that included eighteen female slaves.16 According to Alice Winn
these slaves were housed along a road to the north of the mansion and beyond
the back gate. It is possible that this road may be the current path that lies to
the northwest and west of the mansion which connects the main house with a
majority of the outbuildings and surrounding farmland. After Chiswell Dabney
Langhorne purchased the property in 1892 he razed these structures. 17
Comparison of the 1850, 1860 and 1870 Agricultural Censuses.
1835-1892
Although the early Mirador landscape emphasized farming, there were

areas of the plantation devoted to other uses. James Bowen’s wife, Frances
Bowen was famous for her roses and her rose garden. However, the location
of this rose garden is unknown. During the Bowen ownership of Mirador,
there was a one-half acre cemetery located on the property. The cemetery
was later moved by C. D. Langhorne after he purchased Mirador. The photo-
graph referred to earlier shows plantings along a central walk that leads to the
front porch and is outlined by evergreens (possibly yews or boxwood).18 The
central path was terraced with stone steps that further emphasized Mirador’s
location atop its hill. In its earliest years Mirador’s variety of vegetation helped
establish the property as one of the more beautiful landscapes in the region.
The trees were magnificent and such a variety.

The stately oaks, immense yews, white pines,
poplars, elms, gums with their rich autumn fo-
liage, the mimosas, then the hollys, the box
plants, the crepe myrtle, the profusion of
smaller plant life; then the roses – never could
be found such perfect and healthy roses.19
Mirador was a center of activity for the Bowen family and its guests.
One of its most notable visitors was the French Colonel, Claudius Crozet,
who helped build the railroad through the Blue Ridge Mountains. He was in
the region from 1850 to 1860 and visited Mirador often.20 Despite the many
changes to the Mirador landscape in the nineteenth century, it was remem-
bered as an extraordinary place where many social events occurred. Fanny
Castleman reminisced of her grandfather James Bowen’s fine riding horses
and how often the family and their guests would ride to and from the Blue
Ridge Mountains for an afternoon outing. There were also tennis and croquet
games, dancing in the evening, reading aloud in the winter, and familial sing-
ing accompanied by Mrs. Bowen on the piano.21
The Civil War and Reconstruction era resulted in significant social and
physical changes to the Mirador landscape. Although no major conflicts oc-
curred nearby, there was the usual presence of troops in the region. Alice
Winn referred to the Greenwood and the Piedmont Valley as an “island in the
middle of a turbulent sea.”22 Stonewall Jackson marched his Confederate troops
eastward past the gates of the estate towards Richmond in June 1862.23 Less
than a year later, in a letter to Susan Meade Funsten in January 1863, David
Funsten mentioned that Confederate troops were staying on or near the Mirador
property. He also commented on the kind treatment by James Bowen.24
Remnants of the terraces on the front lawn.

(Photograph taken by author, August 2004)
Claudius Crozet, frequent visitor to

Mirador. (Courtesy of Stephenson
and McKee, Maps of Virginia)
1835-1892
With the end of the Civil War and with slavery abolished, Bowen was
forced to develop alternative ways to manage his farm. In November 1865 he
wrote to his friend Charles Palmer requesting that Palmer send more nails to
help with construction on his property. “I am building dwelling houses on my
land for tenants and renting out small farms, from one to two hundred acres to
a farm.”25 Bowen continued the letter by discussing the current labor market.
“I find negro labour is done with and we must get white labour. What do you
think of the plan? I would like to be with you to hear you talk and help me to
plan as to labour.”26
The changes to the Mirador landscape were seen in the 1870 Agricul-
tural Census. The total acreage that he owned dropped from over 4,000 acres in
1860 to 1,300 acres ten years later. Over half of his property was unimproved
and considered “woodland.” One theory is that Bowen rented his land to
white tenants, and this property was not listed as being owned by Bowen.
Another theory is that Bowen’s financial resources soured with the onset of
the Civil War, and he was forced to sell part of what he owned. Whatever the
reasons, the value of his farm machinery dropped dramatically, and he was
required to pay his workers wages for the first time.
By 1870 Bowen no longer grew tobacco, which exhausted the land’s

resources, but continued to grow wheat, corn, and oats. His livestock inven-
tory remained essentially the same, and he continued to cut hay and produce
wool. The most drastic difference in the landscape was Bowen’s develop-
ment of apple and peach orchards which produced 100 dolls of fruit in 1870.27
These orchards continued to remain a significant part of the landscape until
Nancy Tree Lancaster eventually removed the orchards in the 1920’s in favor
of cattle.28
James Bowen died in 1880, and his wife and heirs became owners of
the Mirador and Greenwood properties. Mrs. Bowen died several years later
and the 165 acres of property that included the Mirador house was transferred
to the Bowen children. Mary Bowen Funsten, daughter of James Bowen lived
at Mirador following her father’s death. However the Bowen children eventu-
ally chose to sell Mirador, because it had fallen into disrepair and needed a
great deal of work.29 In 1892, fifty years after the construction of the Mirador
mansion, the children sold the property for $9,000 to Chiswell Dabney
Langhorne, a self-made millionaire and resident of Richmond, Virginia.30 Soon
thereafter, Mirador would experience physical changes to the landscape and
the mansion and would become the social center of the region.
1892-1920: Mirador and the Langhorne Legacy
The Langhorne legacy at Mirador began in 1892 when Chiswell Dabney

Langhorne, known as “Shilly Langan” or simply C. D. to his friends, purchased
165 acres from the children of James M. Bowen for $9,000.31 Bowen estab-
lished Mirador as a respectable private residence and working farm which be-
gan to show its age after fifty years. Chiswell Dabney Langhorne reinvigorated
Mirador through enhancements to the architecture and the landscape and es-
tablished it as one of the premiere social centers of the region.
Chiswell Dabney (C. D.) Langhorne was the eighth generation of

Langhornes who descended from a Colonel John Langhorne of England. John
Langhorne moved to Warwick County, Virginia, in 1666 and settled at his
home, Gambell, overlooking the James River. Many of C. D.’s ancestors were
involved in politics and played an influential role in the growth and develop-
ment of Virginia as first a colony and then a state. His father was John S.
Langhorne, heir to the family flourmill. Likewise his mother also came from
a well-respected family. She was Sarah Elizabeth Dabney, whose father was a
respected lawyer in Lynchburg. They lived at “Point of Honor” in Lynchburg
prior to the Civil War.
The Langhornes were a successful family who owned mills and ware-
houses and were considered leading citizens of the town.32 John and Sarah
had three children: Anne Frances, Chiswell Dabney, and Elizabeth. Chiswell
Dabney was born in 1843 on the Dabney’s plantation near Lynchburg. For a
short time, prior to the Civil War, the Langhornes lived at Point-of-Honor in
Lynchburg. Both father and son fought for the Confederate Army. In 1859 C.
D. had joined the Virginia home guard, and John Langhorne served as a Major
in the 2nd Virginia Cavalry.33
C. D. Langhorne with three of his daughters Phyllis, Nancy, and Irene. (Courtesy of Winn)
1892-1920
In 1864 C. D. Langhorne was stationed in Danville, Virginia, and met

Nancy Witcher Keene, who was sixteen at the time and lived nearby. In De-
cember of that year C. D. and Nancy were married. Following the war, the
family had fallen on hard times because of the dire economic conditions in
the South. Alice Winn, a granddaughter of C. D., described his situation after
the Civil War.
Chiswell Dabney Langhorne, my grandfather,

was like all southern men penniless with a trunk
of Confederate Bonds and money, an unwork-
able plantation and a formerly prosperous flour
mill ruined by being a Confederate Hospital for
four years. At the age of 22 seven people were
dependent on him, young wife, Mother, Father,
Three Sisters, and a brother. 34
The Langhornes remained in Danville following the war, and C. D.’s

extended family became heavily dependent on him. They lived in Danville
until 1885, and during these years Nancy gave birth to seven of their eight
children. He managed to become an auctioneer in Danville where it is said he
was creator of the “Danville System” for his method of auctioning off loose
leafed tobacco.35 Nancy Lancaster, his granddaughter, described it further.
In Danville where at one time he auctioned

tobacco he did it so well that people would say
“let’s go and hear Chilly Langhorne auction
tobacco” just for the sake of hearing the per-
formance.36
The Langhorne Legacy
During his time in Danville, C. D.’s financial burden began to wear on

him, and he moved his family to Richmond in 1885. The Langhornes contin-
ued to struggle for five years until 1890 when C. D. convinced his friend,
Colonel Wallace from Baltimore, to give him a job with the railroad even
though he had no prior railroad or engineering experience.37 C. D. Langhorne
was incredibly successful as a contractor for the railroad, and within two years
he was a millionaire. With a change of fortune the Langhornes were regular
visitors at White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, in the 1890s, a resort that
was known as the “Newport of Richmond society.”38 The Langhorne family
also began to look for a second home to escape from the city during the sum-
mers and in 1892 decided to purchase Mirador.39
The Mirador Family: A Cast of Characters
Mirador was known as a simple and elegant plantation during the Bowen
ownership of the property. However, when C. D. Langhorne purchased the
property in 1892, he and his wife brought along their large family of eight
children and several servants. Each member of the Langhorne family was a
unique person with their own individual story. Their charm and grace, matched
with their confidence instilled in them by the strong personality of their patri-
arch, C. D. Langhorne, led Michael Astor to describe the family as “Mr.
Langhorne’s Circus.” C. D. was the ringmaster, his sons were part of the enter-
tainment, and his daughters were the main event.40
1892-1920
C. D. Langhorne (1843-1919)
His children and grandchildren described C. D. Langhorne as a hospi-

table, confident man with a dominant personality who always sought to pro-
vide advice to everyone, planned everything, and who expected excellence from
his children.41 His unique personality and commanding presence were shaped
as a youth, when C. D. was trained as a Virginia gentleman. He loved to ride
horses, hunt fox and quail, plan meals, host events, and exhibit a southern
hospitality.42 Life at Mirador revolved around Chiswell Dabney Langhorne.
Nancy Lancaster wrote:
I don’t think any place was more stimulating

that Home where Grandfather ruled the roost
or where such unexpected and amusing things
happened . . . There was great neighborliness –
Mirador was a center, with my Grandfather’s
dominant and witty personality and my
Grandmother’s quiet humor and witty person-
ality.43
Despite this great neighborliness, there was also simplicity and disci-
pline. Every morning the children were expected to be appropriately dressed
for breakfast regardless of the heat. The children were also in charge of
fanning C. D. as he took his afternoon nap and were to remain quiet while
doing so.44 People came to him for advice, and he was well respected in the
surrounding community. He would frequently offer his opinion, although it
was sometimes not asked for, as in church, where C. D. would locate himself
in the third pew, so he could signal to the reverend when the sermon had
continued too long.45 These character traits would be passed on to his daugh-
ters, and helped them become leaders in politics, fashion, and culture.
In 1912, after his wife had died and his children were grown, C. D.
retired to “Misfit” on the south side of Rockfish Gap Road (US Route 250).
In turn, he gave Mirador to his daughter Phyllis, although he continually ar-
gued with her over how the estate should be managed. Seven years later at
the age of seventy-five, Chiswell Dabney (C. D.) Langhorne, the patriarch of
the family, died. Upon his death, the Richmond Times Dispatch wrote the
following on February 15, 1919:
Chiswell Dabney Langhorne, famed as the fa-

ther of Mrs. Charles Dana Gibson, the original
“Gibson Girl” and father of America’s most
beautiful women, millionaire, railway builder,
sportsman and gentleman of the Old Virginia
School, is dead in his home . . . Mr. Langhorne
was a social favorite throughout Virginia and
Maryland, where he numbered many friends
gained through his wonderfully attractive per-
sonality. It was said of him that he was the
handsomest and most likeable man of the “Old
Dominion.”46
Chiswell Dabney Langhorne, the patriarch of the Langhorne family.

(Courtesy of Becker)
1892-1920
Nancy Langhorne (1848-1903)
Although C. D. Langhorne was the patriarch of the family, it was Nancy,

his wife, who ran Mirador and helped balance her husband’s temperament
with her quiet charm. Nancy Witcher Keene, “Nanaire” to her family, was
born in 1848, and grew up at her family’s farm, Cottage Hill, in Pittslyvania
County, Virginia. She was displeased with the move to Mirador at first, be-
cause she had spent a majority of her early life in rural Virginia and preferred
the city.47 Nanaire was a small, very beautiful woman, who was much quieter
than her husband. She and C. D. had a good sense of humor, which helped
make Mirador a joyful place to visit and live.48 Although she did not want to
necessarily have children, Nanaire was a loving mother who protected her sons
from C.D.’s discipline and often gave the children and grandchildren extra
food after the meals.49 When the Langhornes moved to Mirador in 1892, it
was she who redecorated the house, and helped supervise the gardening, in-
cluding her prized rose garden.50 While attending a horseshow in Lynchburg
in 1903, Nanaire collapsed suddenly and died of unknown causes at the age
of fifty-five. This was a crushing blow to the family because it was Nanaire
who kept the peace between C. D. and the children and who helped balanced
the strong personality of her husband.51
Nanaire was credited with balancing her husband’s strong personality

and keeping the peace in the family. (Courtesy of Winn)
1892-1920
Three Langhorne Sons

Keene (1869-1916)
Harry (1874-1907)
Buck (1886-1938)
The Langhorne sons were continually in the shadow of their sisters’

beauty and fame during their lifetime. Keene, Harry, and William Henry “Buck”
would all lead relatively quiet and short lives. During their childhood and
adolescent years, their father prevented them from drinking alcohol of any
kind. As a result, Keene and Harry would often venture to the mountains in
their youth and drink heavily. By the time they were young men, the brothers
suffered from alcoholism and related health problems. All three brothers were
married, but only Buck had children.52
Keene and Harry were born in 1869 and 1874 respectively, and each
worked for their father in the railroad business. As a young man, Keene pur-
chased property in Buckingham County, but would visit Mirador often. He
was married to Sadie Reynolds near the turn of the century, and he died nine
years after Harry in 1916. While attending the University of Virginia in the
1890’s, Harry contracted tuberculosis and was often confined to a cabin in
the Blue Ridge Mountains. Towards the end of his life he married Genevieve
Peyton, however after a few short years of marriage Harry died in 1907.53
The youngest brother William Henry, or simply Buck, was born in

1886 and was close to many of his nieces and nephews because of his age. He
married Edith Forsythe in 1907 and had five children. Buck worked for Gov-
ernor Stuart and was eventually elected to the state legislature. He became so
popular that people throughout the state came to his district to vote for him.
He was clearly the most successful Langhorne son and lived until 1938.54
Although the Langhorne sons never matched the fame of their sisters, they
inherited their parents’ character traits that had made the Langhorne family so
well known.
Keene, the oldest Langhorne son. Harry and fiance Genevieve Peyton.
(Courtesy of Winn) (Courtesy of Winn)
Buck, youngest Langorne son and state senator.

