Andrew Reid, the Rockingham County clerk of court purchased the plantation in 1797.[4][5] He replaced Graham's house with a one-story brick house.[3] His son, Samuel Reid, inherited the house and expanded it in the mid-19th century.[3][4] In addition to following his father as clerk of court, he was an amateur architect and served as a Washington College senior trustee for fifty years.[4]Robert E. Lee was a guest at Mulberry Hill for four nights in September 1865, where he met the trustee of the college before becoming its president.[4]
Eleanor Junkin Cox Latane purchased Mulberry Hill in 1903.[3] She hired local architect William C. McDowell to expand the house.[3] Washington and Lee law professor Lewis Tyee Sr. purchased the house in 1931.[4] He added a walled garden to the property.[4] Lewis Tylee Jr. inherited the house from his father.[4]
The house was listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register on June 15, 1982.[3] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in September 9, 1982.[3] The state of Virginia Department of Historic Resouces holds a historic preservation easement on the property.[4][3]
The Kappa Alpha Order Educational Foundation purchased Mulberry Hill and 7.7 acres from Tylee and has used it as the headquarters of Kappa Alpha Order since 2004.[4] The Kappa Alpha a college was founded at Washington and Lee University.[4]
Architecture
Mulberry Hill was built in at least four different periods, ranging from the late 18th century to the early 20th century. The original one-story, double-pile core was built about 1797.[3] Its stone foundation may be from an earlier house on the property.[5] This original, four-room brick house in the core of the mansion today.[5][6] T It interior features a central passage plan and elaborate provincial Georgian woodwork and plasterwork.[6][3]
Ameatur architect and owner Samuel Reid designed a second story with a gable roof that was added in the mid-19th century.[3][5][4] The common bond of the second story contrasts with the Flemish bond of the original house.[5] The molding of the addition was in Italianate style.[5]
In 1903, the house was again expanded under the authority of local architect William G. McDowell.[6][3] He added the current front porch, a corbeled cornice, and two oval windows to the front of the house.[5] He also raised the roof to add a hipped roof.[5][3] The front of the house features decorated painted bondwork, including a red wash with gray penciling on the mortar joints.[5] A walled garden was added to the property after 1931 and features a view of House Mountain.[4][3]
