Welcome to this beautiful home in amenity rich Lake Wilderness. As you drive up you will love the front porch that is inviting, you can imagine relaxing and sipping on your favorite beverage! Once inside you are welcomed by gleaming hardwood floors, a fabulous kitchen with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and a dining area. The family room is full of windows for oodles of natural light and a gas fireplace for those cold nights. There is a formal dining room and living room which could also be used as a classroom, office or both. As you head up the stairway, you will find an incredible master suite with an en-suite bath that has a soaking tub, separate shower, and double vanity. A spacious bonus room/bedroom over the garage that could be used as more flex space, two more bedrooms, and a full bath complete the upper level. Enjoy entertaining and cook outs on your tiered deck which will make entertaining a breeze! All this with a half acre lot that is your own private oasis. For more information on 12809 Flintlock Drive, Click Here!
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Orange, Locust Grove, Culpeper, Northern Virginia or even Maryland or DC, we are your Real Estate team committed to finding the perfect home for you! Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar, and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, one of our area expert advisors will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available properties, please visit our website licatagroup.com
Have you dreamed of owning an amazing log cabin on acreage with gorgeous, mature trees? If you have, then this is the one! Imagine being surrounded and serenaded by nature as you sit on your front porch sipping your favorite beverage! Feel like exploring your land? Hop on the ATV trails! Like to garden? You’ll love the fully fenced, critter-proof 20’x40′ garden boasting mature grape vines, strawberries, and herbs. Once you enter, you immediately notice the incredible architecture, exposed beams, wood ceilings, and hardwood floors. In the expansive family room, there is a gorgeous brick fireplace with wood stove insert to warm you on those cool nights. Perfectly placed in the center of the home is the kitchen with granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, breakfast bar, and dining area. The owners’ suite offers a beautifully tiled bathroom with jetted tub and separate shower. The upper level features two generously sized bedrooms and an office/flex space, along with a full bath. Wait til you see the lower level’s open space providing the opportunity to use as you wish with second wood stove! Owner says saving money is easy by using both wood stoves to heat the house even on the coldest nights! For more information on 13507 Black Meadow Rd, Click Here!
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Orange, Locust Grove, Culpeper, Northern Virginia or even Maryland or DC, we are your Real Estate team committed to finding the perfect home for you! Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar, and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, one of our area expert advisors will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available properties, please visit our website licatagroup.com
Welcome to 11013 Cedar Post located on a quiet cul-de-sac with a very private beautiful lot. This home is spacious and has an open floor plan. It does need work, however, most the work is sweat equity. Enjoy the three tiered deck for entertaining, the kitchen has an island, oodles of cabinet and counter space, step down into the light filled family room. There are windows everywhere for a lot of natural light. Living room and kitchen dining area share a double sided fireplace. The master suite is spacious and has an amazing master bathroom. This home has so many design features that are unique and amazing. A little tlc and you would have an amazing home with over 3000+ sqft. For more information on 11013 Cedar Post Lane, Click Here!
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Orange, Locust Grove, Culpeper, Northern Virginia or even Maryland or DC, we are your Real Estate team committed to finding the perfect home for you! Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar, and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, one of our area expert advisors will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available properties, please visit our website licatagroup.com
Privately nestled among the trees in sought after Stuarts Crossing lies 7700 Burleigh Street. Welcome to this fabulous home situated on a beautifully landscaped lot of over an acre. Relax after a long day with a beverage on your large deck, and melt the day away. You will appreciate the two story foyer and gleaming hardwood floors throughout the main level. This light filled, spacious, open floor plan delights with an upgraded kitchen, which offers granite counter tops, gorgeous back splash, an island, and stainless steel appliances.
You will love the open family room with fireplace for those cool nights, as well as the other formal living areas that will make entertaining a breeze, and an inviting office to work from home in style. The upper level will wow you with an expansive master suite, ensuite bath, and large walk in closets. A laundry room and the other three bedrooms complete the upper level. The light filled, walk out basement is unfinished with the potential for a 5th bedroom and is already plumbed for a bathroom. You will also love the smart home security system, which supports operating all the security features from your phone! This is the complete package! For more information about this listing, Click Here!