(Courtesy of Winn)
1892-1920
Elizabeth (1867-1914)
Elizabeth, the eldest Langhorne child, was born in 1867, and like her
mother, she too was petite and very beautiful. When she was eighteen, she
married T. Moncure Perkins who was distantly related to her mother’s side of
the family.55 The Perkins lived in Richmond, but often came to Mirador to
visit. In 1914, after separating from her husband, Elizabeth continued to
remain in Richmond with her three children: Chiswell, Nancy, and Alice.
Later that year, Mr. Perkins and Elizabeth died within two weeks of each
other, and Nancy and Alice were sent to New York to live with their Aunt
Irene. Nancy would later own Mirador for thirty years, and Alice would pub-
lish a book in 1974 that detailed the life of the Langhornes at Mirador.56
Elizabeth, the oldest Langhorne daughter.

(Courtesy of Winn)
Alice and Nancy Perkins, Elizabeth’s daughters.

(Courtesy of Winn)
1892-1920
Irene (1873-1956)
Irene was the second oldest daughter, born in 1873, and was consid-
ered the most beautiful of the five sisters. Years later she confided in her sister,
Nancy, that C. D. would parade her around the county in a carriage to show
off her beauty.57 This led to Irene receiving sixty wedding proposals from a
variety of well-to-do bachelors. Irene was sent to New York to attend board-
ing school, and while there she was chosen to lead the cotillion at the Patriarch’s
Ball in 1893. A year later she met and married Charles Dana Gibson. This
proved to be quite a controversy because Gibson was a New Yorker, and mar-
rying a northerner was against southern tradition. The wedding took place in
1895 at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Richmond. Following the honeymoon, the
Gibsons returned to New York to a home that was given to them by C. D. and
had been designed by the architect Stanford White.58
The Gibsons spent most of their time in New York where Charles’
career would flourish. Gibson was an illustrator and later creator of the Gibson
Girls, which was the ideal representation of the Victorian woman (based in
large part on his wife Irene). They spent their summers in Maine, hosting
dignitaries, politicians, and other celebrities. Irene also followed in her mother’s
footsteps and maintained a beautiful garden there.
When her sister Elizabeth and her ex-husband died in 1914, Irene and
Charles adopted Elizabeth’s children Alice and Nancy. Because of their con-
nection to high society, Irene became involved in politics and charities such
as the Protestant Bib Sisters in New York City. Later she and Nancy helped
raise money for the restoration of Robert E. Lee’s boyhood home, Stratford
Hall.59 The Gibsons returned to Mirador often, and after her husband’s death,
Irene came to stay at Mirador for extended amounts of time until she died in
1956.
Charles Dana Gibson, creator of the Irene and C. D. Langhorne on Mirador

Gibson girls. (Courtesy of Becker) steps. (Courtesy of Becker)
Irene, inspiration for the Gibson Girls.

(Courtesy of Winn)
1892-1920
Nancy (1879-1964)
Nancy “Nannie” Langhorne, the middle Langhorne daughter, was

born in 1879. As a child Nancy attended a prestigious boarding school for
women in Richmond operated by Virginia Randolph Ellett. She became very
religious at a young age and considered Reverend Neve of the Immanuel Epis-
copal Church as her mentor into adult years. Nancy was completely opposite
of Irene, but had the same physical traits as her sisters. She had a sharp wit
and was very self-confident with an outgoing personality that she undoubt-
edly received from her father.
While visiting Irene in New York, Nancy was introduced to a family

friend, Robert Gould Shaw II. In 1897, Nancy and Shaw were married in the
drawing room at Mirador. Although this was a great occasion, Nancy still felt
the burden of being referred to as “the beautiful Irene Langhorne’s sister.”60
During their short marriage of five years, they had one child, Bobby. Follow-
ing the divorce, Nancy met William Waldorf Astor in 1905 while crossing the
Atlantic to England. They were married a year later, and moved to Cliveden in
England. Cliveden became known as one of the last “power houses” of Great
Britain. Prestigious individuals from all across the world visited Cliveden in-
cluding Winston Churchhill, Charles Lindbergh, Rudyard Kipling, and John
Sargent among others. Because of Nancy’s position and contacts, she be-
came a leading advocate for women’s suffrage, equal rights, and temperance.61
In 1919 she was elected as the first woman to the House of Com-
mons and served for twenty-five years. Soon thereafter Nancy Langhorne
Astor became one of the most famous women in the world, and a woman
who fought for international peace and improved social conditions in her
country. In addition to her role as a politician she also was a mother of five
children. Although Nancy spent most of her adult life in England, she re-
turned to her childhood home often and recalled Mirador fondly in her mem-
oirs. “I have never been as happy as I was there.”62 When she died in 1964,
she was mourned internationally.
Nancy, after her marriage to Waldor Astor.

Nancy as a teenager on her horse Queen Bee.

1892-1920
Phyllis (1880-1937)
Phyllis was the fourth Langhorne daughter born in 1880, and was very
close to her sister Nancy who was only a year older. Like Nancy, Phyllis led an
active life in her youth. Both Nancy and Phyllis also road horses very well and
competed in many horse shows as young women.63 Phyllis however was very
different than her other siblings. She was as witty as her sister Nancy, but she
also looked more like her mother Nanere than the other daughters. Phyllis
was considered wistful, introspective, and melancholy – a more romantic per-
sonality.
Similar to Nancy, Phyllis’ first marriage was a short lived one to a New
Yorker named Reggie Brooks. Nearing her divorce of Reggie in 1914, she fell
in love with Captain Henry Douglas-Pennant, however he died in France.64
In 1917 Phyllis married Lord Robert Brand, a successful businessman and
politician. Brand was an Oxford Scholar, military hero, and nicknamed the
“The Wisest Man in the Empire.”65 It was Brand who warned England and
the Allies after World War I that Germany would rise again to conquer the
world.
In 1912, prior to her divorce from her first husband, C. D. gave Mirador
to Phyllis as a gift, and he then retired to Misfit.66 Eventually in 1920 Phyllis
sold the property to her niece, Nancy (Perkins) Tree, because she and Lord
Brand were rarely in the United States. Phyllis died seventeen years later in
1937 at the age of fifty-six.
Phyllis, an excellent horse rider who was often reserved and

melancholy.. (Courtesy of Winn)
1892-1920
Nora (1889-1955)
The youngest sister, Nora, was born in 1889, the only Langhorne child
born in Richmond. Nora was the most carefree and generous of the Langhorne
sisters, and this would eventually lead to consequences in her relationships
later in her life. At one time, Nora was engaged to three men at once.67 Nora
was also known to have a wonderful stage presence and loved performing in
front of others, whether it be playing the piano or imitating famous people.
In 1908 she married Paul Phipps, an architect from New York. They
had two children, one of whom was Joyce Grenfell, the actress. Phipps would
later help Nora’s niece, Nancy Perkins Tree, redesign her homes at Kelmarsh
Hall and Ditchley Park. However, during her marriage to Phipps, Nora met
Lefty Flynn, a former Yale football player and actor. They ran away together,
and were married in 1932. Charles Gibson found them in the western United
States singing for money and convinced Nora to come back to her other hus-
band. Although she rejoined Phipps in England, Nora eventually ran away
again to marry Lefty.68
Nora on the steps of Mirador. (Courtesy of Winn)
Among Nora’s many talents was the ability Nora, carefree and generous.
to entertain. (Courtesy of Winn) (Courtesy of Winn)
1892-1920
The Mirador Staff
The Langhorne daughters, their husbands, and their children were the
central characters during their time at Mirador. However, there was also a
larger family network that included numerous ex-slaves and other free African-
Americans who were viewed as members of the family by their employers.
They were called “Mammy,” “Aunt,” or “Uncle,” and many were nannies for
the Langhorne children and grandchilden. They included:
• Aunt Liza Pie - nanny for Nancy Lancaster and Nora Langhorne
• Margaret Wallace - nanny for Alice Winn
• Liza Piatt - Nancy Astor’s nurse
• Lou Dense - nanny and cook
• Aunt Ann Brodie - cook
• Auntie Veenie
• John Pate – stableman
• Emily Pate - housemaid
• Blanche and Mote Whiting
• Richard Wood and son Stewart Wood - butlers
• Mignon and Beatrice - daughters of the Woods
• Aunt Veeny Barbour
• Mrs. Callie Brown and her daughter Frances69
Stewart Wood, butler for the

Langhorne family and head of the
staff during the Tree ownership.
Aunt Veeny Barbour on Mirador steps before

porch wings were added. (Courtesy of Becker)
The Mirador staff at the turn of the century.. (Courtesy of Becker)
1892-1920
Life at Mirador
Beyond its beautiful landscape, Mirador is remembered as an active,

vibrant estate throughout all the seasons. It was this beauty that helped shape
the lives of the Langhorne children. During “At Home Days” in the warmer
months, Mirador welcomed its neighbors each Wednesday to play tennis and
croquet.70 The children were involved in horse shows, playing tennis, court-
ship, and a myriad of other activities.
There was never a dull moment at Mirador. Out

of doors there was a grass tennis court which
was not even regulation size and which had a
cedar tree planted in the middle of one side
line. There was a squash court also and of
course horses to ride. There were fox hunts
and partridge shooting for the brave who would
try to keep up with the Langhorne’s sports-
manship. In the evening there was dancing to
the strumming of guitars and banjos played by
members of the family and visitors and walks
around the lawn in the moonlight. 71
Life at Mirador was equally exciting in the wintertime. During the

Christmas season, “Mirador seemed to have a crystalline sparkle.”72 The Christ-
mas tree was located in the squash court (location unknown) and the family
and the servants would each have their own celebration. On Christmas Day,
following church, neighbors would come to lunch at Mirador.73
Preparations for a barbeque at Mirador, early twentieth century.. (Courtesy of Becker)
1892-1920
Surrounding Landscape
Following the Langhorne’s purchase of Mirador in 1892, the family

used the property as a summer home for two years before permanently mov-
ing to the estate. Early descriptions of Mirador and the surrounding agricul-
tural community help place the estate within a larger context. These descrip-
tions are provided by Elizabeth (Langhorne) Perkins’ two daughters: Nancy
(Perkins) Field Tree Lancaster, former owner of the property, and her sister,
Alice (Perkins) Winn. These women spent a considerable amount of time at
Mirador during their youth and have described the property in various letters,
stories, and books written during their adult life.
Despite Mirador’s rural character, many families lived nearby and

Greenwood became the center of life. When the Langhorne family came to
Mirador they would travel via train to the Greenwood Station and then con-
tinue their journey on horseback two and a half miles south to the estate.
Greenwood Station at this time consisted of a post office, Bruce’s General
Store, a blacksmith’s shop, and several residences.74 A significant part of the
experience of visiting Mirador was the ride from the Greenwood Station to
the property. In one of her essays, Nancy Lancaster described the experience
of visiting Mirador as a child:
Through some untidy woods we came at last

to the rolling fields of the Mirador farm. On
the right was the wonderful view past Mirador
down the valley to Humpback, its outline stand-
ing out against the star-lit sky the exact spot
where the sun sets behind the Blue Ridge. We
turned right-handed around the farm fields, past
Misfit and, after crossing a stream, we bore to
the right through the Mirador gates…The
house, which was ablaze with light, was the most
welcoming sight in the world to us. 75
Greenwood remains a small village today.. (Photograph taken by author,

August 2004)
The road most likely taken from Greenwood by visitors to Mirador.

(Photograph taken by author, August 2004)
1892-1920
The Changing Landscape
When C. D. Langhorne purchased the property, there were several

intact features of the landscape that remained from the Bowen family. First,
there was a wooden gate and an old brick wall bordered by boxwood at the
main entry of the property. This wall was surrounded by “old cedars” that
blew down in the 1911 hurricane. It was under the cedar trees that the C. D.
Langhorne purchased Mirador.76 Descriptions of the property included refer-
ences to crapemyrtle trees “on the lawn” and althea bordering the walk to the
cottage where Nancy Lancaster was born.77 It is highly likely the Perkins
sisters were born in the old kitchen, which was used as a guest cottage during
the Langhorne ownership of Mirador. The descriptions of vegetation refer to
areas southeast and southwest of the house respectively. Lancaster also men-
tioned the existence of the millpond at the base of “Mirador Hill.”78
C. D. Langhorne expanded the main house to compensate for his

growing family and his recreational activities. First, he added wings on either
side of the property in 1897 to provide more interior living space.79 C. D.
extended the front porch on the southeast facade to provide additional out-
door seating opportunities along the principal elevation. Pictures show that
the porch was supported by brick piers with latticework. It also had spindled
balustrades along the deck.
The Kitchen, an original structure, where the Perkins children

were born. (Photo by author, August 2004)
Photograph of millpond, prior to intense planting during Tree

ownership. (Courtesy of Virginia Historical Society)
Photograph showing cement walk, absent of boxwood.

(Courtesy of Virginia Historical Society)
Extended front porch. (Courtesy of Vir-

ginia Historical Society)
1892-1920
C. D. replaced the small wooden gate at the main entry with a large
stone arch with “Mirador” inscribed in the keystone. He also used leftover
cement to repave the brick path from the bullring to the front porch. The
origins of the bullring are unknown, but was most likely constructed by the
previous owner James Bowen. Along this path there were boxwood which
C.D. had removed because they smelled like “wet-dog.”80 He also placed a
kennel for foxhounds “in the field behind the cottage” in preparation for
hunting at Afton with his neighbor Mr. Goodloe.81 It is unclear whether this
is southwest or northwest of the brick cottage.
A picture of Mirador following the renovation by the Trees.

