Cherry Hill Farm

Built on a land grant from Lord Fairfax around 1812, this colonial home is located in the rolling hills of the Shenandoah Valley near the town of Stanley, Virginia. The original builder was John Snyder, who built the main portion of the house. John and James Snyder lived in the house until their deaths- John in 1874 and James in 1911. While it appears that John was married to a Judith, it is not sure if James was married.

James participated in the 1849 Gold Rush when he was twenty years old. When he cam back from California, he planted cherry seeds on the property. From then, it was called "Cherry Hill Farm".

The house was occupied by the Snyder men until their deaths. While James Snyder was growing older, he was taken care of by Eliza Jane Suthard and her daughter, Lula Ann Suthard. Eliza Jane and her husband Joshua Calvin Suthard lived in the home, and their daughter Lula Ann Suthard was born at the farm- making the case for their residence- either as farm help or friends. 

Whatever the relationship between the Snyders and the Suthards was, James Snyder willed the home to Eliza J. The content of the will is below:

It is uncertain of the ownership of the house after Snyder's death. As the will shows, the home was left to Eliza Jane Suthard or her daughters after her death.

Lula Ann Suthard Roudabush and her husband Robert Trenton Roudabush lived in the house until her death in 1945. After this, the home passed into the hands of the Mims family until the eighties, then was sold to the Gordon family, getting a change of name to Gordonia.

Approximately in 1990, the house was sold to Mr. & Mrs. Archer, and went through a serious renovation. At present, the home is a showcase and recently listed on the Virginia Historical Society list of historical homes.

Several trivia items associated with the house... 

It was rumored that Stonewall Jackson stayed at the house on his campaign through Page County. 

 Eliza Jane Parks Suthard's brother James J. Parks was enlisted in the 97th Virginia Militia, and later deserted. He was supposedly hidden in a secret area under the kitchen until the end of the war. James is buried in an unmarked grave in Stanley, VA.

Supposedly when Jim Snyder came back from the Gold Rush of 1849, he buried gold under the kitchen. This was completely exhausted at the end of his life.

When my relatives lived at the farm (Robert Trenton Roudabush), the attic contained Civil War relics. As he fell deeper into the despairs of alcoholism, these relics were sold along with the original delft tiles that surrounded the fire places.

My grandfather (Frank Calvin Roudabush) was born at the house and was premature. A local woman that practiced witchcraft tied a leather thong around the gate as a spell on him- that when the thong finally broke, he would be healed. This came true. Frank Roudabush for the rest of his life was tormented with depression and finally committed suicide in 1973. I believe that demonic oppression is real, but release can be found in Christ.

More Shots of Cherry Hill Farm:

Coming up the driveway, the rear garden, the rear of the house. The many modifications on the back of the house were done since 1948 when it came into possession of the Mims family. The family room at the left was added by the current owner.