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Orange, Locust Grove, Culpeper, Northern Virginia or even Maryland or DC, we are your Real Estate team committed to finding the perfect home for you! Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar, and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, one of our area expert advisors will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available properties, please visit our website licatagroup.com
The
first rule in home selling is to know your typical buyer. What most buyers would want to have in their homes is what
will eventually sell it. How soon – this depends on how well it fits their
needs. While you can’t fulfill everybody’s wishes, some features make your home
sell faster than others.
What Buyers Want
You
don’t have to get inside your buyer’s mind. Luckily, tips for selling a home are numerous and easy to find. They are based on surveys
and statistics and are usually related to a specific market. While steam ovens
and floor heating may be a good add-on to an upscale home, those upgrades
simply won’t pay off for most sellers. What the majority of people want is a
reliable, good-looking, practical, comfortable, and affordable home. The
most common features that would make your home sell faster are
Curb Appeal
Ample Storage Space
Sufficient Bedrooms
Eat-in Kitchen
Fresh Paint
Energy-efficient Appliances & Windows
Off-road Parking
Renovated Bathrooms
Hardwood Floors
Modern Lighting
Start With Entrance
The first step to boost the appeal would be to declutter your home, which also applies to your yard if you have it. If the exterior of your house is impressive enough, only then the prospective buyer will come inside and check the rest. To sell your home faster, you need to show to your buyer that you took good care of your home. Nothing shouts good maintenance like a neat exterior.
Outstanding curb appeal will make your home sell faster
You
might not have enough space for a garden, however, even a small secluded patio
with a pair of garden chairs or loungers and potted plants can create the feel
of a cozy getaway that most new homeowners look for.
Room for the things
There
aren’t many who can say that they have too much storage space. Those who need
extra storage simply call Verified Movers
and rent a storage facility but there is another option. With the help of
experts, it is possible to create extra storage and exploit otherwise
underutilized space. Additional space for belongings is especially important to
families with kids because they have plenty of useful things they don’t want to
dispose of even if they’re used only occasionally.
Walk-in pantry
In case there is enough extra space, usually 5×5 feet, creating a walk-in pantry in the kitchen is a big bonus. Non-perishables stored at the arms reach is something most would prefer. Even more so because they can save on the deals of bulk purchases. Walk-in pantries are affordable add-ons highly appreciated by families.
A kitchen with a walk-in pantry is a great asset
Walk-in closet
On
the other hand, walk-in closets are added to master bedrooms and are perfect
for empty-nesters in love with neatly organized apparel, jewelry, and
accessories. This feature can be made as a part of the existing bedroom or
placed in a separate, smaller room. Organizers and many shelving units are
worth their price. Walk-in closets are perfect for couples who share storage
space and are highly ranked among other features.
That extra bedroom
Nothing
attracts buyers more than a cozy extra bedroom. A guest bedroom is best suited
for loft space. After all, having a new bedroom in the attic is much better
than blocking the garage. If you opt for the renovation of your loft space,
consider adding a new small bathroom or at least a WC.
Hearth of your home
Making an eat-in kitchen would leave a good impression on families with children. Resurfacing cabinets and repainting walls is the least you can do to make your kitchen more attractive. A new trend and a highly popular and affordable one is adding lighting under cabinets. The effect is to give your kitchen depth and visually make the ceiling higher.
There
is nothing as attractive as new appliances so the first and most important on
the list should be a fridge. Prospective buyers are impressed with spacious and
clean refrigerators as this is the appliance they will use the most.
A new coat
The
most affordable and yet the best investment is fresh paint. Repainting your
walls and ceilings and adding a new coat on the outside leaves a good first
impression. Natural lighting is one of the most beneficial features a home
could have. Bright walls that reflect natural light will make space visually
larger and have a good psychological effect on visitors. If you wish to
attract buyers moving to Virginia from another state, for example, you should stick to neutral colors, appealing
to many.
Energy-efficient walls, windows, and appliances
If nothing else makes people care about the environment it’s the savings they secure by installing energy-efficient windows, adding insulation to their walls and purchasing energy star rated appliances. Any of these features would greatly appeal to millennials. They are both environmentally and financially conscious. Keeping the heat inside will help them keep their cool, too.