Brick Concrete Brick
Closeup of stairs , showing brick pier, concrete steps, and a

central section of brick stairs. (Courtesy of Becker)
1892-1920
During the renovation, C. D. removed the former slave cabins along

the road north of the main house.82 There is little information about the
location of slave quarters during the time James Bowen owned the property.
However, Alice Winn stated that “near the back gate there used to be a street
of log cabins for the slaves.”83 A side road to the west of the guest cottage
intersected the main roadway near the entry arch and extended north past the
cottage towards the fields. This road intersects with two others with one road
heading northwest toward the mountains (This might be the location of the
former slave dwellings).
These slave cabins were replaced by two wooden cottages for the ser-
vants on either side of the smokehouse.84 Near the back gate, possibly located
at the intersections of these paths, there was a woodpile which was a gather-
ing point for the servants throughout the day. This is evidence that the back
gate was most likely located at the intersection of roads north of the house.
Nancy Lancaster detailed the existence of other buildings and features on the
landscape in her essay describing Mirador:
There were buildings for servants, a barn, a

dairy, smoke house, and the brick cottage.
There was a family graveyard which Grandfa-
ther moved to the Church. The Garden was at
the back surrounded by a picket fence. It had
two squares of flowers (one still remains) and a
vegetable garden beyond.85
The intersection of three paths, possible location of back gate.

(Photo by author, August 2004)
Slave quarters may have been located on this road..

1892-1920
Lancaster’s description is significant, because it helps identify the struc-

tures and landscape elements on the property. The “barn” Lancaster men-
tioned is likely the same one, noted by Alice Winn, that was located south-
west of the mansion, opposite the front lawn. According to Winn there was a
large red barn that housed “the carriages, buggies, station wagon, buckboard,
tandem cart, and four-in-hand.”86 This barn was most likely replaced by the
new brick stable Phyllis constructed in 1908.87
The “smokehouse” was immediately northwest of the main house,

and Alice Winn described it as being encompassed by an orange trumpet plant.
Most likely this was Campsis radicans commonly known as Trumpet Vine.88
The “brick cottage” is the guest cottage southwest of the main house, re-
ferred to earlier that was used by the Perkins when they visited and where the
Perkins’ daughters were born. It was on the back porch of the cottage where
the Langhorne children and grandchildren were able to observe the day-to-
day activities that was present along the western path that led to and from the
Mirador fields and orchards.89
Brick barn, south of the main house, constructed by Phyllis in 1908.

(Photo by author, May 2004)
Smokehouse on right was constructed by the first owner James Bowen.

Side road, adjacent to the cottage, i.e. kitchen, used as a path for work-
ers to move throughout the farm. (Photo by author, August 2004)
1892-1920
The graves of the Bowen and Funsten families are located in the cem-
etery of the Immanuel Episcopal Church. The location of the gravestones is
further evidence that they were once located at Mirador and later moved to
their present location. Several of the Bowen family graves have multiple grave-
stones for the same individual and are oriented in a north-south direction as
opposed to the other graves which face east-west.
The locations of the dairy, graveyard, and vegetable garden are un-
known. The “Garden” surrounded by a picket fence is also described by Alice
Winn. She recalled the “old-fashioned” garden enclosed by a white picket
fence laid out in squares vegetables and flowers and bisected by herringbone
brick paths.90 Lancaster and Winn are most likely referring to the existing rose
garden that lies north of the main house.
A final important feature of the landscape is the large fruit orchard

that were planted at the back gate and continued to the forested areas and
mountains north of Mirador. This orchard consisted primarily of Albemarle
Pippin apples. There is also evidence that James Bowen had an orchard at
Mirador as early as 1870. When Nancy Lancaster purchased the property in
1920 there were approximately 7,000 trees in the orchard.91
James M. Bowen grave.

Existing Rose Garden, possibly same location as Nanaire’s rose garden.

Remnants of furit orchard that at one time contained 7,000 trees.

1892-1920
Chiswell Dabney Langhorne’s legacy at Mirador lasted for nearly thirty

years. During that time he established himself as one of the most influential
men in Virginia, and his daughters became famous for their beauty and active
social lives. Mirador itself became the center of life in western Albemarle
County. Following Nora’s marriage to Paul Phipps in 1912, C. D. Langhorne
officially gave Mirador to his fourth daughter Phyllis who was close to the
end of an unhappy marriage. C. D. Langhorne then moved across the street
to a farm he called “Misfit.”
Although he had officially retired from running the farm, he often

observed with his disapproval many of the improvements and changes his
daughter made. There is no information concerning the Mirador landscape
during Phyllis’ ownership of the property, other than an account by Alice
Winn, who wrote that she “remade the Mirador garden.” 92 This may in fact
refer to the formal garden within the white picket fence, or it may also refer to
a Nanaire Langhorne’s rose garden, also located somewhere north of the house.
In 1916 C. D. Langhorne began to place portions of his property into a trust.

Prior to his death in 1919 C. D. returned to Richmond, and the Misfit property
was sold to Nancy and Ronald Tree of England. Soon thereafter, the Trees
would purchase Mirador. By this time, Phyllis had divorced and then was
remarried to Lord Robert Brand of England. Because his political interests
were in England and C. D.’s death in 1919, Phyllis sold the property to her
niece, Nancy Tree and husband Ronald.
Mirador rose to prominence during its ownership by the Langhorne

family. It was the collective experience of the people, the house, and the
landscape that produced wonderful memories for its many occupants and
visitors. Nancy Tree’s memorable childhood at Mirador, influenced her and
her husband to purchase the property in 1920. Her feelings are summed up in
an essay she wrote years later about Mirador.
“Mirador to me was the place that healed all

my misery and where, after any storm of life,
I longed to be.”93
Southeast elevation, after the renovation by the Trees in 1921.

(Courtesy of The Library of Virginia)
1920-1950: Nancy Tree and Mirador’s Golden Age
When the Trees purchased Mirador in 1920, the property had regained
its beauty and charm through the tireless efforts of Phyllis (Langhorne) Brooks
Brand, the fourth daughter of Chiswell Dabney Langhorne. The improve-
ments included a newly constructed barn south of the main house. In addi-
tion, she restored many of the existing gardens to their original form. When
her niece Nancy Tree purchased the property in 1920, she would reinvigorate
the estate. The Trees would make Mirador well known for its gardens and
landscape as well as the people who inhabited it.
Nancy was born in 1897, the oldest daughter and second child to
Elizabeth Langhorne and T. Moncure Perkins. The birth took place in the
guest cottage at Mirador where Elizabeth stayed when visiting her parents.94
Her mother, Elizabeth, was the oldest of the Langhorne children and the only
one to marry a Virginian. Her father, T. Moncure, owned a meatpacking
factory in Richmond, Virginia, and rarely visited Mirador with his wife and
children. Nancy had two other siblings, an older brother Chiswell, and a
younger sister Alice.
The Perkins lived on Franklin Street in Richmond, Virginia, which was

known to be the center of the social scene during the late nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries. Nancy’s grandmother, Alice Lee Moncure Perkins lived
across the street from her son and his family. Nancy grew up attending board-
ing school both in Richmond and France. Although Nancy had fond memo-
ries of Richmond, she fell in love with Mirador at a young age. Elizabeth
Perkins and her children spent a great deal of time at Mirador, and Nancy
became close with her grandfather and her aunts, especially her Aunt Irene.95
Nancy Perkins on her seventh birthday.
The Perkins family at Mirador: From left: T. Moncure,

Nancy, Chiswell, and Elizabeth. (Courtesy of Winn)
1920-1950
She was also exposed to many of the famous Virginia estates, which
she visited with her mother throughout her childhood and adolescent years.
The stories and the houses have gripped me

since I was a child; and they influenced my idea
of beauty, and what is beautiful in a house, more
than anything else ever has. Mother used to take
us to see the old houses in Virginia when we
were children . . .”96
Specifically these plantations included Bremo, Carter’s Grove,

Merrywood (the Perkins family estate), Rosewell, Westover, Sabine Hall, Bran-
don, Tuckahoe, and Monticello.97 It was her experience seeing these great
estates as a young child that helped develop a context of Nancy’s vision for
Mirador and her other gardens later in life.
In 1910 the Perkins family, including Alice and Nancy, traveled to Eu-
rope for two years.98 During her visit, Nancy attended school in France, stayed
at a convent in Switzerland, and visited her Aunt Nancy Astor at Cliveden in
England. She had the opportunity to meet royalty from several countries and
was exposed to French, Italian, and English gardens. Specifically, Nancy was
most influenced by two places: Chenonceaux and Cliveden. Chenonceaux
was an estate originally owned by Diane de Poitier, and located near Tours,
France. She stayed with family friends at Chenonceaux and immediately fell in
love with the walled gardens, boxwood mazes, and fruit orchards.99
At her aunt’s home at Cliveden the gardens included complex par-

terres, fountains, and a balustrade located along a terrace in the lawn.100 Al-
though Nancy Lancaster never mentioned either garden specifically in her res-
toration of Mirador, the notion of large scale, grandiose country estates, that
included deliberate and symmetrical viewsheds, undoubtedly guided her ideas
for Mirador.
Mirador’s Golden Age
Chenonceaux, visited by Nancy Lancaster in her youth.. (Courtesy of

www.actuanet.com/ tonnellerie/francais/pres.htm)
Cliveden gardens, home of Lady Astor. (Courtesy of Becker)
1920-1950
When Nancy returned to the United States in 1912 at the age of fif-
teen, her parents had separated, and two years later they died within two weeks
of each other. Her Aunt Irene and husband Charles Dana Gibson raised her
in New York City.101 Nancy attended a boarding school in Middleburg, Vir-
ginia, and returned to New York in 1915. In the months following, she and
her cousin “Babs” Gibson were invited to numerous debutante balls. It was
at this point she was introduced to New England’s high society.102
During the summer months Nancy spent much of her time at Islesboro
Island, Maine, and at Mirador with her Aunt Phyllis. In 1915 at Islesboro she
met Henry Field, grandson of Marshall Field, and two years later they were
married in New York City. However, after only four months of marriage,
Henry died suddenly of complications from surgery. While in mourning Nancy
traveled to the Far East with her friends, and later on a trip to England she
met Ronald Tree, a cousin of the Field Family. They soon became close
friends and in early 1920 Nancy, Ronald Tree, and two of their friends traveled
to North Africa.
When they returned she and Ronald were married in May 1920.103
Prior to the wedding, Nancy had purchased the “Misfit” property opposite
Mirador on State Road 250, which had previously been the home of her grand-
father, C. D. Langhorne. After the wedding they moved to New York City
and later that year purchased Mirador from her Aunt Phyllis.104
Nancy and her first husband

Henry Field. (Courtesy of Becker)
Nancy and Ronald Tree on their wedding day.

1920-1950
The Delano Restoration
Nancy Tree and her husband Ronald commissioned William Delano,

an architect from New York, to renovate the house which had gone unchanged
for over thirty years. Delano was a rising star in the architecture profession
and a partner in the firm of Delano and Aldrich. He was a graduate of Yale
and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. In 1903 he had become a professor of
design at Columbia University and several years prior to his work at Mirador,
had served as a member of the United States delegation to the Paris Peace
Conference.105
In 1921 Delano was commissioned to renovate the Mirador estate.

Although he had designed numerous residences for wealthy clients, the Tree
property was his first project in Virginia. He worked closely with Nancy to
redesign the house and landscape at Mirador. On the principle (southeast)
elevation, designs called for the removal of the attic window and replacement
of the second story fanlight with a six-over-six double hung sash window to
match the adjacent fenestration. In an effort to return Mirador to a more
colonial appearance, the front porch wings were removed so that only the
covered portico remained.
Delano and Nancy also extensively renovated the northwest elevation.

Previously her Aunt Phyllis had partially enclosed the rear porch. Nancy wanted
to continue this theme by fully enclosing the back porch, thereby adding
another fifteen feet to the rear of the house. Delano designed a new stone
porch with metal railing that ran the entire length of the northwest façade
which was supported by brick arches underneath. Steps were placed at both
sides of the porch and led to a path and garden below. With the expanded
length of the building, Nancy asked Delano to enlarge the entry hall and
include a skylight that provided additional light for the interior space.106
Although many praised the architectural renovations as a positive

change for Mirador, there was some criticism to the work Nancy and Delano
had done. One of these critics was Angus McDowell, a former suitor of the
Langhorne sisters who wrote to Nancy expressing his distaste with the changes
which affected his memories of Mirador.
Nancy plus Billy Delano have of course made

it all quite lovely, but feel I must resent the im-
provements, but at night from the front of the
house, except for the fact that the trees have
grown, one could imagine it was just the same,
one cannot see the stable has gone, or that the
ends of the porch have been chopped off, or
that the bucket with the dipper is no longer on
the back porch, and certainly the descendants
of the crickets, tree-frogs, and fire-flies carry
on the tradition of any variation from what used
to be.107
The southeast elevation following the renovation.. (Courtesy of

Christian and Massie, Homes and Gardens in Old Virginia)
The northwest elevation with new porch and arcaded basement

entry.. (Courtesy of Becker)
1920-1950
Delano’s work was not limited only to the main house, but he also
focused his efforts on other structures on the property. It is known that Delano
designed the large livestock facility north of the main house which included a
large cobblestone courtyard and central fountain.108 The barn and outbuild-
ings are reminiscent of the main house at George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
Whether Delano designed the lesser important buildings on the property such
as the greenhouse, loafing barn or machine shed is unknown. However, he
may have designed the farm manager’s house and the building referred to as
“Callie’s Cottage” southwest of the kitchen. Both structures are brick and
date back to the 1920’s. There is, however, no documentation whether or not
Delano was ever commissioned to design these structures.109
The barn courtyard, designed by William Delano, date unknown.

