The History of Meadow Lane Farm

Home

Fishing & Day Fishing

Lodge Rooms & Rates

Cottages & Rates

Activities

Amenities & Area Attractions

The History of Meadow Lane Farm

Owned by the Hirsh family for five generations, Meadow Lane traces its earliest history to the middle eighteenth century when King George III of England made a land grant to Charles Lewis, one of Virginia's prominent settlers. The land now encompassing Meadow Lane was part of that grant. In 1754, a stockade-type fort was erected as French and Indian War raids became a danger. This frontier outpost, eventually known as Fort Dinwiddie, was inspected by George Washington in 1755 and 1756. A large brick house and small slave cabin were built near the site of the fort in 1805. The slave cabin still stands marking the approximate location of the fort and is now an historic reading room. Meadow Lane was purchased by Allan M. Hirsh in 1920. He built one of the main houses on Meadow Lane and several barns and bred thoroughbred horses until his death in 1951. After his death, the farm came to be owned by Allan Hirsh's son Philip and his wife Catherine and in 1978 they began allowing travellers to stay on the farm in one of the many houses and cottages. Today the farm and family business are managed by Allan Hirsh's granddaughter Glenn Hirsh..