Room for your car
It is difficult to imagine getting anywhere without a car nowadays and having an (at least one) parking slot is a big asset to a home. If your garage space has been repurposed, make sure that you keep at least one off-road parking slot.
One of the first things buyers ask the real estate agents is if there’s a garage/parking space available. You too might need to hire a lawyer or a real estate agent if you’re buying a new property at the same time you’re selling. A garage can serve as additional storage and as such is indispensable.
Fresh & Clean
A
tidy and crisp bathroom is a feature no one is immune to, and refurbishing one
is a must. A bathroom is perhaps the only room in the house that is easy to
look luxurious and impressive with a relatively small investment.
Hardwood floors
Hardwood floors are durable and lasting and as a feature, they appeal to everybody. And why not; they are easy to maintain and keep clean.
Interior and exterior lighting
Modern exterior lighting is an add-on that sets your house apart. While an exterior illumination boosts your curb appeal, interior lighting is an affordable feature that will make your home sell faster.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Orange, Locust Grove, Norther Virginia or even Maryland or DC, we are your Real Estate team committed to finding the perfect home for you! Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar, and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, one of our area expert advisors will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
In April, 1875, the New York Sun reported that Anthony
Smith, commonly known as Anthony Jones, died in New York at the age of 70.
Smith was a former slave who had run-away from the Wilderness of Virginia.
During his life in New York Smith had accumulated a considerable estate but had
neglected to write a will. Lacking a legal heir, the New York Court System took
control of his affairs.
On his death-bed interview, Smith
told the story of his life. Once the property of William Jones, owner of the
Ellwood Manor estate in the Wilderness of Spotsylvania, His master William
Jones had become a widower in the 1820s and several years later William
remarried Lucinda Gordon who brought with her to Ellwood Mansion a personal
slave, Patsey.
Anthony eventually wooed Patsey
and with the consent of their owners they took up housekeeping on the Ellwood
Manor grounds. Four children were born to the couple, but only one, the fourth,
survived. About the time of William’s death in 1845, Anthony ran-away from his
then pregnant wife and the Ellwood estate. He was captured, returned to
Fredericksburg and sold to a new owner. After a trip to the South with his new
master, Anthony again escaped and made his way to New York City, where he lived
out his remaining years. Following the Emancipation, Anthony attempted to
restore contact with his family back in the Wilderness, but with limited
success. Patsey did retain one of his letters and later cited it as proof of
their marital relationship.
The story as related above was
published in the New York papers sometime after Anthony’s death. It was soon
picked up and published by Richmond, Virginia papers. As a result, two sets of
claimants to Anthony’s fortune came forth to the New York Court. One, the
remaining sister and brother of Anthony declared extreme poverty. They were
represented by J. Horace Lacy, their former owner through his marriage to Betty
Churchill Jones, William Jones’ second daughter and heir to Ellwood.
The second claimants were Patsey,
his first wife, along with the sole living child who was born after Anthony’s
first escape. They were represented by lawyers Alexander & Green of
Fredericksburg. When interviewed by the New York court, Patsey explained that
she had waited a number of years following Anthony’s departure before taking in
a new partner. Though partnered, she claimed to have been the wife of Anthony
(citing the letter she retained) and therefore a legal heir to his estate.
The New York Court wrestled with
the judgment for nearly a year. They recognized that New York and Virginia laws
on marriage differed considerably in the pre-war era. Numerous testaments and
affidavits were heard or submitted. Many of the claimants appeared before the
referee at least one time. In the end, based on Patsey’s proof of their pre-war
marital relationship, the court sided with Patsey. She received the estate,
then valued at $20,000, cash and property.
Continue to Chapter 6: Relive the Battle of the Wilderness
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my homeworth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
Do you know your family’s history? How far back can you trace your lineage? If you are an African American descended from
slaves, that quest can be very difficult, often impossible. Most of what we know about the history of
slaves and their families comes from oral traditions carried from generation to
generation. Such is the case of Anthony
Jones, a slave on the Ellwood Plantation in the first half of the 19th
century, and his family.