Farm buildings, north of the barn and the main house.

Farm manager’s house, northwest of the main house.

1920-1950
William Delano and Nancy Tree worked closely on the redesign of

the landscape at Mirador. A major goal of this work was to strengthen the
vista of the Blue Ridge Mountains that stood north of the property. The
tennis court that was located to the north of the house and faced north-south
also heavily influenced the design of the gardens. Because of the tennis
court’s location, it created an odd angle with the remainder of the yard. Nancy
wrote in a letter to Jeannie Scott, a later owner of the property, “The entire
plan of the garden as I had it was governed by the great full angle of the
tennis court.”110 Because of this obstacle, Nancy again turned to William
Delano. “To balance it I had Billy Delano a great architect draw the place
and that was the key to why we tried to balance it on the other side.”111
The garden lawn was divided into two sections. The first was a sunken
garden bordered by a five-foot high brick wall. The wall extended to the
southwest beyond the house, and was flush with the house on the northeast
side. There was originally no brick wall along the southeast side, east of the
house. A brick path that led from the driveway ran southeast to northwest
and defined the western third of the garden. The eastern two-thirds of the
sunken garden was in line with the house. The entire sunken garden was a
lawn outlined by dogwood trees and boxwood. There was an arched formal
entry on the southwest facade that included a metal gate with the word
“MIRADOR” within its frame. Other less important entries were located
along the northwest and southeast facades. There was also a one-story brick
building built into the southwest wall.
Mirador gate, southwest fa-

cade. (Courtesy of
Rutherfoord)
Sandpile
Tennis Court
Lily Pond
Vegetable Gardens
Fountain
Lady’s Slipper
Rose Garden Key Gate
Smokehouses
and Arbors
Sunken Garden
Sketch of garden by Nancy Lancaster, no date. Map is labeled to show the major areas of the Tree
and Delano plan. (Courtesy of Rutherfoord)
1920-1950
Arbor and Central Lawn
Beyond the gate, Delano mirrored the existing smokehouses and placed
an arbor with wisteria between the two structures to establish the view. Be-
tween the smokehouses and the sunken garden was a turfed area enclosed by
a boxwood hedge. This area was often used as an area to sit and relax while
enjoying the view of the gardens and the mountains in the distance.112 The
second section of lawn extended north beyond the arcade to pair of stairs
that flanked a central fountain. Two rows of apple and pear trees along the
exterior of the lawn further guided the eye. Intermingled with the trees were
perennial borders. Large hedges of privet or boxwood outlined the north-
west-southeast paths that led from the sunken garden, past the smokehouses,
and north to the tennis court. To account for the angle of the tennis court, a
second arbor enclosed with wisteria was located adjacent to the court, and
honeysuckle was allowed to grow along the court enclosure. This partially
hid the tennis court and guided the eye through the arbor towards the moun-
tains beyond.213
View of rear lawn from arbor, no date.

(Courtesy of Rutherfoord)
West walk with borders, looking south, no date.

(Coutesy of Rutherfoord)
Central lawn and fountain, left, no date.

Arbor , no date. (Courtesy of Rutherfoord)
1920-1950
The Cross-Axes
William Delano, influenced by his training in classical architecture,

suggested working with the cross-axes throughout the plan. Although some
of these elements do not exist today, Nancy Lancaster drew sketches of the
original plans for Jeannine Scott while at Mirador in the 1980s. These plans,
although rough, provide a general framework for the layout of the garden, and
especially the axes which Delano emphasized.114 A small, round lily pond
surrounded by willow trees was placed northwest of the sunken garden and
arbor. On the east side of the central lawn, Delano created a grass opening in
the shape of a lady’s slipper. This area was shaped by dogwood, mockorange,
and bridal wreath and extended northwest from the rose garden. At the north
end of the lady slipper was a set of brick stairs that led to the raised elevation
around the tennis court.
Immediately south of the steps was another path running southwest

to northeast connecting the central garden to the eastern two paths. A her-
ringbone brick path led northeast from the rose garden and intersected a cross-
axis path and a brick structure known as the “key gate.” This key gate faced
northwest, and was meant to establish an additional viewshed for those who
looked northwest through the key shaped opening. A final northwest to
southeast path led from the key gate northwest toward the roadway. Al-
though it is unclear by the early records of the garden, this was probably the
area where the vegetable garden was located. At the end of this path, near
the roadway was an arbor and sand pile for the children.215
View of lawn andborders, eastern end of garden, no date.

View of Rose Garden Entry, possibly looking south, no date.

( Courtesy of Rutherfoord)
Rose Garden entry, looking south or west, no date.

( Courtesy of Rutherfoord)
1920-1950
The Rose Garden
Northeast of the sunken garden and nearer to the house was a rose
garden. The rose garden was connected with paths that ran northeast-south-
west in front of the smokehouses. Annette Hoyt Flanders, a Landscape Ar-
chitect from New York, designed this garden. Flanders who had a Masters
Degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Illinois, had experi-
ence working all across North America including Canada and Hawaii. In her
self-titled pamphlet, Landscape Architecture, Flanders noted job number 53 as
“the cutting garden at ‘Mirador.’”116 The original plan for the Rose Garden
called for thirty-six different varieties of roses laid out in formal parterres.117
A birdbath served as the central feature of the garden, with “Lead Figures”
located at certain points along the gravel paths. Interestingly, Nancy Tree,
her friends, and her family never mentioned Flanders in their letters when
describing the gardens. Rather, they credit Nancy or Delano with the results.
Irene Langhorne Gibson wrote to Nancy in the 1940’s after a visit to Mirador,
“Now your plans for all your garden planting have come true. The garden is
a dream.”118
Rose Garden, looking east with greenhouse in back-

ground. (Courtesy of Rutherfoord)
Rose Garden plan by Annette Hoyt Flanders, no date.

Portion of plant list. (Courtesy of Center of garden with birdbath.

Rutherfoord) (Courtesy of Rutherfoord)
1920-1950
Serpentine Wall
Several years later, following the Delano restoration, Nancy placed

an enclosed croquet lawn and serpentine wall to the east of the house that
transitioned to steps leading to the millpond. The serpentine path was in-
spired by Jefferson’s walls at the University of Virginia and was bordered by
magnolias. This was a controversial design, however after its construction,
many of the Tree’s family and friends including Bessie Martin, congratulated
her on her efforts.
The planting along the serpentine wall has

grown out of recognition. You were certainly
far seeing when you did that, and I thought it
was so unnecessary as did many others. I re-
member the Fox boys arrived with bricks and
mortar, and there was right sharp argument
going on but you had the vision. 119
View of serpentine wall and croquet lawn, looking northeast.

Path of leading up embankment into croquet lawn. (Courtesy of

Rutherfoord)
Path heading northeast from serpentine walk, down hill

toward pond. (Photo by author, August 2004)
1920-1950
Nancy Tree - Garden Designer
In 1923, following the initial renovation of the mansion and grounds,

Nancy Tree began expanding the horticultural variety on the property through
the propagation of annuals and perennials. The trees and shrubs were or-
dered from a variety of nurseries all across the eastern United States.
The list of perennials included:
· Campanula persicifolia (peach, bells, blue, white)

· Coreopsis lanceolata grandiflora
· Delphinium (Blue and White Chinese)
· D. belladonna (sky-blue)
· D. bellamosum (deep blue)
· Lilac Queen Wihelmena
· Lilac Gold Medal Hybrids
· Sweet Rocket (lilac and white)
· Foxglove
· Lupinus polyphyllus
· Aquilegia
· Anemone St. Brigids
The annuals used for bedding during 1923 included:

· ageratum
· sweet alyssum
· candytuft
· petunia
· Phlox drummondii
Later, this list was expanded and many of the annuals were used to
border perennials or were planted in the cutting garden.120 Nancy Tree kept
very specific records about the maintenance of the grounds and the vegeta-
tion at Mirador. Samples of these records were given to Jeannie Scott, a former
owner, in the early 1980’s by Nancy Tree Lancaster. The eighteen pages of
notes outline specific directions for the planting of the gardens and the land-
scape. In addition to the formal areas of the garden previously highlighted,
Nancy Tree had extensive plans for the less formal areas of the property. She
lists seventeen different areas of the landscape: Entrance Driveway, Lawn
Inside Gates to Steps, Front Porch, Lawn Outside Dining Room, Sunken
Garden, Hillside, Pond Planting, Orchard Garden, Vegetable Garden, Berry
Garden, Rose Garden, Shrub Garden, Pond Garden, Back Yard, Shrubbery
Plantings Near Squash Court, The Present Nursery, and Road to ______
House.121
Some of the locations such as the Sunken Garden and the Pond Plant-
ing (refers to the millpond) are well known locations. Other areas such as the
Squash Court and the Shrub Garden are unknown. The Berry Garden may
have been associated with the Vegetable Garden as well as the Orchard Garden
near the Greenhouse. Her notes also referred to an existing greenhouse as
well as a greenhouse to be built later. The current greenhouse located north of
the swimming pool is most likely the planned greenhouse Nancy Tree referred
to in her letters. Mentioned several times also is a swimming pool which may
in fact be the one in the present location, immediately north of the croquet
lawn and serpentine wall.122
Road from greenhouse, an area where several of the above mentioned

gardens may have been located, looking northwest, no date.
1920-1950
Nancy Tree’s notes indicate she paid a great deal of attention to the
less public places on the property. This included enhancing the existing for-
ested areas along the south and east ends of the property. “Have the hillside
a wood and plant in it thickly: Mt. Ash or Rowan Trees, Mt. Beeches, pines,
oaks, linden, maples, tulip poplars, red gums, judas or red bud, dogwood and
shad blow or amelanchair, hemlocks, paulouma.”123
In her notes, Nancy also mentioned William Delano again in her notes
on the Sunken Garden and her gardener Dowsett. Once the Trees moved to
England, Dowsett continued to maintain the gardens. Phyllis Brand referred
to “Dowsett” as a person who had “kept the garden looking lovely and
green.”124 In 1942 letters from Aunt Irene and Dinah Bridge mentioned the
Yancy (or Yancey) brothers maintaining the grounds. Bridge also noted that
there were three gardeners working at Mirador in April 1942 (Dowsett and
the Yancy brothers).125
In addition to the guests who often visited and the gardeners who
maintained the property, there was also a supporting cast of people who
worked for the Trees at Mirador. The most notable is Stewart Wood, an
African-American who supervised the mansion and grounds in the absence
of the Trees. Two of the workers at Mirador, Jenny White and a Scottish
woman named Helen, came to work there when Phyllis Brand owned the
property. The remaining workers, including Stewart, had lived in the vicinity
of Mirador throughout their lifetime and were fixtures at the estate. Nancy,
who grew up with many of these people, viewed the workers at Mirador as an
extended family who were interdependent upon each other.126
Although the Trees were away from Mirador during much of the time
they owned it, the friends of the Trees from America and abroad continued
to use the house and grounds. Irene Gibson, Nancy’s Aunt, was a frequent
guest at Mirador and described many of the people and events that took
place there in the 1930’s and 1940’s. In a letter prior to 1941, Irene wrote
about a party hosted by Nancy Astor at the Farmington Country Club which
was followed by a visit with Phyllis and Bessie Martin, a childhood friend, to
Mount Arey and Sabine Hall at the northern neck of Virginia.127 In a later
letter to Nancy Tree, Irene noted that Lord Halifax, Great Britain’s ambassa-
dor to the United States, and his wife came to visit.128 In 1946 Elizabeth
Varner, a cousin of Nancy’s, summed up the experience of many visitors at
Mirador during the Tree’s ownership. “You don’t know how much I love be-
ing at Mirador. Many many thanks.”129
House party on front lawn. Nancy Tree seated in middle.

1920-1950
Reflections of Mirador
During the ownership of Mirador by Nancy Tree Lancaster, major

changes occurred to both the house and the surrounding gardens. Many of
Nancy’s plans for the landscape took several years to develop. A majority of
the descriptions about Mirador exist in letters from family and friends to Nancy
Lancaster between the years 1937-1942. It was at this time that the property
had reached its greatest stature as a beloved landmark by people throughout
the United State and Europe. Many of these recollections described the land-
scape of Mirador relative to Nancy’s plans for the estate.
Two of the most oft mentioned areas are the serpentine wall and the
millpond below Mirador Hill. The serpentine wall (which was Nancy’s idea
and imitated the design of Jefferson’s wall at the University of Virginia), cre-
ated a transition from the central grounds to the millpond and the naturalistic
landscape east of the mansion. In Aunt Irene Gibson’s letters to Nancy from
1937-1942, she described the serpentine wall as “lovely and every vine and
bush there fat and tall” and “the serpentine walk it is a miracle, everything so
thick.”130 In a letter from Ronald Tree he also mentioned magnolia trees and
willow trees lining the serpentine wall.131
The millpond below the serpentine wall was also mentioned in letters
from Irene Gibson and Ronald Tree. Ronald wrote in April 1942, “The lake
is almost hidden by immense weeping willows, and the hill side by Dogwood
and Judas in full bloom.”132 These descriptions of the naturalistic setting by
the millpond are very different than the formal gardens in the immediate vi-
cinity of the main house and reflect Nancy’s intentions to maintain the natu-
ralistic context for significant portions of the property.
Serpentine wall with rose vines on wall and magnolia and weeping willow trees
above, no date. (Courtesy of Becker)
Mirador Pond, winter time, no date. (Courtesy of

