Community Chronicles

The Fourth of July brought more than fireworks to Henry County in 1928. It marked the end of one of the area’s most recognizable plantation homes. Chatmoss, a fifteen room Hairston family mansion overlooking Leatherwood Creek, burned to the ground that evening with nothing saved from the fire.

At first, the blaze was blamed on a lightning strike, but nearby residents quickly pushed back on that explanation, insisting there hadn’t been a storm in the area that night. Whatever the true cause, it created a massive scene. Motorists crossing the bridge over Leatherwood Creek saw flames and smoke shooting into the sky as the house was fully engulfed.

The Hairston family was away on vacation, and those living on the property were out celebrating the Fourth of July. By the time anyone returned, the home was beyond saving.

Estimates for the loss varied. The house itself was valued at $25,000, though some suggested that with its antique furniture and irreplaceable contents, it might have taken as much as $75,000 to replace. Sadly, it was only insured for $9,500.

Chatmoss may not have been as old as other Hairston properties like Beaver Creek, Hordsville, or Marrowbone, but it was well known throughout the community. It had once been the home of Major Samuel Hardin Hairston, who died in 1870 when part of the Virginia State Capitol collapsed during debates about bringing Virginia back into the Union after the Civil War.

The home later passed to his son, Samuel Hardin Hairston Jr., and after his death in 1927, was willed to a niece living in Danville. It was particularly known for its gardens, including over two miles of English boxwoods that lined the grounds.

After the fire, the family made the decision to sell the property. The land would eventually become the site of the Chatmoss Country Club, erasing the last physical trace of the once grand estate.

While the house itself is gone, the story of Chatmoss lives on as part of Henry County’s rich and complicated history. Its destruction reminds us how quickly even the most impressive homes can disappear, leaving behind only memories and the stories we choose to tell.

Jarred Marlowe is a local resident and historian. He is a member of the Col. George Waller Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Blue & Gray Education Society, and the committee chair for the Martinsville-Henry County 250 Committee. He may be reached at marloweja15@gmail.com.