Shortly before his death in New York City, Jones
shared a believable story of his family and their roles at the plantation. Anthony was the son of Ester and Anthony
Jones, Sr., likely the Black Minister for the plantation’s slaves. Anthony, Sr. and Ester had 8 children, some
of whom are documented on slave censuses from Spotsylvania and Orange Counties.
William Jones, the owner of Ellwood, was widowed in
1825. He remarried a few years later at
78 to Lucinda Gordon, a 16 year old grandniece of his first wife. She brought her personal slave, Patsy, with
her to Ellwood. Like most slaves during
this period, Patsy developed a specialty – her skill was weaving. The younger
Anthony took a shine to Patsy as she sat weaving and, after wooing her for an
extended time, asked her to marry him.
Patsy agreed and Anthony, as the law then required, had to ask for
permission from the plantation owner; after William Jones agreed, Anthony and
Patsy took up residency in the laundry house at Ellwood. They had four children over the next 13
years – the first three (Isaac, Aaron, and Lucy) died in infancy.
Over time, Anthony grew increasingly unhappy with his
Ellwood life, working the fields and gold mining on plantation property. In the early 1840s he opted to run away,
leaving his then pregnant wife Patsy, his parents and his 7 siblings
behind. He was captured and returned to
Fredericksburg where he was jailed and sold to a slave trader, John Ellis. After the sale, Anthony had to accompany his
master on a trip into the Deep South. On
their return by boat, Ellis became sick and died, leaving Anthony in charge of
the owner’s personal belongings. Instead
of returning to Fredericksburg, Anthony stayed on the ship headed to New
York. On arrival, he locked his owner’s
trunk, gave the key to the ship’s captain, and announced that he was going to
Church. He never returned to the ship.
Anthony obtained employment in New York and for the
next few years attempted to correspond with Patsy; she later claimed to have
received only one letter which had to be read to her by the local postmaster
(Almond). Unfortunately, she lost that
letter during the Civil War. She and her youngest child, Anthony III, later
laid claim to the wealth her husband accumulated during his New York working
days. The elder Jones’ siblings, Isaac
Smith and Elizabeth Keaton, also pursued the estate through the New York
probate court. Those proceedings (1873-1876) and their related testimonials
afforded considerable insight into the family, some of which are shared in this
article.
(The rest of the story, obtained from the court
proceedings, will appear in the next episode.)
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my homeworth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
Early May 1864 witnessed the first time that
Confederate General Robert E. Lee and Union General Ulysses S. Grant – the two
giants of the Civil War – met in battle in an area known then and forever more
as the Wilderness. The area had been
known as the Wilderness for more than one hundred years before the Civil War
but it was this bloody battle that would put the Wilderness on the map and in
the history books forever. What made
these seventy square miles different from the rest of early Virginia? How did the Wilderness become the
Wilderness? To answer these questions,
we must go back to the early 1700’s when Virginia was still a British colony
and Lieutenant Governor Alexander Spotswood envisioned starting an iron
smelting industry in this area.
Spotswood arrived in Hampton Roads in June, 1710,
after being appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Virginia Colony. Iron ore was known to exist in the area that
would become the Wilderness even before Spotswood arrived in Virginia. The British Government at that time restricted
manufacturing to the home islands and looked to the colonies to produce and
export raw materials back to England while importing finished goods
manufactured from those raw materials.
Despite the lack of permission from the British Government to smelt iron
in the colonies, Spotswood initiated the iron smelting operation in Virginia
anyway. His initiative was in fact the first attempt at moving away from an
agricultural to an industrial based economy in Virginia and actually in any of
the colonies.
There are three elements in that land that are
critical to the smelting of iron ore:
the ground must contain iron ore; there must be large forests for fuel,
and water for power must be available.
All of these features were abundant in what was to become the Wilderness
and Spotswood began acquiring land in this area shortly after his arrival in
Virginia. Within just a couple years he controlled over 80,000 acres in present
day Orange and Spotsylvania Counties.