Jeannie (Scott) Rutherfoord))
Mirador Pond and hillside in bloom,

no date. (Courtesy of Becker)
1920-1950
The anchor of these formal vistas was the area immediately north of
the main house and referred to as the “sunken garden.” Nancy used the
sunken garden to establish a viewshed of the mountains to the north, using
boxwood and dogwoods to outline the area. Irene described it in April 1942.
“As you walk down the steps it is dense in full bloom. The Scotch Broom is
lovely…The Key Gate is perfect. Those standard Wisteria in the walled
garden are fine. Dogwood in full bloom back of the Box.”133 This is the only
mention of the key gate, although it stood on a significant northwest-south-
east axis in the garden. Later that month Ronald Tree described the walled
garden again when he wrote, “The sunk garden is dead white with a great wall
of dogwood – easily 20 feet high.”134
There were also other areas on the property described by Nancy’s

family. These included gardens which were devoted to flowers and other
varieties of plants, whereas the sunken garden was strictly a lawn bordered
by shrubs and small trees. In April of 1942 Irene described a garden with
“the flowers so rampant and so colourful, all is growing.”135 Irene could have
been describing the perennial borders north of the smokehouses, where she
often sat and relaxed while visiting Mirador. Dinah Bridge, a cousin of Nancy,
wrote in that same month, “The garden is the sweetest I have ever seen. The
pansies, the daffodils, all the different blossoms, everything is blooming.”136
This description could refer to any number of locations within the formal
area of the property. It also alludes to Nancy Lancaster’s proclivity to having
a wide variety of plants in her yard.
Finally, Ronald Tree wrote again in April of 1942, “in the kitchen
garden there is a riot of tulips, great mauve tree-paeonies, violets, and mauce
phlox.”137 Ronald is probably referring to the vegetable garden or the rose
garden located on the eastern edge of the axes. It is evident that the propaga-
tion of the perennials and annuals at Mirador that began in the 1920’s had
paid great dividends.
View of seating area and lawn from foun-

tain, no date. (Courtesy of Rutherfoord)
Picture of Key Gate and herringbone brick path during 1980’s. (Cour-
tesy of Rutherfoord)
1920-1950
Other areas of the Mirador landscape were discussed in letters to Nancy

Tree during the late 1930’s and early 1940’s. Irene Gibson referred to the
barns at Mirador in two of her letters. Included in these references were visits
to the barns to see the new cattle.138 Irene and her sister also wrote about an
area of cedar trees that were planted near “Callie’s cottage.”139 These trees
were along the west entry into Mirador and still exist today. Callie’s cottage
presumably was a residence located southwest of the older brick cottage and
guest quarters. One of the employees at Mirador was Callie Pearl who was a
cleaning woman for the Trees.140 It may have been where Callie resided while
she worked at Mirador.
Finally, Ronald Tree included a description of apple trees in the gar-

den “back of the house.”141 It is unclear where this was located however, it
maybe in an area directly north of the Rose Garden where remnants of an
apple orchard are present today. Although the above references are brief and
somewhat nondescript they allude to the importance of the Mirador land-
scape beyond the gardens, pond, and serpentine wall.
Despite the absence of Nancy Tree at Mirador during much of her

ownership, the Langhorne family returned to visit often and continually held
the property in high regard. When describing Mirador to Nancy Tree, Phyllis
wrote, “…Mirador looking lovely. I always feel so glad to see her. I could
never feel anywhere else is really home but here and as if I had never left
it.”142
Callie’s Cottage, west of main house. (Photo by author, August 2004)
Rows of cedar trees along entry drive. (Photo by author, August 2004)
1920-1950
Later Gardens
Nancy and Ronald Tree moved to England in the spring of 1926 so

that he could pursue his political ambitions. Ronald Tree was soon appointed
Joint Master of the Pytchley, a leading role in the royal foxhunts and a step-
ping stone for greater political offices. The Tree’s first permanent residence
was Kelmarsh Hall which was loaned to them in exchange for their efforts to
improve the house and landscape. Nancy renovated the house with the help
of her uncle Paul Phipps, an architect, and William Delano. She also con-
sulted Norah Lindsey, a garden designer and former apprentice of the well-
known Gertrude Jekyll, to help redesign the gardens.143 Nancy included many
of the elements that were also present at Mirador: two greenhouses, a cutting
garden, tennis court, and a brick, walled garden.144
In 1933 Ronald Tree was chosen for a seat in the House of Commons,
and he and Nancy moved once again to another estate, Ditchley Park. Within
seven years Ditchley Park would become a powerful political estate, similar
to what Nancy Astor’s house, Cliveden, had been in the early twentieth cen-
tury. During World War II Winston Churchill often visited Ditchley Park for
extended stays. There he continued to lead the country in a location that was
a safe distance from German aerial attacks.145 Ditchley had a much different
environment than Kelmarsh Hall, with a great deal of the landscape devoted
to naturalistic pleasure grounds. The Trees hired two architects, Geoffrey
Jellicoe and Russell Page, to redesign the gardens. They emphasized the long
vista from the main house using terraces and sunken parterres and also de-
signed a large Orangery Garden. Nancy Tree also had a herb garden on the
property which consisted of two hundred varieties of herbs.
Kelmarsh Hall, present day. (Courtesy of www.kelmarshhall.org)
Kelmarsh Hall gardens designed by Lindsey, no date.

Ditchley Park, present day. The Trees second home in England. (Courtesy of www.ditchley.co.uk)
Ditchley Park garden designed by Jellicoe and Page, no date.

1920-1950
Following the conclusion of World War II, Nancy had purchased

Colefax and Fowler, the famed English interior design firm. In 1947 she and
Ronald Tree divorced. Three years later, the Langhorne family name was
officially separated from Mirador, when Nancy Tree Lancaster sold the prop-
erty to Colonel Morton Newhall and Mr. and Mrs. Marran. After she sold
Mirador, she was married for a short time to Colonel Jubie Lancaster. How-
ever, after they divorced she moved to the coach house at Haseley Court.
Nancy Lancaster continued to consult well-known garden designers who
helped her distinguish her gardeners as the premier landscapes in England.
Among her close contacts was the American born, English-trained

garden designer, Lanning Roper. She consulted him on a project in 1968, and
both would later be influential in the restoration of the Mirador gardens.146
After many successful years as an interior designer and world traveler Nancy
died in 1996 at the age of ninety-nine. Although she influenced the world
with her interior designs and outgoing personality, Nancy Lancaster herself
was defined and influenced profoundly by Mirador. She once said:
“Mirador, Mirth and Misery,” my aunts used to

say. Mirador is deep in me, I feel it in my bones
even now. Nothing else has ever been as im-
portant. I’m not really interested in England
or America, only in Virginia and Mirador.147
Looking south through Nancy Lancaster’s wisteria arbor. (Photo by author, August 2004).
1950-Present: Mirador’s Decline and Rebirth
Following the sale of Mirador by Nancy Lancaster in 1950, the prop-

erty was sent into a state of decline for the next 25 years. During this time,
the owners of the property, Mona Marran, her husband, and Colonel Morton
Newhall, focused much of their time on raising Angus cattle. The Mirador
Photograph Album contains numerous pictures from 1949 to 1953 of the prized
Mirador herd. During this time the Marrans and Colonel Newhall hosted a
cattle show on the Mirador property.148
Following the death of Colonel Newhall, in 1961 Mona Marran, then

a widow, became sole proprietor the one hundred eighty acres. Even less is
known about Mirador after Morton Newhall’s death. Pictures taken by Ferol
Briggs, a local photographer, between 1969 and 1977 show the property rela-
tively untouched, including the southeast elevation. The front lawn kept its
bullring, terraces, and brick steps that led to the front porch.149
Following Mona Marran’s death in 1975, the property was placed un-
der the auspices of a corporation, Mirador, Incorporated. Jim Scott, a former
schoolteacher, became President of Mirador, Incorporated, and afterwards
began restoring the mansion. In 1981 the property was officially transferred
to James Scott. Jim was more concerned about the restoration of the house
rather than the landscape, but in 1981 his wife Jeannie accepted the task of
restoring the gardens as they had appeared during the Tree years in the early
to mid- twentieth century.
To accomplish this task, Jeannie sought the help of the former owner,
Nancy Lancaster who was living in England at the time. During the next five
years, Nancy and the Scotts would begin a friendship, and the gardens would
once again regain their beauty. In their frequent correspondence, Nancy
sought to explain the image of the gardens at Mirador to the Scotts as well as
her excitement for their interest in the gardens. In of her first letters dated
October 31, 198-, Nancy wrote:
“. . . I am so glad to see Mirador inhabited

with youngflesh! I thought the house painted
far better than I had it. Of course it must
change (all life does) but I found it difficult to
see the bones of my garden. All that was left
was two paths and the steps!150
Beyond Nancy Lancaster’s excitement about the restoration and rec-

reation of the Mirador gardens, she also advised the Scotts in the same letter
on how to approach the creation of their new landscape.
“Having made gardens for nearly 100 years, I

advise you before any planting to decide on
the Bones of the garden and to get a good land-
scape gardener to help you. Flowers come later
and should be things indigenous and in bold
groups and cover the ground. Light and shade
is all important more so than color which is an
addition.151
Nancy concluded the letter by describing the significant areas of the

garden. Within this description Nancy Lancaster limits it to the formal gar-
den. She does not mention her work at the pond, her vegetable or berry
gardens, or the serpentine wall in her description. This is noteworthy, be-
cause the Scotts would focus their work on the area that Nancy first de-
scribed in her letter.
1950-Present
The first landscape gardener who Jim and Jeannie Scott hired was
Lanning Roper. Roper was born in 1912 in New Jersey and grew up in the
United States. A graduate of Harvard in 1933, he joined the Navy in World
War II in which he served as an officer. Roper concluded his military service
in 1945 in London working for military intelligence. He chose to stay in Lon-
don and began volunteering at the Kew Gardens in London and later at the
Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh. Following his work at the Royal Hor-
ticulture Society, he began designing his own gardens in 1957.152
Lanning Roper soon established himself as a well-known landscape

designer. He had designed many gardens for the English gentry and the afflu-
ent Americans and had helped in the restoration of several gardens through
the authorization of the National Trust of England. One of his clients was
Nancy Lancaster, who lived at Haseley Court in the 1960’s. She had con-
tacted Roper in 1968 to help her with her dying boxwood. He continued to
help her in her design of the Haseley Gardens, and this began a mutual re-
spect and lifelong friendship.
In the early 1980s Roper was afflicted with cancer, although he con-
tinued to work sparingly on projects. In 1981 while in Virginia, Nancy
Lancaster introduced him to the Scotts and Mirador. Though it took him a
considerable amount of time to collect his thoughts about Mirador and its
gardens, he completed the report on October 13, 1982. Less than a year later
Lanning Roper died at the age of 71.153
Decline and Rebirth
Lanning Roper, American born, English gar-

den designer. (Courtesy of Rutherfoord)
Chess garden at Haseley Court, England. Boxwood were saved by Roper for
the owner Nancy Lancaster. (Courtesy of Rutherfoord)
1950-Present
In his eleven-page report, Roper outlined a plan that would bring the
Mirador gardens back to the beauty that the Trees enjoyed in the 1920’s.
Because the Scotts were restoring the gardens, Roper began the report by
establishing guidelines when altering elements in the landscape:
As both the house and the garden are a resto-

ration, it is important to use old material where
possible and where there are brick paths to re-
duce the jointing to the minimum so that the
mortar shows as little as possible. . . With an
old garden such as Mirador, you must always
think in terms of your own requirements as to
size of vegetable gardens, cutting gardens,
frames, etc., and not be influenced by the
past.154
Within the report, Roper suggested keeping the front and east sides of
the property as a parkland, and in doing so, to add more shade trees and plants
to enhance the forested affect. He also felt it was important to reemphasize
the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains north of the house. In doing so, he
suggested that the view shed along certain paths should be broken up using
flowering shrubs including Abelia, Philadelphus, Syringa, Chaenomeles, and Spi-
raea in groups of three or five. He also emphasized the creation of a more
complex landscape around the smokehouses and arbor:
There are several possibilities for treatment

here. One would be to plant a flowering tree
on each side, centered on the shed, or p o s s i -
bly we could develop two formal knot gardens
for herbs and compact growing flowers and
ground covers in the area in front of each
shed.155
Decline and Rebirth
In addition, Roper suggested the central steps around the fountain

below the northern most arbor be re-worked. He recommended that the Lily
Pond be enhanced all around with additional shrubs. He suggested as well
that a larger collection of trees and background shrubs be used to block out
unwanted views.1
Working photograph showing plans for sunken garden.

Working photograph of key gate and plans for planting beds.

1950-Present
It is unclear as to which suggestions the Scotts followed because there

were no plans associated with Roper’s report. The Scotts continued the resto-
ration of the garden, and in 1985 consulted Vernon Russell-Smith, a lesser
known but equally talented landscape designer, to create a master plan for the
Mirador gardens. The plan was completed in June 1985, and includes varia-
tions to the Tree’s gardens and what Lanning Roper’s report had suggested.157
According to the plan, Russell-Smith suggested dividing the long path

from east to the pool with a circular seating area. Additionally he designed
azalea foundation beds on either side of the house. Although the circular
area was never built, the azalea beds were planted and still exist today. Around
the key gate, Russell-Smith emphasized planting with shrubs and trees such
as mockorange, dogwood, and maples. His design illustrated a stone path
that led north from the key gate toward the tennis court that would conclude
in a mass or shrubs and trees including mockorange.158
Russell-Smith conceived a sitting area south of the key gate with stone path leading
north. (Courtesy of Rutherfoord)
Decline and Rebirth
Azalea beds adjacent to porch with path leading to swimming pool. (Courtesy of Rutherfoord)
Path leading to swimming pool. (Courtesy of Rutherfoord)
1950-Present
Vernon Russell-Smith suggested a grass path north from the rose gar-
den to a central, circular grassed area with a sundial located in the center. The
grass path continued northwest toward the brick stairs adjacent to the tennis
court. The circular area was also accessible via grassed paths from the south-
west and northeast that connected the design to the larger grid of the garden.
Finally, Russell-Smith designed the central lawn from the smokehouses

to the fountain and tennis court with cherry trees and boxwood hedges on
either side. The western most path leading to the tennis court was designed
with shrub borders. The plan also included the enhancement of the Lily Pond
area with boxwood borders and perennials. He also suggested an herb garden
opposite the rose garden with a matching arched entry. The Russell-Smith
plan did not include designs for the sunken garden and neither did Lanning
Roper’s report.159
Plan for area north of the Rose Garden. Circular ring with
sundial in center . (Courtesy of Rutherfoord)
Decline and Rebirth
Plan showing layout of central lawn with lily pond and cross-axes.
Proposed herb garden, opposite Rose Garden.

