This is the third and final part to a series of articles that have appeared in this column written by Rob Warner of Hartfield on the history of how Pipe-In-Tree subdivision near Hartfield on Piankatank River received its name.
Warner also researched the colonial and modern history of that area and provided a timetable of events, which are listed below.
• 1715 — The Piankatank Valley was settled and producing tobacco and lumber. Middlesex Christ Church Vestry and the county high sheriff periodically had to make sure property lines were not illegally moved. Two responsible men from the immediate area checked property borders in a roughly seven-mile distance of the main road, which is today Stormont Road (Route 629). Joseph Gore an ancestor of today’s Al Gore, former vice president of the United States, and William Blackburn performed this task from Pipe-In-Tree to Kemp’s Mill. Both of these points were used because they were well known set-points or markers.
• 1814 — During the War of 1812 the White House in Washington, D.C., was burned by the British. After the war ended the White House was rebuilt. Oak timbers for the roof came from the Hartfield area of Middlesex County to rebuild the White House. Shooters Hill was an important lumbering plantation, thus the White House roof lumber may have come from Shooters Hill of which Pipe-In-Tree was part. The 1814 roof lasted more than 100 years until the White House was remodeled during the Truman administration.
• 1840s — This is the estimated time for the construction of Healy’s Mill and Healy’s Mill Pond. It was in operation by the 1850s. In this time frame, Healy’s Mill and its dam replaced Pipe-In-Tree as the locator point, or set point with Kemp’s Mill to do the property boundary point checks in the official-processions. Healy’s Mill and mill pond dam are on Stormont Road. Pipe-In-Tree and Healy’s Mill properties adjoin each other.
• 1898 to 1900 — The current Pipe-In-Tree farmhouse was built. Is is a truly grand three-story home. It is still the jewel of the upper Piankatank River.
• 1950 to 1984 — Pipe-In-Tree farm was purchased by Dr. Floyd Millard Riddick and contained 596 acres. He earned degrees from Duke and Vanderbilt universities, including a Duke doctoral degree in Political Science. At the height of his career he was parliamentarian of the United States Senate from 1964 to 1974. He brought American history to Pipe-In-Tree farm by the many important people he took with him to relax and have private meetings at the farm.
• 1984 to present — The current owners, Ron and Eugenie Kauffman, purchased Pipe-In-Tree farm with the house, but only 40 acres. Later most of the other 556 acres became Pipe-In-Tree subdivision. Over the last 40 years the home and smaller acreage have been extensively improved to enhance the location’s beauty. Pipe-In-Tree farm is a spot in Middlesex County noted for its place in history, great location, and beauty.
It happened here in Rivah country!
