Gwin Dudley Home Site, Archaeological site in Franklin County, Virginia.
The Gwin Dudley Home Site is an archaeological site in Franklin County featuring two stone chimneys standing approximately 31 feet apart that mark the original footprint of a house built in 1795. The chimneys display arches and remain intact at their base, though the main structure has long since disappeared.
Gwin Dudley received this land as a reward for his service during the American Revolutionary War and built his house here in 1795. The property was later abandoned and deteriorated over time, with only the sturdy chimneys surviving the centuries.
The two chimneys showcase early American craftsmanship techniques rarely seen elsewhere in the region. Visitors can directly observe the skilled stonework and the inscribed initials GD with the date 1795 carved into the south chimney.
The site is located near Smith Mountain Lake and can be easily found using coordinates 37.0472° N and 79.6889° W. Visitors should note this is an archaeological site where only the two chimneys are visible, and the ground may be uneven or overgrown.
The chimneys feature unusual decorative and functional arches that were rarely seen in regional architecture of the time. These carefully crafted elements suggest Dudley was a person of means who took pride in his home's quality.
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