1950-Present
Although it is unclear how much of the Roper report and the Russell-
Smith plan the Scotts implemented, they nevertheless made significant changes
to the landscape. It is believed that Jim Scott removed the large bullring and
graded the terrace in front of the house. As a replacement he placed a smaller
octagonal paved area directly in front of the porch with a matching octagonal
pavement inset. The Scotts also restored the other buildings on the property
including the large barn and courtyard. The sunken garden remained a turfed
area with perennials along its borders, and the Scotts completed the wall on
the southwest side, connecting it to the house. During the early 1980’s Jim
Scott added large central steps bordered by boxwood that led from the lawn
area directly into the sunken garden. Scott also removed the arched arbor and
replaced it with a square one sometime during his tenure. 160
The restored barn, early 1980’s. (Courtesy of Rutherfoord)
Decline and Rebirth
Steps to sunken garden, constructed in the early 1980’s.

The sunken garden with perennial borders and central lawn, early 1980’s.
1950-Present
While the Trees owned Mirador, Nancy had a large vegetable garden
near the greenhouse. Jeannie Scott began her own, smaller vegetable garden
south of the greenhouse. There were seven to thirteen rows spaced six to
seven feet apart with stone walkways between them.161 These paths are simi-
lar to the ones that Russell-Smith suggested in his plan.
The Scotts made a significant effort to restore Mirador while adding

personal touches. The efforts they made with the gardens helped bring them
back to life. Jim Scott continued to own Mirador until 1992 when he sold the
property to Hope and Paul Burghardt. The Burghardts have taken steps to
protect Mirador by placing a conservation easement on the one hundred acres
stretching from State Road 250 north to Interstate 64. They have also fo-
cused their efforts on establishing Mirador as a place where they can exhibit
their love for animals, i.e., horses, swans, Pekinese show dogs, Chinese pheas-
ants, and peacocks. They have also continued to maintain the gardens in the
spirit of previous owners Nancy (Tree) Lancaster and Jeannie (Scott)
Rutherfoord.
The Rose Garden, early 1980’s. (Courtesy of Rutherfoord)
Decline and Rebirth
Stone pathways similar to those suggested

by Russell-Smith. (Courtesy of Rutherfoord)
The vegetable garden, south of the greenhouse, early 1980’s.

The Mirador Landscape Today
Entry and Front Elevation
The Mirador landscape has adapted and changed throughout its his-
tory. This evolution has brought about a more complex landscape that in-
cludes many elements from the Bowen, Langhorne, Lancaster, and Scott own-
erships. The house and front lawn are similar in appearance to the period
immediately following the Delano restoration. The entry road and lawn con-
tinue to be wooded as Nancy Lancaster had intended . Although the entry
gate and rock wall are extant, the path to the house is wider and reflects the
changes made by Jim Scott in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. The bullring is
gone, but remnants of the terraces continue to contour the land.
The southeast elevation as it looks today.

(Courtesy of Country Life, October 2003)
Entry drive, looking southeast.
Remnants of terraces south of main house, looking southeast.

A Hidden Jewel
Northwest Elevation and Sunken Garden
The northwest elevation and sunken garden continue to be well-main-

tained with several alterations. The current owners, Hope and Paul Burghardt,
have placed a circular seating area connected in the center of the sunken
garden, northwest of the main house. The garden consists of a turfed area
bordered by boxwood, while the wall is outlined with perennial beds and box-
wood. The large central steps placed there by Jim Scott in the early 1980’s
visually guide an individual into the secondary lawn area north of the sunken
garden. The lawn is bordered by the smokehouses and arbor.
Northwest elevation, much as it looked following the Delano restoration in 1921.

Sunken garden with seating area and boxwood borders.

Sunken garden path, looking northwest.

A Hidden Jewel
Central Lawn and Primary Axis
The northwest-southeast axis is still intact with the smokehouses and

arbor, central lawn, and fountain to the north. Today there are no borders
along the two remaining northwest-southeast brick paths. Boxwood hedges
remain around the fountain, and there are crapemyrtle trees, abelia bushes,
and mockorange shrubs set further back in the general vicinity of these paths.
This vegetation (especially on the western side) helps form a boundary for
the central gardens.
Crapemyrtle trees serving as a border for the westernmost path.

Eastern northwest-southeast path, looking Western northwest-southeast path, looking

north toward tennis court. (Photo by author, south toward smokehouse and arbor.
August 2004) (Photo by author, August 2004)
Fountain with boxwood borders and arbor beyone, looking nortwest.

A Hidden Jewel
Cross-Axes Remnants
At one time the Mirador gardens included two additional northwest-

southeast paths to the east of the central lawn. They were in-line with the
Rose Garden and the key gate. The key gate is still intact with the addition of
chicken and pheasant cages. There was also a cross axis running southwest-
northeast. Today there are only remnants of these former elements including
brick steps north of the Rose Garden and the lily pond west of the central
lawn.
The key gate, a brick structure covered in English Ivy, is situated along the northwest-
southeast axis. (Photo by author, August 2004)
The lily pond surrounded by mockorange and abelia, facing northwest.

Steps that at one time were connected to the Rose Garden via a path,
looking northeast (Photo by author, August 2004)
A Hidden Jewel
Rose Garden
One of the oldest and most intact features of the Mirador landscape
is the Rose Garden, redesigned by Annette Hoyt Flanders in the 1920’s. The
garden and its distinctive white picket fence are located northeast of the
sunken garden. The northeast and southwest entries contain arbors with
paths that lead to a central fountain and four parterres outlined with box-
wood. Today, the garden consists of annuals and perennials within the origi-
nal framework laid out by Flanders.
View of Rose Garden’s central parterres, looking southeast. (Photo by author,

August 2004)
Rose Garden’s northwest entry, looking

southeast. (Photo by author, August 2004)
View of Rose Garden from back porch of main house with sunken garden
in foreground. (Photo by author, May 2004)
A Hidden Jewel
Serpentine Wall
Another feature of the Mirador landscape still intact is the croquet

lawn and serpentine wall designed by Nancy Tree in the late 1920’s. Today,
the lawn and wall are bordered by weeping cherry trees with boxwood at
either end. At the northeastern end of the grass walk, steps lead down to one
of two ponds on the estate. This land around the pond was replanted with
juda and willow trees by Nancy Tree in the 1920’s. Some of this vegetation is
present today.
Serpentine wall looking southwest. (Photo by author, July 2004)
Boxwood bordering croquet lawn. (Photo by author, July 2004)
Millpond at base of serpentine wall and hill. (Photo by author, August 2004)
A Hidden Jewel
The Broader Landscape
Beyond the immediate and more formal area around the main house,
the Mirador landscape contains various other features that have significance.
The vegetable garden created by Jeannie Scott in the early 1980’s south of the
greenhouse is now a cutting garden. There are no longer stepping stones, but
rather rectilinear beds with annuals and perennials separated by grass paths.
Remnants of the old apple orchards are located in the vicinity of the green-
house and continue to run northwest-southeast along an axis similar to that
of the gardens.
A recent addition to the landscape is Black’s Tavern, a pre-Civil War

structure moved from the adjacent Seven Oaks estate in 2001. It stands on a
hill overlooking the second millpond on the property. The other outbuildings
on the property continue to be used and well maintained, including the Will-
iam Delano designed barn that overlooks the estate. There are also several
species of animals residing on the estate including horses, show dogs, pheas-
ants, and peacocks. In 1994 the Burghardts constructed a training facility for
their Pekinese show dogs. These features, in addition to the elements of the
Nancy Tree gardens, have created an intricate and fascinating landscape that
will continue to make Mirador the Hidden Jewel of Albemarle County well
into this century.
The cutting garden, formerly Jeannie Scott’s vegetable garden, south of the green-
house. (Photo by author, August 2004)
Remnants of the appleorchard, looking north-

west. (Photo by author, July 2004)
A Hidden Jewel
Black’s Tavern with the second millpond in the background, looking northeast.
Black’s Tavern and the Mirador farmland, looking southeast.

The Mirador farm complex with Delano designed barn in center, looking west.
The Pekinese show dog training facility built in 1994, facing southwest.
(Photo by author, August2004)
Endnotes
1
K. Edward Lay, The Architecture of Jefferson Country (Charlottesville, VA: University
Press of Virginia, 2000), 119.
2
Grosskopf, Thaler, and Trischman-Marks, researchers, “The Road to Rockfish Gap
Survey,” December 1991, p. 2, in Papers of K. Edward Lay, Accession #12817-a, Special Collections,
University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, VA.
3
Lay, 318.
4
Deed Book 32, page 60, Clerks Office, Albemarle County Courthouse, Charlottesville,
VA. Chiswell Dabney Langhorne, who purchased the property in 1892, moved a cemetery to
Immanuel Church down the road. After an on-site investigation, there were no graves indicating
a known Ramsay family member. One conclusion is that neither Ramsay nor his heirs were ever
buried on the grounds around Millburne and Mirador. Another possible conclusion is that they
were moved by C. D. Langhorne and are now located in an unknown location on the church
property. However, the Bowen family graves were also moved and were found during the visit,
leading the author to believe that there was another cemetery on the property, or the Ramsays were
never buried at Mirador.
5
Bessie Carter Funsten, “Mirador,” in Edith Tunis Sale, ed., The James River Garden
Club, Historic Gardens of Virginia (Richmond, VA: The William Byrd Press, 1930), 234.
6
It is unclear whether Richard Bowen ever moved to the region following his acquisi-
tion of property. Nothing is known about Bowen’s immediate family, including James Bowen’s
father. Because Bowen was the only one of his brothers to remain in the region, the author has
concluded that Bowen and his brothers were possibly the first generation of their family to move
to the region, and it was only James Bowen who found the region suitable to his liking or his
financial well being.
7
Fanny Starr Bowen Funsten Castleman, “El Mirador,” 1925(?), TMs, 1, in Land Papers,
1635-1950, Accession # 6589, -a, -b, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library,
Charlottesville, VA.
8
Castleman, 2.
Photograph of Mirador, n.d., in K. Edward Lay, The Architecture of Jefferson County,

9
CD-Rom Database, 2000.
The main house, kitchen, and smokehouse are the only existing structures from the
10
Bowen time period. While it is certain that there were other outbuildings on the property, the
whereabouts of these are unknown.
11
Castleman, 1.
12
Kenneth Koons, and Warren Hofstra, eds, After the Backcountry: Rural Life in the
Great Valley of Virginia, 1800-1900 (Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Press, 2000), 53.
13
Castleman, 1.
14
Ibid. His privacy and preference to remain at home rather than run for political offices
is probably the reason so little is known about Bowen or the early Mirador landscape.
15
1850 Albemarle County Agricultural Census and 1860 Albemarle County Agricultural
Census, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA.
16
1850 Slave Schedule, 351 and 1860 Slave Schedule, 105, The Library of Virginia, Rich-
mond, VA.
17
Alice Winn, Always a Virginian (Lynchburg, VA: J. P. Bell Company, 1975), 54.
Photograph of Mirador, n.d., in K. Edward Lay, The Architecture of Jefferson County,

