Varina Farm Mansion

 place with historical importance, plantation

In 1825 Varina Plantation / Farmit was bought by Pleasant Akin and remained in that family until 1876. His son Albert M. Akin inherited Varina in 1855. He built the existing house. The house was built on a slopping hill facing the James River across a wide rolling lawn. It is 2 stories and has 37 small windows and 4 large windows which opens on the veranda. A large 1 story porch that extends the length of the house and overlooks the James River. General Butler made the house his headquarters while cutting Dutch Gap. The house still shows the damage by cannon balls fired from the Confederate batteries. The farm was the site of prisoner exchanges between the north and
south. Louis H. Stoneman and Lucy Ann Stoneman bought the house and farm in 1910.