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Community Corner

Viewfinder: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Leesylvania

Leesylvania State Park, located at 2001 Daniel K. Ludwig Drive, is in need of an ecological cleanup.

Henry Lee II and his young wife Lucy Grymes (grandparents to Confederate General Robert E. Lee) built the Leesylvania Plantation in 1747 on a large tract of land referred to as Freestone Point.  Although the house burned in 1790, three years after Henry's death, the woodlands adjacent to the property still bear signs of Lucy's life: the daffodils she planted continue to grow every spring.

In 1825, Henry Fairfax bought Leesylvania.  The Fairfax House stood until 1910, when fire decimated the building.  All that remains is a restored two-story chimney.  The Fairfaxes' bodies are buried on the property, though their tombstones were removed to a family plot.

The history of Leesylvania is marked by steady decline.  The area was almost completely timbered in the late nineteenth century, a period during which a train line connected the nation's capital to Fredericksburg.  In the 1950s, a road was built, destroying the foundation of Henry Lee's plantation house.  

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Daniel K. Ludwig's generous land donation in 1978 enabled state authorities to construct and rehabilitate the area known as Leesylvania State Park.  The park opened to residents in 1992, offering a boat launch, picnic areas, interpretive trails, and a sandy beach.

Unfortunately, the beach area of Leesylvania is considerably littered.  One afternoon walk revealed the presence of five auto tires, several balls, and a variety of trash.

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Although the park offers many historic interpretations, events and seminars for children; following the "points of interest" around the original Lee Plantation is at times difficult given the lack of information on the pamphlet I was given at the park entrance.

I wanted these photographs of Leesylvania to capture its essence by showcasing both natural beauty and human impact on the area.  Some photographs seemed unnecessary: the unmarked shapeless mound where the Fairfaxes are buried, the area that once contained the foundations of the Lees' house, and the general area where the Lees are believed to be resting.  Yet these spots are an integral part of Leesylvania's history and I wish I had included them.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated. 

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