Huntland - by Marc Leepson (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A generously illustrated history of the great Virginia home and estate

This beautifully illustrated volume tells the story of Huntland, the historic estate in Middleburg, Virginia, beginning in the 1830s, when master builder William Benton created the original house, and covering the state of the house and grounds--and its owners--into the third decade of the twenty-first century.
It is a story full of intriguing and colorful characters, beginning with the self-made, multi-talented Benton and his children. The story focuses on the mercurial Gilded Age millionaire Joseph B. Thomas, who turned Huntland into one of the nation's premier fox-hunting facilities in 1913; the Brown Brothers, George and Herman of Houston, who ran the giant construction company Brown & Root, and purchased Huntland in the 1950s; and the accomplished polymath Betsee Parker, who restored the house, kennel, and stable to its nineteen-teens splendor, beginning in 2010 when she purchased the property. This historic preservation story has more than a few twists and turns, as well as a happy ending for this great Virginia home.

Distributed for Huntland Press, LLC

Review Quotes

Huntland exemplifies the equestrian lifestyle that has defined the bucolic landscape of Virginia's northern Piedmont. Its stately mansion, along with its complement of ancillary structures, gardens, grounds and farmland, has been gently cultivated and enhanced over the course of nearly two centuries, providing a gracious setting for sporting, social, and political activity. Marc Leepson offers a detailed biography of this richly layered historic landmark and its occupants.--Calder Loth, Senior Architectural Historian, Retired Virginia Department of Historic Resources

In Huntland, Marc Leepson has created a detailed biography of a place--an exceptional place-- through 200 years of owners and occupants, a parade of individuals who have dedicated great portions of their lives to the property. This long line includes owner-builder William Benton, who had served as James Monroe's overseer at Oak Hill, through present-day steward Betsee Parker, who has lovingly restored the grand house, its grounds, and magnificent kennels and stables. This is a must-read for the fan of preservation success stories and for readers seeking a deep dive into Loudoun County's history, framed by its Hunt Country people and its proximity to Washington, D.C.--Sara Bon-Harper, Executive Director, James Monroe's Highland

This detailed chronicle traces the surprising transformation of Huntland from a mid-19th century plantation to a premier equestrian site in Virginia's famed Middleburg hunt country. The compelling backstories reveal the history of builder William Benton, a master brick mason for James Monroe, and stretch forward to Lyndon Johnson's heart attack, secret diplomatic negotiations, and Huntland's recent energetic preservation by philanthropist, conservationist, and horse woman Betsee Parker.--Susan Stein, Senior Curator, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello

About the Author

Marc Leepson is a journalist and historian. He is the author of ten books, including Saving Monticello: The Levy Family's Epic Quest to Rescue the House That Jefferson Built, as well as biographies of the Marquis de Lafayette and Francis Scott Key. He taught U.S. History at Laurel Ridge Community College in Warrenton, Virginia, from 2008-2015.