Gale Hill: The Story of an Old Virginia Home

“…I am going to that sweetest of all places, Gale Hill.” Patsy Morris Davis, 1845 “Gale Hill” was an estate in old Virginia, granted to John Minor of “Topping Castle” by King George II in 1735. It was the home of many members of the prominent Carr, Jefferson, Terrell, Minor, and Caskie families, as well as generations of African-Americans, both slave and free. When it burned to the ground in 1930, it was mourned by many of its descendants. Fortunately for us, several of them, both black and white, wrote down recollections of the old place that are rich in history, humor, and descriptive detail. Gale Hill’s history embraces Colonial, Revolutionary, Antebellum, Victorian, Edwardian, and early 20th century life on a plantation in the Old South. Its residents were colorful, eloquent, attractive people and they left an important – and entertaining - historical record. This book presents an illustrated historical narrative followed by a wide variety of memoirs, letters, diary entries, and other documents relating to Gale Hill, its families, and its neighbors. It is illustrated with over 120 photographs and drawings. About the Author: Jasper Burns is the author and illustrator of over 30 fiction and nonfiction books. Topics include history, fossils, numismatics, and spirituality. He currently lives in Waynesboro, Va.