Historic Gardens of Virginia 



into war and, although no hostile forces visited Rock Castle, during 

 the summer months the house was thronged with the young Vir- 

 ginians coming and going to the training camps, and again young 

 couples sought the garden-walks and exchanged vows of love under 

 the shade trees. 



After the death of Dr. Johnston, Mrs. Johnston disposed of the 

 place, and since 191 8 it has changed hands several times. The 

 last resident owner, Mr. Henry L. Pierson, was killed in a tractor 

 accident last September, and dying intestate the estate reverted to 

 his brother, Mr. Thomas H. Pierson, of New York, and to his 

 sister, Mrs. Carlyon Bellairs, of Gore Court, Maidstone, England. 

 Mrs. Bellairs, whose husband is a distinguished M. P., has relin- 

 quished her share to her brother. In the near future other strangers 

 will take possession and feast their eyes upon this rarely beautiful 

 landscape of which a convalescent Confederate soldier, during the 

 War Between the States, said to Mrs. Rutherfoord on being sum- 

 moned to dinner: "This is meat enough and drink enough for me." 



Anne Seddon Rutherfoord Johnson. 



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