98 SIDELINES SEPTEMBER 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
e
Fabulous Farm — Virginia
An aerial view of The Maples
The Maples:
Esthetic Blend
of History,
Ambience and
Horses
By Lauren R. Giannini
T
he Maples, built in 1853, offers a glorious atmosphere
of stylish country living on the east end of Upperville,
Virginia, home of the fabled Virginia horse show. The
Greek Revival manor house oozes history: Mosby’s Rangers
galloped up and down the “turnpike” (Rt. 50), and somehow The
Maples survived the Civil War.
After the Battle of Unison in 1862, Confederate General Jeb
Stuart led his cavalry to The Maples, built by the secessionist
Col. Joshua Fletcher, where they enjoyed a sumptuous dinner,
interrupted by artillery shelling from Union troops who routed the
rebels, then finished their feast.
The Fletcher family retained ownership of The Maples until 1999
when Michele and Andy Stevens purchased the deteriorating
property. Preserving the original footprint, they restored the entire
estate — barns, cookhouse, “cottage” (luxury guest house) and
various useful outbuildings (home office, storage shed, etc).
The Greek Revival mansion features seven functional wood-
burning fireplaces, state-of-the art kitchens, spacious dining room,
living room and library. Outside, a heated gunite pool enjoys its
rustic setting, and old brick and stone pathways connect buildings
and gardens. The unique three-level bank barn boasts its original
Virginia fieldstone walls, two feet thick, and gabled ends, one 55
feet high, in a scenic setting, making The Maples a destination
wedding and party venue.
“The Maples has been a labor of love,” said Michele Stevens.
“When Andy and I started thinking about buying a property to
restore, we were looking inside the Washington Beltway. A friend
told us about this farm near Middleburg and we fell in love with
it. We had no idea what it would take to save and restore The
Maples to its Greek Revival grandeur and beauty. It needed lots
of exterior work and everything from a kitchen and bathrooms
inside the house to closets and modern wiring. It turned into a
huge project — well worth the expense and every moment of the
learning curve to tackle a restoration of this magnitude. It has been
a wonderful home, but we’re ready to take on the next project. We
hope that whoever buys The Maples will love it and enjoy it as
much as we have.”
Piedmont Foxhounds and their
huntsman gather in front of The Maples.
Photos Courtesy of Andy and Michele Stevens,
except where noted otherwise
