312 Park Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia 

FRIENDS OF CHERRY HILL FOUNDATION

The historic Cherry Hill Farmhouse, Barn and outbuildings are located in the heart of Falls Church City on land which was once part of Cherry Hill Farm.  The City of Falls Church owns and maintains the Farmhouse, Barn, and surrounding property while the Friends of Cherry Hill Foundation owns and maintains the period-appropriate, antique furnishings and items in the Farmhouse and Barn. The City and the Friends work together to protect and preserve this historic property and buildings for the benefit of the public.

The present-day Cherry Hill Farmhouse was constructed in 1845 and is decorated and furnished with period items to reflect the life of the Blaisdell family, the owners of the Farmhouse during the Civil War era.  In the warmer months, the Farmhouse is open for public tours on Saturday mornings, and many events are held at the Farmhouse throughout the year. The Cherry Hill Barn was constructed circa 1857 and seventy percent of the building is original. The Barn contains an extensive collection of period tools, machines, and farm implements of the type in use on mid-19th century farms. On some Saturdays in the warmer months, the Barn is open for visitors to enjoy shelling and grinding corn on period machines. Come and explore all there is to see and do at the Cherry Hill Farmhouse and Barn, and experience what life was like in mid-19th century rural Virginia.

Ownership History of Cherry Hill Farm

AN EARLY AMERICAN FARM

Cherry Hill Farm was once part of a pre-Revolutionary War plantation comprised of a 248-acre tract granted to John Trammel by Lord Fairfax in 1729. John Trammel’s property descended to his son, Sampson Trammel, and then to Sampson’s daughter, Susan Pinnit Cloud.  John Mills bought the property at auction in 1833 for $1,537.60. Augustine Newton bought the entire tract in 1843 and sold 66 plus acres to William Harvey, who paid $665.00 for the property in 1845. This is the parcel of land we know as Cherry Hill Farm today. William Harvey is believed to have been the owner of the property when the present-day farmhouse was built in 1845. William Harvey sold the farm to George Steele for $1,950.00 in 1848. In 1856 William Blaisdell of Massachusetts purchased the property for $4,000.00 and moved his young family here.

THE BLAISDELL FAMILY
Today Cherry Hill is furnished to reflect the period when William and Eirene Blaisdell and their family lived at Cherry Hill. The Blaisdells arrived from Massachusetts in 1856 and lived on the farm until 1868. William Blaisdell made numerous improvements to the property including a hand-hewn timber barn, corn crib, and necessary that still remain today. Blaisdell planted apple, pear, and peach orchards and grew a variety of fruits and vegetables that he sold at the Centre Market in Washington, D.C.

CHERRY HILL DURING THE CIVIL WAR
Cherry Hill was involved in the Civil War both as a spectator and participant. Many stories about the house concern this era. Since the perimeter of Washington’s defenses was less than two miles away, the property was crossed many times by Union troops and Confederate rangers. Farm produce was very attractive to soldiers who lived on hard tack and parched corn. Legends tell of a skirmish fought in the peach orchard at Cherry Hill, although archaeological evidence indicates that there were soldier encampments rather than actual battles on the farm.

William Blaisdell was one of 26 men who voted against secession in Falls Church. Forty four other men voted in favor of secession. After the first battle at Bull Run, the Confederate Army occupied Falls Church for two months. During this period most northerners fled north. However, Mrs. Blaisdell had given birth to a child two weeks prior to the battle and it is unlikely the family could have fled. By the end of September, 1861, the Confederate Army had departed and the town remained under Union control for the rest of the war. However, farmers still suffered the effects of Union encampments, as crops, timber, and livestock were often confiscated. In addition, the townspeople lived in continual fear of a raid by Mosby’s rangers.

By the end of the war farmers in the area had started to recover. The growing Federal City created a greater demand for local farmers’ produce. In 1865 Blaisdell was able to sell Cherry Hill for $7,000 to W. D. Shepherd. He stayed on as farm manager until the Blaisdell family returned to Concord, Massachusetts in 1868.

THE RILEY FAMILY
Joseph Riley acquired Cherry Hill from W. D. Shepherd in 1870 and in 1873 he and his wife, Mary Pultz Riley, moved their young family to Cherry Hill. Joseph Riley began the practice of subdividing the farm into lots and successfully lobbied for the incorporation of Falls Church into a town. He also led the drive to raise funds for the first public school in town. His stature as a civil leader earned him the nickname “Judge” Riley.

There were five children born to Joseph and Mary Pultz Riley. The eldest daughter, Mary Edwards Riley, married Samuel Styles. In honor of her early interest in and contributions to public libraries, the City of Falls Church named its library the Mary Riley Styles Library. Margaret Riley married Leo Graham Parker. She lived at Cherry Hill until her death in 1960. Her collection of cookbooks remains in the house. Jean Elizabeth Riley, and her husband Harry Birge, resided in Falls Church. Kathleen Maude Riley married Charles Gage. They lived in the Gage House, which is now owned by the City of Falls Church.

Upon his mother’s death in 1927, the only son, Joseph Harvey Riley, inherited Cherry Hill. Joseph Harvey Riley died in 1946, leaving the property to the University of Virginia with a life estate clause for his surviving siblings. The City of Falls Church purchased the property from the University in 1956.  Members of the Riley family continued to live in the house until Kathleen Riley Gage, the last of the Riley children, died in 1968 and the City took possession of the Farmhouse.

Cherry Hill was placed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Restoration of the Farmhouse and Barn was completed in1976 and upon completion the Farmhouse was dedicated as a historic house museum.