Yellow House Farm History

The History of Yellow House

This is a 1999 view of Yellow House, located in Chester, Virginia, just south of the state capital of Richmond. The house is now white, but of course it was yellow when first named.

This spacious L-shaped frame farmhouse was probably built about 1855 by Henry A. Winfree. The house originally sported a three-bay veranda which was later removed, but the interior trim is still mostly original. A later addition was added to the left rear corner of the house, creating the present layout.

At right is the earliest known existing photograph of Yellow House taken in 1920. In this photograph you can see the front of the house with the original veranda. Later, the porch and roof were narrowed to just the area around the central door, and the side doors became extremely tall windows.

An early 30's view of the house from the cemetary. Notice that several of the trees from the 1920 photograph have been removed, but the large Osage Orange, just to the right of the house, is still an active member of the family today. This shot also shows the original L-shaped ground plan, which was remodeled and squared off in the 50s to accomodate the 6 children who were careening about the place.

This is a 1999 view of Yellow House staircase as seen upon entering the home's front door. Many children made quick trips down by sliding on the stair-rail. The unsupported curved staircase is a unique architectural feature of the house

Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission

Jeffrey M. O'Dell completed a Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Survey Form (#20-544) in August 1976. The following is from this form.

Historic name is Yellow House, so named because the color of its original paint figured in the Civil War engagement of the "Yellow House".

This plantation once consisted of some 1,500 acres. Archer Bass owned the land in the early 19th century and left it to his daughter Lucy Winfree in 1822. She sold it to her son Henry A. Winfree in 1855, and he most likely built the present house. Winfree, along with Snead and Stebbins, was one of the main developers of Chester around 1857.

William Gates owned the house during the Civil War.

The property changed hands several times after the war. In around 1880, a Mr Whiteside from Pennsylvania, who fought for the Union side in this area during the Civil War, came to Chester and settled on this farm. He left the place to his daughters, and the land was subsequently divided.

In 1919 Mr. John G. Gay acquired the place and later divided the property among several members of the family.

About 1944 J. B. Burgess and his wife (daughter of J. G. Gay) bought the house and 125 surrounding acres from Mr. Gay.

Attached to his report O'dell included a page on Boarding School at Yellow House 1861-62. It said that Alice and Laura Gill attended. While there, raids of Federal troops were frequent, and the two girls packed their most cherished belongings in a hair trunk and took them to nearby woods until the solders passed. Yellow House is one of the three oldest houses in Chester.

This is a monument located in the front yard of Yellow House. It reads as follows: Here, on May 10, 1864, as part of Butler's Bermuda Campaign, 3400 Federals and 2000 Confederates fought the battle of Chester Station. This monument is erected in their memory by the Chester Station Camp #1503. Sons of Confederate Veterans.

This is a Federal Civil War soldier's burial monument located 100 yards east of Yellow House.

Major Family Events at Yellow House

Lottie Parker, wife of John Green Gay, gave birth to Sara Foy Eanes and Pauline Bennett.

Margaret Gay, wife of John Bradshaw Burgess, gave birth to Peggy Salamon, Cherie Dean, and Sara Keenan. All of her boys were delivered in hospitals.

Marriage ceremonies were held for Elizabeth Gay and Van Holt Barker; Sara Foy Gay and Walter Eanes; Marion Gay and Ralph Thompson; Margaret Burgess and Allen MacMillan; Cherie Burgess and Bill Dean; and Rebecca Keenan and Dave Reid.

In addition there have been numerous wedding receptions, 50th wedding anniversaries, 80th birthday celebrations and family reunions. The house and grounds saw annual duty for the Church picnics for many years.