I will stay a little bit closer to the present with today's post. I wanted to give an overview of the various places around Free Union, Virginia that are associated with Hilda Allen Price's childhood. Click on the map below to get an overview of the locations of these sites. Scroll down to see photos and descriptions.
Algretus Rice Via home
Grandma remembers visiting "Big Grandma" in this home. One thing in particular she remembered was looking out of the tiny windows on the second floor. "Big Grandma" was her great-grandmother Martha Frances Wood Via, the wife of Algretus Rice Via. Hilda and Phyllis used to run to meet "Big Grandma" on Sunday mornings as she drove the horse and buggy up to the Free Union Church of the Brethren, where she taught Sunday school to the children.
The home was passed to Daniel Rice Via, a son of Algretus and Martha. It is said to have been built around 1740, possibly one of the oldest homes in Albemarle County. The home is currently owned by a daughter of August A. Busch, Jr. of Anheuser-Busch fame.
Follow this link for the location in Google satellite view.
Jacob Wood Via home
This is the home Jacob and Carrie Via lived in from about 1900 (when it was built) until their deaths in 1956 and 1960 respectively. It was also where Russell Allen married Rachel Via (in the yard) and where Hilda Allen and Thomas Earl Price were married (inside the house). Jacob Wood Via performed both services. Hilda remembers hearing the story of how her father, Russell Allen, kissed her mother ,Rachel Via, through the window of this house before they were married and what a scandal it caused in the Via household. She also distinctly remembers her grandmother Carrie Crenshaw Via nonchalantly grabbing a chicken and breaking its neck to prepare it for dinner.
Follow this link for the location in Google satellite view.
Dr. William A. Kyger rental property
Russell and Rachel Allen rented this home from Dr. Kyger for a short period around 1930. According to the 1930 census, Russell paid rent of $7 a month. This home is located at Buck Mountain Road, near the intersection with Free Union Road.
Follow this link for the location in Google street view.
Gertrude Via home
We remember this house as the home of Grandma's aunt Gertrude Via and the site of Via family reunions. The Allens lived here for a short time after leaving the Kyger home and before Russell finished building their home across from Jacob Wood Via's home. It was from this home that Hilda remembers leaving to attend her first day of school.
Follow this link for the location in Google street view.
Russell and Rachel Allen home
Russell Allen built this home across the street from Jacob Wood Via's home on Buck Mountain Road (see below). It was built around 1931. Here they continued to raise Hilda, Phyllis, Wendell, and Paulette. He and Rachel lived there until their deaths in 1991 and 1989 respectively. It is currently owned and being rented out by Windmere Farms (the very large home behind it). Follow this link for the location in Google street view.
Broadus Wood School
Grandma went to Broadus Wood for her entire school life. The current school was built in 1935 after the original Earlysville School burned in 1933. While Hilda attended it held grades 1 to 12 and later was converted to an elementary school in 1953.
Follow this link for the location in Google street view.
Free Union Church of the Brethren
Russell and Rachel attended this church until their deaths. Rachel's parents (Jacob Wood Via and Carrie Crenshaw Via) as well as her grandparents (Algretus Rice Via and Frances Wood Via) and numerous cousins, aunts and uncles are buried in the cemetery. Algretus Rice Via donated the land upon which the original church was built in 1896. Jacob Wood Via was a minister at this church. The current church building was constructed in 1961.
Follow this link to view the location in Google Street View.
Michie Tavern
Michie Tavern once stood a short distance down Buck Mountain Road from Jacob Wood Via's home. Rachel Via Allen's uncle John A. Via purchased the tavern from the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1910 (who had purchased it from the Michie family a short time before) and around 1927 sold it it to Josephine Henderson, who moved it to its present location near Monticello. It is said that an original term of the sale was that an exact replica of the tavern be built in the original location for John Via. Unfortunately, even this replica gone now and only a marker remains noting where the original tavern stood.
Follow this link to see the original location in Google Satellite View.
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