Local Couple Saves Historic Landmark From Demolition
Press Relese
March 24, 2008

Landowners in Green Springs National Historic Landmark District to Relocate and Restore Hall's Tavern in Louisa County

LOUISA COUNTY, VA—March 24, 2008—Historic Green Springs Inc., a nonprofit group of preservationists, announced today that a local couple has saved Hall's Tavern from demolition. Diane and Paul Manning, who have preserved 670 acres in Green Springs National Historic Landmark District, are going to partially disassemble and move the tavern to their property in Louisa County, where it will be reassembled and restored.

Also known as Hackney's Old Stand, colonial Hall's Tavern dates back to 1750 and is one of the oldest buildings in Louisa County. The historic tavern was a well-known stop for stagecoaches and other travelers and was located on a significant route – Three Chopt Road (or Three Notch Road) – connecting Charlottesville and Richmond. Many of Virginia's founding fathers and other celebrated figures traveled along this route, and Hall's Tavern was visited frequently throughout the Civil War.

Today Hall's Tavern is situated on 14.45 acres west of Zion Crossroads near Route 250 and Route 15. In January 2006, after several public hearings in which preservationists lobbied against rezoning, the Louisa County Board of Supervisors rezoned the property to allow the development of an industrial park. Proffers attached to the rezoning required the tavern to be relocated or demolished. The owners of the land offered $20,000 to anyone who would agree to relocate the building.

After an extensive feasibility study and consultation with experts, Diane Manning determined the tavern could be safely moved from its original location. On the final day of the relocation proposal period, the couple offered to move the structure to their property in Louisa's Green Springs National Historic Landmark District.

"We are fortunate to have a beautiful location only a short distance away from the original site where the tavern can be reassembled and restored," said Mrs. Manning.

"Hall's Tavern will be preserved on land that has a conservation easement, so the structure should be safe and properly maintained in its new home."

The Mannings believe the relocation and restoration project will take at least a year to complete. The undertaking will involve a number of restoration specialists, including experts involved in the ongoing restoration work at Montpelier.

Mrs. Manning was unable to approximate the total cost of the project and is still awaiting final estimates. She anticipates relocating the tavern will be a costly proposition and admits the $20,000 contributed by the land owners will not be a significant offset.

At present there are no plans for how the tavern will be used once it has been restored.

"Right now we're focusing on moving the tavern and restoring it back to what it might have looked like more than 200 years ago," added Mrs. Manning. "None of this would have been possible without the help of another concerned area resident. Paul and I would like to thank Angelo LoMascolo, who was instrumental in helping us with the proposal to relocate Hall's Tavern."

Rae Ely, president of Historic Green Springs Inc., thanked the Mannings on behalf of her nonprofit organization.

"This is truly a noble undertaking and we are relieved that Hall's Tavern will not be demolished because of industrial rezoning," said Ms. Ely. "We are fortunate that the historical significance of this building will be preserved right here in Green Springs National Historic Landmark District."