Green Springs was built in the late 18th century on lands in Louisa County, Virginia assembled by Sylvanus Morris. His son Richard (c.1740-1821) developed 1,746 acres (707 ha) near the mineral springs that gave the property its name and built the two-story frame house. The property stands in an unusually fertile region of central Virginia, surrounded by a number of 18th and 19th century farms and plantations. The district has been designated a National Historic Landmark district, comprising about 14,000 acres (5,700 ha) under scenic easement protection.[3][4]
Description
The main house is a two-story frame structure with a compact plan. The house forgoes the typical Virginia central-hall plan, employing instead a simple four-room plan on the main floor, with the stairs relegated to a small space at the rear. The two front rooms each have their own entry in the five-bay main elevation. The rear has received a shed-roofed addition, and a two-story frame addition has been added on the west side of the house. The interior features its original woodwork, using simple shapes and patterns. The property includes a number of barns, slave quarters and other dependencies.[3]
The Morris family
Colonel Richard Morris held a number of public offices, including Commissary for the Commonwealth, and was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1788. Morris operated a small resort at the Green Springs with two houses, an icehouse, servant quarters, a blacksmith shop and utility buildings, which were abandoned by Richard's son and heir James Maury Morris.[3]
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