18
CD-Rom Database, 2000.
19
Castleman, 2.
20
Funsten, Gardens of Virginia, 234. Crozet was also well known for his survey work
and cartography abilities according to Richard W. Stephenson and Marianne M. McKee, eds.,
Virginia Maps (Richmond, VA: The Library of Virginia, 2000), 127.
21
Castleman, 3.
22
Winn, Always a Virginian, 52.
23
Ibid.
24
David Funsten, to Susan Meade Funsten, January 1863, in David Funsten, Papers,
1851-1868, Section 1, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA.
25
James Bowen, Mirador, VA to Charles Palmer [Richmond, VA], 10 November 1865,
in Palmer Family Papers, 1782-1894, Sections 1-2, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA.
26
Ibid.
1870 Albemarle County Agricultural Census, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA,
27
and Castleman, 2.
Endnotes
28
Robert Becker, Nancy Lancaster: Her Life, Her World, Her Art (New York: A.A. Knopf,
1996), 131.
29
Pendleton Hogan, “El Mirador: a Colonial Mansion in the Piedmont Lands,” Ameri-
can Motorist 7, no. 8 (November 1932): 17.
30
Ibid.
31
Castleman, 3.
32
Elizabeth Coles Langhorne, Nancy Astor and Her Friends (New York: Praeger, 1974),
4.
33
Becker, 59. The Langhornes were also cousins to Confederate General Jeb Stuart on
their father’s side.
Alice Moncure Perkins Winn, Three Centuries of Virginia Ancestors, Rev. 1988, no page
34
number, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA.
35
“Descendents of John Langhorne, 1640,” http://www.livelyroots.com/langhorne/
index.htm (accessed 1 July 2004).
36
Nancy Lancaster, “Chiswell Dabney Langhorne,” no date, 5, in Nancy Lancaster,
Papers, 1933-1967, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA.
37
Coles, 5-6.
38
Becker, 57.
39
Nancy Lancaster, “Greenwood,” no date, 1, in Nancy Lancaster, Papers, 1933-1967,
Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA. It is never mentioned exactly how C. D. Langhorne
discovered Mirador. However, the Langhorne family traveled through Albemarle County to reach
White Sulphur Springs during their vacations and he possibly discovered the property during one
of these trips.
40
Ibid., 29.
41
Lancaster, “Chiswell Dabney Langhorne,” 1.
42
Becker, 14-15.
43
Lancaster, “Greenwood,” 4.
Endnotes
44
Nancy Witcher Langhorne Astor, Viscountess, Astor Story (dictated ca. 1953), 23, 27,
Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, Virginia.
45
Becker, 16.
46
47
48
Becker, 19.
49
Ibid., and Nancy Lancaster, “Nanere,” no date, 2, in Nancy Lancaster, Papers, 1933-
1967, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA.
50
Becker, 19.
51
Lancaster, “Nanere,” 2.
52
Becker, 25-28 and Winn, Always a Virginian, 39-41.
53
Ibid.
54
Ibid.
55
Winn, Five Centuries of Virginia Families, 55.
56
Becker, 60-61, 85-86.
57
Astor, Astor Story, 24.
58
Becker, 31-32.
59
Langhorne Gibson, “Dash and Drama: Irene Langhorne Gibson, 1873-1956,” Vir-
ginia Cavalcade 47, no. 1 (Winter 1998): 9-11.
60
Astor, Astor Story, 50-51.
61
Becker, 34-39.
62
Astor, Astor Story, 17.
63
Endnotes
64
Becker, 40-41.
65
“Descendents of John Langhorne, 1640,” http://www.livelyroots.com/langhorne/
index.htm (accessed 1 July 2004).
66
67
Lancaster, “Greenwood,” 5-6.
68
Becker, 43-44.
69
Winn, Always a Virginian, 55; Astor, Astor Story, 18; Barbara Twigg Brown, “Early
Days in Virginia Recalled by Girlhood Friend of Lady Astor,” Richmond Post-Dispatch, 5 October
1966, Sec. F8; Lancaster, “Chiswell Dabney Langhorne,” 2; Becker, 128-129. Little is written about
where any of these slaves lived. Some lived at Mirador and others most certainly lived nearby.
70
Although it is uncertain, Nancy mentioned in a letter to Jeannie (Scott) Rutherfoord
on 31 October [198-] that the tennis court was built for an uncle who was an avid tennis player.
This letter is in Jeannie (Scott) Rutherfoord Collection, [Collection of Photographs, Plans, and
Written Manuscripts Concerning Mirador], Georgetown, DC.
71
Brown.
72
Nancy Lancaster, “Christmas of Youth,” no date, 3, in Nancy Lancaster, Papers, 1933-
1967, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA.
73
Ibid.
74
Lancaster, “Mirador,” 2.
75
76
77
Ibid.
78
Ibid.
79
Grosskopf, Thaler, and Trischman-Marks, 1.
80
Endnotes
81
Lancaster, “Greenwood,” 1-2.
82
83
Ibid.
84
Winn, Always a Virginian, 53. This is the only mention of cottages for servants, and
they were most likely removed when Nancy Lancaster purchased the property, shortly before the
restoration of Mirador.
85
86
87
William T. Stevens, ed, Mirador (Charlottesville, VA: Stevens and Company, 19—),
np.
88
Campsis radicans is a durable vine native to the southeast United States and is common
in Virginia.
89
90
Ibid., 53.
91
Becker, 131.
92
93
Nancy Lancaster, “Mirador,” no date, 1, in Nancy Lancaster, Papers, 1933-1967, Vir-
ginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA.
94
“Memories of Mirador,” E1.
95
Becker, 31.
96
Becker, 64.
97
Becker, 63-72.
98
“Graceful Lady Comes Home to Mirador,” E1.
99
Becker, 74-75.
Endnotes
100
Becker, 82-83.
David A. Maurer, “Graceful Lady Comes Home to Greenwood,” The Daily Progress,
101
23 October 1994, Sec. E, page 1.
102
Becker, 90.
103
Becker, 97-100.
104
Maurer, 1.
Peter Pennoyer and Anne Walker, The Architecture of Delano and Aldrich (New York:
105
W.W. Norton and Company, 2003), 186.
106
Becker, 121-124.
Angus McDonnell, Mirador, VA, to Nancy Astor, England, 16 May 1942, typed by
107
Nancy Lancaster, in Nancy Lancaster, Papers, 1933-1967, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA.
108
Pennoyer and Walker, 186.
The farm manager’s house is in line with a southeast northwest axis created by the
109
key gate and path.
Nancy Lancaster, [England], to Jeannie Scott, Mirador, VA, 31 October [198-], 1, in

110
Jeannie (Scott) Rutherfoord Collection, [Collection of Photographs, Plans, and Written Manu-
scripts Concerning Mirador], Georgetown, DC.
111
Ibid.
Dinah (Brand) Fox Bridge, Mirador, VA, to Nancy Lancaster, England, 18 April 1942,
112
typed by Nancy Lancaster, in Nancy Lancaster, Papers, 1933-1967, Virginia Historical Society, Rich-
mond, VA.
113
Becker, 124.
Nancy Lancaster, [Sketch of Mirador Gardens], no date, in Jeannie (Scott) Rutherfoord

114
Collection, [Collection of Photographs, Plans, and Written Manuscripts Concerning Mirador],

Georgetown, DC.
115
Ibid.
116
Annette Hoyt Flanders, Landscape Architecture (New York: Privately published, 1932),
Job #53.
Endnotes
117
Annette Hoyt Flanders “Rose Garden Plan,” no date, in Jeannie (Scott) Rutherfoord
Georgetown, DC.
118
“Aunt” Irene Langhorne Gibson, Mirador, VA, to Nancy Lancaster, [England], 4
April [194-], typed by Nancy Lancaster, in Papers of the Langhorne Family, 1899-1984, Accession #
10758, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, VA.
119
Bessie M. (Martin) Hobson, various letters to Nancy Lancaster, [England], no date,
5, typed by Nancy Lancaster, in Nancy Lancaster, Papers, 1933-1967, Virginia Historical Society,
Richmond, VA.
120
Becker, 126.
121
Nancy Lancaster, [Notes on Mirador Gardens], in Jeannie (Scott) Rutherfoord
no date, Georgetown, DC. The final area of the garden, was only partially legible, and a blank
space was left in its place.
122
Ibid.
123
Ibid., 7.
124
Phyllis (Langhorne) Brooks Brand, Mirador, VA, to Nancy Lancaster, England, no
date, typed by Nancy Lancaster, in Nancy Lancaster, Papers, 1933-1967, Virginia Historical Society,
Richmond, VA.
125
Gibson to Lancaster, 4 April [194-], 1, and Bridge to Lancaster, 18 April 1942.
126
Becker, 127.
“Aunt” Irene Langhorne Gibson, Mirador, VA, to Nancy Lancaster, [England], 14

127
October [19—], typed by Nancy Lancaster, in Papers of the Langhorne Family, 1899-1984, Accession
# 10758, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, VA.
128
Gibson to Lancaster, 4 April 194-, 1.
129
Elizabeth Langhorne (Perkins) Varner, Mirador, VA, to Nancy Lancaster, [England],
6 May 1946, typed by Nancy Lancaster, 1, in Nancy Lancaster, Papers, 1933-1967, Virginia Historical
Society, Richmond, VA.
130
Gibson to Lancaster, 4 April [194-], 1, and Gibson to Lancaster, 14 October 19—.
Endnotes
131
Gibson to Lancaster, 14 October [19—], and Arthur Ronald Lambert Field Tree,
Mirador, VA, to Nancy Lancaster, [England], 26 April 1942, typed by Nancy Lancaster, in Nancy
Lancaster, Papers, 1933-1967, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA.
132
Tree to Lancaster, 26 April 1942.
133
Gibson to Lancaster, 4 April [194-].
134
135
Gibson to Lancaster, 4 April [194-].
136
Bridge to Lancaster, 18 April 1942.
137
138
Gibson to Lancaster, 14 October [19—], and Gibson to Lancaster, 18 – 1937.
139
Gibson to Lancaster, 18 — 1937 and Brand to Lancaster, no date.
140
Becker, 129.
141
142
Brand to Lancaster, no date.
143
Becker, 159.
144
Ibid., 176.
145
Ibid., 249.
146
Jane Brown, Lanning Roper and his Gardens (New York: Rizzoli, 1987), 112.
147
Becker, 3.
148
Mirador Photograph Album 1947-1953. Accession #12643. Special Collections, Univer-
sity of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, VA. Because of logistical problems, the author could not
obtain copies of any photographs in this photo album. It is important to note that the Marrans
and Colonel Newhall had a unique living arrangement within the main house.
149
Ferol Briggs, Jr., Albemarle County, Book B, 1998. Albemarle County Historical
Society, Charlottesville, VA. While it was possible to obtain copies of these pictures, the quality
and content was such that the author felt it unnecessary.
Endnotes
150
Lancaster to Scott, 31 October [198-], 1.
151
Ibid.
152
Jane Brown, Lanning Roper and His Gardens (New York: Rizzoli, 1987), 18, 22, 37, and
50.
153
Ibid., 115, 206.
154
Lanning Roper, “Report on the Gardens at Mirador,” 13 October 1982, in Jeannie
(Scott) Rutherfoord Collection, [Collection of Photographs, Plans, and Written Manuscripts
Concerning Mirador], Georgetown, DC.
155
Ibid., 7.
156
Ibid., 7-11.
157
Vernon Russell-Smith, “Suggested Layout for Garden,” June 1985, in Jeannie
(Scott) Rutherfoord Collection, [Collection of Photographs, Plans, and Written Manuscripts
Concerning Mirador], Georgetown, DC.
158
Ibid.
159
Ibid., and Roper.
160
Jeannie (Scott) Rutherfoord, interview with author, 10 August 2004, Georgetown,
DC, oral interview.
161
Ibid.
Appendix One: Mirador Chronology
1880 1908 1950 1975 1981 1992

? 1835 1892 1960
- - 1920 - - - -
- - - -
1892 1920 - 1960 1981 1992 Present
1835 1880 1908 1975
1950
Owner:
Mirador,
Owner: Owner: Inc. Owner: Owner:
Owner:
Phyllis Morton L. James Scott Hope
Bowen Owner:
Owner: Langhorne Newhall Pres. of and Paul
Heirs Mona
C.D. Brooks Mirador, Inc Burghardt
Owner: Owner: Owner: Marran
Langhorne
William James M. Nancy
Ramsey Bowen Tree
(Lancaster) Falls into
Disrepair
Heirs Sold Portion of

Married Rehabs
included portion property
Robert Property
Funstens of property; Newhall under
Brand
Given to lived on site easement
Daughter until death
in 1961 Sold:
9/1/1981
Mirador Remodeled
Known as
Built 1921
Millburne
c. 1842 by Delano
Sold: Sold: Sold:

Sold: 12/15/1992
7/2/1892 8/8/1960
12/11/1920
Willed to
Transferred:
Mirador, Inc:
12/5/1908
5/1/1975
Sold: Willed to Sold:

3/1/1835 Heirs: 10/4/1950
375 Acres 6/10/1880
180+ Acres
Hidden Jewel: The Mirador Landscape Garden Club of Virginia Rudy J. Fravretti Felllowship 2004 126
Appendix Two: Langhorne Famiily Tree
Chiswell Dabney Langhorne m. Anne Witcher Keene

(1843-1919) 1864 (1847-1903)
Elizabeth m. T. Moncure Perkins Irene m. Charles Dana Gibson Nancy 1. m. Robert Shaw Phyllis* 1. m. Reginald Brooks Nora 1. m. Paul Phipps
(1867-1914) 1885 (1861-1914) (1873-1956) 1895 (1867-1944) (1879-1964) 1897 (1871-1930) (1880-1937) 1901 (1876-1945) (1889-1955) 1909 (1880-1953)
2. m. "Lefty" Flynn
2. m. Waldorf Astor 2. m. Robert Brand 1932 (1880-1950)
1906 (1879-1952) 1917 (1878-1963)
Keene m. Sadie Reynolds Harry m. Genevieve Peyton Buck m. Edith Forsyth

(1869-1916) (1874-1907) (1886-1938) 1907
Bobbie Shaw Peter Dabney Joyce Grenfell

David (Winkie) Phylis Tommy Phipps
Harry
Keene
Douglas
Chiswell Irene (Babs) Bill Virginia Ford

Nancy Lancaster** Langhorne Phyllis (Wissie) Dinah Bridge
Alice Winn David Jim
Michael
John Jacob (Jakie)
* Phyllis Was Given Mirador by her Father Chiswel Dabney Langhorne in 1914.
** Nancy Lancaster owned the property from 1920-1950.
Hidden Jewel: The Mirador Landscape Garden Club of Virginia Rudy J. Fravretti Felllowship 2004 127
Appendix Three: Bibliography
Books
Becker, Robert. Nancy Lancaster: Her Life, Her World, Her Art. New York:
A.A. Knopf, 1996.
Brown, Jane. Lanning Roper and His Gardens. New York: Rizzoli, 1987.
Christian, Francis Archer and Susanne Williams Massie, eds. Homes and
Gardens in Old Virginia. Richmond, VA: J. W. Fergusson and Sons,
1931; reprint, New York: Bonanza Books, 1981.
Flanders, Annette Hoyt. Landscape Architecture. New York: Privately

published, 1932.
Fox, James. Five Sisters. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2000.
Grigg, John. Nancy Astor, a Lady Unashamed. Boston: Little, Brown, 1980.
Griswold, Mac and Eleanor Weller. The Golden Age of American Gardens.
New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1991.
Koons, Kenneth and Warren Hofstra, eds. After the Backcountry: Rural Life in
the Great Valley of Virginia, 1800-1900. Knoxville, TN: University
of Tennessee Press, 2000.
Langhorne, Elizabeth Coles. Nancy Astor and Her Friends. New York:
Praeger, 1974.
Lay, K. Edward. The Architecture of Jefferson Country. Charlottesville, VA:

University Press of Virginia, 2000.
Masters, Anthony. Nancy Astor, a Life. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson,

1981.
Mirador: A Virginia Historic Landmark in Celebrated Albemarle County. No
date. Special Collections, University of Virginia Library,
Nutting, Wallace. Virginia Beautiful. Framingham, MA: Old American

Company, 1930.
Pennoyer, Peter and Anne Walker. The Architecture of Delano and Aldrich.
New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2003.
Sale, Edith Tunis, ed., The James River Garden Club. Historic Gardens of
Virginia. Richmond, VA: The William Byrd Press, 1930.
Stephenson, Richard W. and Marianne M. McKee, eds. Virginia in Maps.

