Bowman's Folly Explained

Bowman's Folly
Designated Other1:Virginia Landmarks Register
Designated Other1 Date:May 13, 1969[1]
Designated Other1 Number:001-0002
Designated Other1 Num Position:bottom
Coordinates:37.7075°N -75.6203°W
Built:c.
Added:November 12, 1969
Refnum:69000216

Bowman's Folly, is a historic home located near Accomac, Accomack County, Virginia. Captain Edmund Bowman patented the land in 1664, the current structure was built about 1815 by General John Cropper Jr.,[2] who had been born in the house in 1755 (his mother being Bowman's daughter and heir). Cropper ordered it demolished and a grander building erected after construction of a hill to allow better vistas during the War of 1812. The current building has a -story, main block with a -story wing. The main block has brick ends with interior end chimneys and frame fronts on the north and south. It has a64 gable roof with dormers. The front facade features a Palladian window and pedimented entrance porch. Also on the property are a frame kitchen, now connected to the main house by a hyphen; frame dovecote, and frame privy.[3]

The house has the name of Edmund Bowman; he regretted his decision to locate at the swampy site in the 1660s (hence the suffix "Folly") after his son died of disease.[4] Although the house has been rebuilt, its name still recalls the pioneer incident.[4] The present house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

External links

5 photos and 5 data pages at Historic American Buildings Survey

8 photos and 5 data pages at Historic American Buildings Survey

1 photo and 2 data pages at Historic American Buildings Survey

1 photo and 2 data pages at Historic American Buildings Survey

1 photo and 2 data pages at Historic American Buildings Survey

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Virginia Landmarks Register. Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
  2. Web site: Memoir of General John Cropper.
  3. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Bowman's Folly. Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Historic Resources. Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission. n.d.. 2013-05-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20120926184558/http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Counties/Accomack/001-0002_Bowman's_Folly_1969_Final_Nomination.pdf. 2012-09-26. dead. and Accompanying photo
  4. Book: The Ocean Highway: New Brunswick, New Jersey to Jacksonville, Florida . Works Progress Administration . Federal Writers' Project . 1938 . 67.