Look for a large, pale cream-colored two-story house with a hipped roof, tall end chimneys, and green shutters right on the corner-those big chimneys on either end make it easy to spot!
Welcome to The Chimneys-don’t let the stately exterior fool you; this house has seen more drama than a soap opera marathon! Imagine it: it’s the early 1770s, Fredericksburg is a bustling port town, and right where you stand, shipbuilders and merchants brush past this freshly built Georgian mansion, its walls packed tight with bricks for insulation. If you peek through the windows, you’ll find rooms on either side of a grand central hallway, and a structure held together by hefty timber beams-each one marked with chiseled Roman numerals, as if the carpenters wanted to leave an ancient secret code behind.
Now, those mighty stone chimneys on both ends? They’re not just for show. They’re the namesake of this house, and if you picture the family gathered round the hearth on a snowy winter night, you almost feel the glow. The roof itself hides another surprise: it's built with shipbuilding techniques, supported by heavy king post trusses-so in a way, you’re looking at a house with a bit of nautical flair. Ahoy, matey!
The first owner is a bit of a mystery, but most tales point to John Glassell, a merchant from Scotland. Glassell was a loyalist during the American Revolution. In 1775, he dashed back to Scotland and never returned, possibly picturing his grand house from across the Atlantic while someone else enjoyed it! During those early days, Fredericksburg bustled with commerce, the sound of barrels and crates, and the slight tension of uncertain times. The house passed to William Glassell, then cycled through a parade of owners in the 1800s. And-here’s a presidential twist-Ellen Lewis Herndon, who grew up here, later married Chester A. Arthur, the President of the United States. So, you could say the White House had a little competition in town!
Fast forward to the 20th century, and The Chimneys was shuffled between museums, restaurants, and foundation offices, each adding more layers of history. In the 1980s, a bold renovation brought back its Georgian glory, repainted in majestic original colors, and added elegant verandas where locals now sipped drinks instead of tea from the 1700s.
So, the next time someone asks where the heart of Fredericksburg’s history beats, you can tell them-it’s right here, between these proud old chimneys!