Richmond, VA: Library of Virginia, 2000.
Stevens, William T., ed. Virginia House Tour. Charlottesville, VA:

Stevenpost Productions, 1952.
——, ed. Mirador. Charlottesville, VA: Stevens and Company, no date.
Sykes, Christopher. Nancy: The Life of Lady Astor. London: Collins, 1972.
Wheeler, Roy, ed. Historic Virginia. Charlottesville, VA: Roy Wheeler

Publishing Company, 1950.
Winn, Alice. Always a Virginian. Lynchburg, VA: J. P. Bell Company, 1975.
Journal Articles
Delano and Aldrich. “Mirador, The House of Mrs. Ronald Tree, Green-
wood, Va.” Southern Architect and Building News (June 1928): 41-46.
Gibson, Langhorne. “Dash and Drama: Irene Langhorne Gibson, 1873-

1956.” Virginia Cavalcade 47, no. 1 (Winter 1998): 4-13.
Bibliography
Green, Bryan Clark. “Mirador, Virginia: The Home of Mr. and Mrs. Paul
Burghardt.” Country Life (16 October 2003): 78-83.
Hogan, Pendleton. “El Mirador: a Colonial Mansion in the Piedmont

Lands.” American Motorist 7, no. 8 (November 1932): 17, 45.
“Mirador Albemarle County Virginia.” Town and Country (May 1992).
Patterson, August Owen. “The Langhorne Home in Greenwood, VA.”

Town and Country (June 1928): 42-50.
Taylor, Katie. “Retreat for the Gibson Girl.” Virginia Living 2, no. 2
(February 2004): 80-87.
Newspaper Articles
Brown, Barbara Trigg. “Early Days in Virginia Recalled by Girlhood Friend

of Lady Astor.” Richmond Post-Dispatch, 5 October 1966, Sec. F8.
Friedman, Dan. “Mirador Radiates the Aura of the Old South.” The Daily
Progress, 21 August 1977, Sec. F.
Maurer, David A. “Graceful Lady Comes Home to Greenwood.” The Daily

Progress, 23 October 1994, Sec. E, page 1, 3.
Mullen, Betsy Powell. “Memories of Mirador.” Richmond Times-Dispatch, 23

April 1996, Sec. E, page 1, 2.
“Noted Artist to Live at Mirador.” The Daily Progress, 22 September 1937.
Government Documents
Electronic Resources
Lay, K. Edward. The Architecture of Jefferson County. CD-Rom Database,

2000.
“Descendents of John Langhorne, 1640.”

http://www.livelyroots.com/langhorne/index.htm (Accessed 1 July
2004).
Government Documents
1850 Albemarle County Agricultural Census. The Library of Virginia, Rich-

mond, VA.
1850 Albemarle County Slave Schedule, 351. The Library of Virginia, Rich-
mond, VA.

mond, VA.
1860 Albemarle County Slave Schedule, 105. The Library of Virginia, Rich-
mond, VA.

mond, VA.
Deed Book 32, 60. Clerks Office, Ablemarle County Courthouse,



Bibliography







Will Book 2, 60. Clerks Office, Ablemarle County Courthouse,

Unpublished Manuscripts
Album Amicorum, 1909-1948. Handwritten, photocopy. Virginia Historical

Astor, Nancy Witcher Langhorne Astor, Viscountess. Astor Story. Dictated

ca. 1953. Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA.
Baylor, Ellen Carter Bruce. Commonplace Book 1752, 1906. Virginia Histori-
cal Society, Richmond, VA.
Unpublished Manuscripts
Castleman, Fanny Starr Bowen Funsten. “El Mirador.” 1925(?). TMs. In

Land Papers, 1635-1950. Accession # 6589, -a, -b. Special Collec-
tions, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, VA.
Grosskopf, Thaler, and Trischman-Marks, researchers. “The Road to

Rockfish Gap Survey.” December 1991. In Papers of K. Edward
Lay. Accession #12817-a. Special Collections, University of
Virginia Library, Charlottesville, VA.
Lancaster, Nancy. “Chiswell Dabney Langhorne.” No date. In Lancaster,

Nancy. Papers, 1933-1967. Virginia Historical Society, Richmond,
VA.
——. “Christmas of Youth.” No date. In Lancaster, Nancy. Papers, 1933-

1967. Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA.
——. “Grandmother.” No date. In Lancaster, Nancy. Papers, 1933-1967.

Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA.
——. “Greenwood.” No date. In Lancaster, Nancy. Papers, 1933-1967.

——. “Mirador.” No date. In Lancaster, Nancy. Papers, 1933-1967. Vir-

——. “Nanere.” No date. In Lancaster, Nancy. Papers, 1933-1967. Vir-

——. [Notes about Garden]. No date. In Rutherfoord, Jeannie (Scott).

[Collection of Photographs, Plans, and Written Manuscripts Con-
cerning Mirador]. Georgetown, DC.
“Mirador.” 1983. National Register of Historic Places, Washington, D.C.
Bibliography
Roper, Lanning. “Report on the Gardens at Mirador.” 13 October 1982.

In Rutherfoord, Jeannie (Scott). [Collection of Photographs, Plans,
and Written Manuscripts Concerning Mirador]. Georgetown, DC.
Winn, Alice Moncure Perkins. Three Centuries of Virginia Ancestors. Rev.

Letters
Bowen, James M., Mirador, VA, to Mr. Charles Palmer, [Richmond], 10

November 1865. In Palmer Family Papers, 1782-1894. Sections 1-2.
Brand, Phyllis (Langhorne) Brooks, Mirador, VA, to Nancy Lancaster,

England, no date. Typed by Nancy Lancaster. In Lancaster, Nancy.
Papers, 1933-1967. Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA.
Bridge, Dinah (Brand) Fox, Mirador, VA, to Nancy Lancaster, England, 18

April 1942. Typed by Nancy Lancaster. In Lancaster, Nancy.
Papers, 1933-1967. Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA.
Funsten, David, VA, to Susan Meade Funsten, VA, January 1863. In

Funsten, David. Papers, 1851-1868. Section 1. Virginia Historical
Funsten, Mary Bowen, Mirador, VA, to Mr. [Charles] Palmer, [Richmond,

VA], 17 June 1853. In Funsten, David. Papers, 1851-1868. Section
Gibson, Irene “Aunt” Langhorne, Mirador, VA, to Nancy Lancaster, [En

gland], 4 April [194-]. Typed by Nancy Lancaster. In Papers of the
Langhorne Family, 1899-1984. Accession # 10758. Special Collec-
Letters

gland], 14 October [19—]. Typed by Nancy Lancaster. In Papers of
the Langhorne Family, 1899-1984. Accession # 10758. Special
Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, VA.

gland], 18 —— 1937. Typed by Nancy Lancaster. In Papers of the
Langhorne Family, 1899-1984. Accession # 10758. Special Collec-
Gibson, Irene “Aunt” Langhorne, to Nancy Lancaster, [England], no date.

Typed by Nancy Lancaster. In Papers of the Langhorne Family, 1899-
1984. Accession # 10758. Special Collections, University of
Virginia Library, Charlottesville, VA.
Hobson, Bessie M. (Martin), various letters to Nancy Lancaster, [England],

no date. Typed by Nancy Lancaster. In Lancaster, Nancy. Papers,
1933-1967. Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA.
Lancaster, Nancy, England, to Lord Robert Brand, England, no date. Typed

by Nancy Lancaster. In Lancaster, Nancy. Papers, 1933-1967.
——, England, to Jeannie Scott, Mirador, Virginia, 31 October [198-]. In

Rutherfoord, Jeannie (Scott). [Collection of Photographs, Plans,
McDonnell, Angus, Mirador, VA, to Nancy Astor, England, 16 May 1942.

Typed by Nancy Lancaster. In Lancaster, Nancy. Papers, 1933-
Tree, Arthur Ronald Lambert Field, Mirador, VA, to Nancy Lancaster,

[England], 26 April 1942. Typed by Nancy Lancaster. In Lancaster,
Nancy. Papers, 1933-1967. Virginia Historical Society, Richmond,
VA.
Bibliography
Varner, Elizabeth Langhorne (Perkins), Mirador, VA, to Nancy Lancaster,

[England], 6 May 1946. Typed by Nancy Lancaster. In Lancaster,
Nancy. Papers, 1933-1967, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond,
VA.
Photographs
Astor, Nancy Witcher Langhorne Astor, Viscountess. Photograph Album.

Ca. 1910s. Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA.
Briggs, Ferol Jr. Albemarle County, Book B. 1998. Albemarle County

Historical Society, Charlottesville, VA.
Bennett, Carroll F. Scrapbook. 1935. Virginia Historical Society, Richmond,

VA.
Mirador Photograph Album 1947-1953. Accession #12643. Special Collec-

Maps and Drawings
Flanders, Annette Hoyt. “Rose Garden.” No date. In Rutherfoord, Jeannie

(Scott). [Collection of Photographs, Plans, and Written
Manuscripts Concerning Mirador]. Georgetown, DC.
Lancaster, Nancy. [Sketch of Mirador Gardens]. No date. In Rutherfoord,

Jeannie (Scott). [Collection of Photographs, Plans, and Written
Manuscripts Concerning Mirador]. Georgetown, DC.
Michler, N. Map of Albemarle County, Virginia. 1866. Photocopy. Rieley

and Associates, Charlottesville, VA.
Peyton, G., C.E. A Map of Albemarle County, Virginia. 1875. Photocopy.

Rieley and Associates.
Collections
Russell-Smith, Vernon. “Suggested Layout for Garden.” June 1985. In

Rutherfoord, Jeannie (Scott). [Collection of Photographs, Plans,
Interviews
Rutherfoord, Jeannie (Scott). Interview with author. Georgetown, DC.

10 August 2004. Oral interview.
Scott, Elizabeth. Interview with author. Charlottesville, VA. 15 July

2004. Oral interview.
Varner, Betsy. Interview with author. Charlottesville, VA. 15 July 2004.

Oral interview.
Collections
Astor, Nancy Witcher Langhorne Astor, Viscountess. Papers, 1910-1931.

Bagby Family Papers, 1824-1960. Section 261. Virginia Historical Society,

Richmond, VA.
Funsten, David. Papers, 1851-1868. Section 1. Virginia Historical Society,

Richmond, VA.
Gordon Family Papers, 1844-1951. Section 15. Virginia Historical Society,

Richmond, VA.
Lancaster, Nancy Keen (Perkins) Field Tree. Papers, 1933-1967. Virginia

Historical Society, Richmond, VA.
——. Papers, 1965-1981. Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA.
Bibliography
Land Papers, 1635-1950. Accession # 6589, -a, -b. Special Collections,

Palmer Family Papers, 1782-1894. Sections 1-2. Virginia Historical

Papers of Floyd E. Johnson. Accession #11765, -a. Special Collections,

Papers of K. Edward Lay. Accession #12817-a. Special Collections,

Papers of the Langhorne Family, 1899-1984. Accession # 10758. Special

Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, VA.
Roper, Lanning. [Corespondence and papers related to garden designs].

Royal Horticultural Society, Lindley Library, National Archives,
London, England.
Rutherfoord, Jeannie (Scott). Collection of Photographs, Plans, and

WrittenManuscripts Concerning Mirador]. Georgetown, DC.

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Hidden Jewel: The Mirador Landscape

Mirador in 1909, painted by Hoffbaur. (couresy of Becker)

Written by Andrew Kohr

The Rudy J. Favretti Fellowship is successful in large part

The supervision, mentorship, and friendship provided by Will Rieley,

Much of the knowledge, photographs, and plans of the

I would like to extend my gratitude to Dana Angell, and the Archive

Mirador has played a significant role in the history of Albemarle County

Studying the rich history of Mirador involved the documentation of

Notes: The report uses a layout that is representative of the stationary

The Kitchen 5-RS LI

Prepared by: Andrew Kohr

The property where Mirador now stands is located in western Albemarle

Additional records from the Mutual Assurance Society of Virginia in-

The exact date of William Ramsey’s death is unknown. However by

Early maps of Albemarle County more precisely identify James Bowen’s

A second, more detailed map of Albemarle County drawn in 1875,

The most informative document about James Bowen was an article

Mirador and Bowen’s Mill. T. Bowen at Fairview.

Portions of the 1875 Peyton

Bowen, southwest of Mirador.

The early landscape of Mirador paralleled James Bowen’s sense of per-

James M. Bowen was a man of fine business

Comparison of the 1850, 1860 and 1870 Agricultural Censuses.

Although the early Mirador landscape emphasized farming, there were

The trees were magnificent and such a variety.

Remnants of the terraces on the front lawn.

Claudius Crozet, frequent visitor to

By 1870 Bowen no longer grew tobacco, which exhausted the land’s

The Langhorne legacy at Mirador began in 1892 when Chiswell Dabney

Chiswell Dabney (C. D.) Langhorne was the eighth generation of

In 1864 C. D. Langhorne was stationed in Danville, Virginia, and met

Chiswell Dabney Langhorne, my grandfather,

The Langhornes remained in Danville following the war, and C. D.’s

In Danville where at one time he auctioned

During his time in Danville, C. D.’s financial burden began to wear on

The Mirador Family: A Cast of Characters

His children and grandchildren described C. D. Langhorne as a hospi-

I don’t think any place was more stimulating

Chiswell Dabney Langhorne, famed as the fa-

Chiswell Dabney Langhorne, the patriarch of the Langhorne family.

Nancy Langhorne (1848-1903)

Although C. D. Langhorne was the patriarch of the family, it was Nancy,

Nanaire was credited with balancing her husband’s strong personality

Three Langhorne Sons

The Langhorne sons were continually in the shadow of their sisters’

The youngest brother William Henry, or simply Buck, was born in

Buck, youngest Langorne son and state senator.

Elizabeth, the oldest Langhorne daughter.

Alice and Nancy Perkins, Elizabeth’s daughters.

Charles Dana Gibson, creator of the Irene and C. D. Langhorne on Mirador

Irene, inspiration for the Gibson Girls.

Nancy “Nannie” Langhorne, the middle Langhorne daughter, was

While visiting Irene in New York, Nancy was introduced to a family

Nancy, after her marriage to Waldor Astor.

Nancy as a teenager on her horse Queen Bee.

Phyllis, an excellent horse rider who was often reserved and

Nora on the steps of Mirador. (Courtesy of Winn)

The Mirador Staff

Stewart Wood, butler for the

Aunt Veeny Barbour on Mirador steps before

The Mirador staff at the turn of the century.. (Courtesy of Becker)

Beyond its beautiful landscape, Mirador is remembered as an active,

There was never a dull moment at Mirador. Out