But there was still one feature missing before
Spotswood could turn his dream into reality and that was the presence of
experienced manpower that could conduct the smelting operations. So he arranged for the emigration of German
iron workers to Virginia; the first emigrants began arriving here in April,
1713. They were the original settlers of
the Germanna community, located on the south bank of the Rapidan River near
today’s State Route 3 and Germanna Community College. By 1715 Spotswood had established the Tubal
Furnace below the confluence of the Rapidan and Rappahannock rivers and was
smelting iron. By 1750 there would be at
least six blast furnaces smelting the area’s iron ore.
The smelting process required a fire hot enough to
reach the iron ore’s melting point, 2,190 to 2,810 degrees Fahrenheit, and it
had to be burning continuously for weeks at a time. The amount of fuel for smelting the iron was enormous
– nearly two acres of hardwood per ton of smelted iron – and some furnaces
could burn as much as seven hundred acres of timber per year. To obtain the fuel required clear cutting
vast segments of the virgin forest in the area.
The second growth forest that sprang up afterward consisted of smaller,
scrubbier trees which allowed the growth of ground covering vegetation. The vines, briars, honeysuckle, poison ivy
and other lower growing vegetation created an almost impenetrable wall of
vegetation and resulted in the area, by at least 1750, becoming known as “The
Wilderness.”
Exhibit 1 The Wilderness Virginia
It was this second growth forest that was in place
during the Civil War. Although the 1863
Battle of Chancellorsville was fought in and around the Wilderness, it was
really the first encounter of Lee and Grant in May 1864 – right in our backyard
– that the iconic name of “The Wilderness” became forever etched in Civil War
and American history.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my homeworth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
History in our Backyard, a product of the Friends of
Wilderness Battlefield (FoWB), was created by FoWB’s Special Programs and
Education Outreach Committees. It
consists of a series of articles designed to share the history of the
Wilderness region with the residents who live in and around this hallowed
ground. The articles focus on either a
particular event or a historical period that brings to life the area’s rich and
vibrant history dating from the earliest settlers to the present day. These brief glimpses into the Wilderness’
history are intended to encourage residents of all ages living in and around
Spotsylvania and Orange Counties to learn and appreciate the significant impact
that this area has had on our local and national history.
For years the Battle of
the Wilderness has been under-appreciated by most Americans. Experience tells
us that local residents have a limited knowledge of the 1864 battle’s impact,
as the first battle in the Overland Campaign and the first face-to-face
encounter between Generals Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. Further, many residents are unaware that the
history of the Wilderness in general is both a microcosm of Virginia history even predating the birth of our Nation and a story of agricultural and general
economic development in a rural setting.
History in our Backyard is also designed to capture our FoWB
members’ wealth of knowledge about various aspects of the Wilderness. We encourage our volunteers to share with
others a particular moment, event, or period in Wilderness history about which
they are knowledgeable. These are not
intended to be scholarly works of history but rather tidbits of information about
the land for the people who share that land today. We hope our neighbors will become more
engaged with their surroundings by having their neighbors – our
volunteers – share their insights into the region through this brief
picture.
Our initial concept was
to make these short pictures into history available to local communities’
newspapers, magazines, newsletters, and websites. But History
in our Backyard is growing beyond our initial expectations. We anticipated no more than a handful of
articles a year but that number is increasing and we are reaching more local
communities and at least one county-wide medium. Possibly the most significant expansion will
be this compilation of all the articles, as they get published elsewhere,
residing on our webpage.
We welcome your comments and suggestions for improving our product and for future subjects. We would even welcome your participation as an author of an article on a topic that is of interest to you and would add to the knowledge of our readership.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my homeworth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
Come on home to a country feel yet minutes to everything you could need. Close to the Spotsylvania and Orange County line you will find this cozy home nestled amongst the trees with plenty of privacy. Let the children play and the chickens roam, the chicken coop will even convey. The wood stove does not convey but there is the perfect place waiting for you to install your own if you chose to do so. Detached garage provides plenty of storage and work space. Many updates have been made to this home, you must see it!There is nothing quite like a quaint country home with it’s charm and tranquility. Hurry! This one won’t last long!
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my homeworth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
