Couple Saves Abandoned 200-Year-Old Estate by Rebuilding It Piece by Piece

An awe-inspiring piece of real estate history has been brought to the market in Virginia—six years after the 200-year-old structure was painstakingly dismantled, relocated, then meticulously rebuilt on its new parcel.

The Federal-style estate, which was built in 1822 on a 1,000-acre tobacco plantation, has since been rehomed on an 8.92-acre plot in Lynchburg, VA, where it was lovingly restored by Dr. Stephanie Sullivan and her husband, Dr. Robert Sullivan.

Now on the market for $1.6 million, the property’s jaw-dropping journey is being revealed in inspiring detail, with the Sullivans laying bare the incredible effort they dedicated to salvaging the once-dilapidated dwelling, which is known as Ridgecrest.

In a telling sign of their work, the couple has now achieved a feat that few can boast of—not only restoring the home itself, but also the restoration of its placement on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register.

“There are only a handful of homes that have relocated and been able to stay on the registry,” Stephanie explains. “It was originally located on a tobacco plantation that was about 1,000 acres. We took a look at it and were able to purchase the home intact.”

The couple shared a love of history at a young age and began collecting antiques together. They were in search of a Federal-style home to showcase their collection but could not find one near the hospital they both worked at.

“When my husband and I were in medical school, we started collecting antiques as we both loved that particular period of history,” she explains. “It just grew from there.”

When the couple came across the dwelling, Stephanie says it was in a state of complete disarray, having been left abandoned. But the duo were able to see past the peeling paint and total lack of amenities to view the true potential in the beautiful period details that remained.

“The condition of the home was an absolute mess,” Stephanie reveals. “There was no electricity or plumbing, but it did have classic Federal millwork that was all maintained, which made it worth it to purchase it.”

The Sullivans worked hard to salvage every historic element that they could—replicating anything that could not be saved.

“We saved all of the post and beam, and all interior millwork, fireplaces, and base trim. If it was not salvaged, it was replicated,” she adds.

They commissioned antique expert Frank Joseph, who specialized in relocating historical structures, to assist them with the move and the restoration.

“He specializes in restorative projects,” Stephanie explains. “[He takes] structures that are threatened, dismantles them, and saves them. He took it down piece by piece, loaded it up, and brought it to Lynchburg. It took about a year and a half to two years for the whole project to be re-erected here.”

During the restoration process, the Sullivans carefully analyzed everything from paint and wallpaper to floor coverings, so they could determine what the original details of the home were.

“We have one or two of the original doors that served as a template for the rest of the doors,” Stephanie notes. “It is amazing to see the skills they had during that period like the graining process that was designed to make the wood look more elegant.”

Other period highlights found throughout the two-story residence include Federal-era candlesticks, period decor and carpets, hand-crafted millwork, and wide-plank floors.

“It’s like the best of the new and the best of the old,” says listing agent Jane Blickenstaff of Blickenstaff & Company. “Everything is as authentic as you can possibly get. It’s truly a historic gem. I think the next buyer will be someone who really appreciates the authenticity and history of a Federal-style home. It’s absolutely amazing.”

Stephanie says the couple had a lot of fun transforming the home while taking great care to preserve its structural integrity.

“Graining was really a surprise for us,” she says. “I had no idea there were so many types. Every fireplace is different and has so much detail. The whole staircase in the foyer came in one piece.”

Living and dining rooms feature luxurious Zuber wall coverings and Brunschwig & Fils wallpaper.

“The dining room has a mural that can also be found in the White House that features a natural bridge and different scenes that depict different time periods,” Stephanie adds. “It’s really, really neat. The lighting we use is candles, which is beautiful.”

Also found on the spacious lot are several outbuildings, including a privy, a well house, and a smokehouse as well as a formal boxwood garden and orchard with heirloom fruit trees.

“All of the structures were originally located in Virginia and were going to be bulldozed,” she notes. “We were able to save and repurpose them. It’s the ultimate recycling.”

With her husband’s upcoming retirement later this year, the couple decided to purchase another historic home in North Carolina and will be “moving on to work on restoring an adorable cottage from the 1800s.”