A look at the once abandoned Selma Plantation in Virginia. This home is no longer abandoned and has been restored. This video was filmed before the current owner purchased and restored the property.
TechGuy1986 fyi...Selma Mansion is a historic property dating to the 1700’s and is located in Loudoun County, Virginia. The former plantation home of Armistead Mason,
Incredible - no asinine selfies (despite how many mirrors you passed) no dumb narration, and best of all no stupid music added. Because of that I felt like I was there with you... THUMBS UP!
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The home is beautiful and I am happy that someone was brave enough to save this piece of history. I hope a video will be made once the restoration is finished.
James Garland I wish he'd slow down the camera. I wanted to see the old cabinetry, that long white one with all the places that had the different cupboards and drawers. The arched doorways, the claw foot tubs. Just slow down and make sure the camera has a chance to focus on the details.
March 2016 UPDATE: The mansion is going to be restored and work has already started. PLEASE DO NOT trespass! There is a security guard now posted on site. All updates can be seen at facebook.com/SelmaMansionRebirth2/
+Brian Sterowski You know... think it was either one of those 'list25' videos or 'VSauce' where they said that it's more abandoned houses in America than there are homeless people. Then one of Bro Sanchez vids, where they were giving homeless ppl water, a homeless guy mentioned how many churches there were in that state vs how many homeless people there are there... then asked "So why is there any homeless people?" Sigh...
In 1990 I attended the wedding reception of a congressman's daughter there. I remember approaching the house on a driveway that seemed to be a mile long. We had cocktails in the room with the piano and tables were set in that beautiful foyer for dinner. It was a relatively small group of about one hundred people and we all had a wonderful time. The house was magnificent! I never would have guess the house would ever be in that condition. What a shock to see it in this unbelievable state, but so very happy to see below that it is now undergoing restoration. The sense of history and the architecture are two of the things I miss the most about living in the Washington, D.C. area.
The FIRST thing I notice about this place is there's NO GAFFITI. And that's a good thing. Thanks for the upload. I love the iron stand-alone tubs and the exposed plumbing. And the wood works is amazing. In a LOT of the videos I've seen posted there's so much graffiti the structure is practically beyond repair.
@@TechGuy-rj1jz I wonder if the reason for no graffiti is due to its location? It's not an urban area so people who showed up didn't think of bringing their spray paint them and when they got there it was too far to go back and get it.
I would love to see a video of it after the restoration, I love old houses much better than the ones being built now, back in those days it took a village and a lot of blood, sweat and tears to build a house and they were built to last for generations, now you can buy a house building kit from Menards or get a home 2 pieces at a time and they put it together for you, so how good is that workmanship going to be on houses like that, give me an old farm house any day of the week!
Diane you need to go their facebook page: Selma Mansion Rebirth. There are hundreds of pictures and videos from the beginning of the restoration until now. They post more pictures and videos every day. This place is AMAZING now.
Wow, that mansion was certainly a place of grand splendour in it's day. The rooms are endless as are the fireplaces! I really enjoy watching these videos and I wish I had some interesting places to explore but none where I live. Good video, thank you!
This home was bought and restored by an author, Sharon Virts. She restored it and it is absolutely magnificent! She has a Facebook page, where you can see how beautiful Selma is now. She just released a book on the history of Selma too, called Masque of Honor.
What character and quality this old home was graced with!! What a shame to let it go because they don't build them like this anymore. It is not beyond repair....just needs someone with money and a good heart to bring it back to it's former glory!! So sad to see a fine home in this condition!!
I can never ever bring myself to the point, why these magnificent houses can be left from glory to decay and totally fall along the way. How come some houses are left for vandalist's, and other's can keep very old fine furniture's and other stof inside, and nobody removes them, are they not all to respect as past living homes for somebody. When I se the video from ,Belle Grow' in the south I cry, because it is obvius, that it does not matter, that an importent piece of history, ends up in decay and fall. Thank you for showing these forgottens places, hopefully the goverment's around the world, who look the other way, will come up with a better solution than decay and fall. There are so many beautiful homes all over the world, just left to slow death, and yet millions of people are living on the street's, I dont get it at all......
Hello Brian, I very often go to you tube, just to watch all the sad houses. mansion's, and even castle's, slowly going down in ignorant carelessness, because history meen's so little now a day's. We dont know this problem from Denmark, where I am from, because it is a very small country, and prominent houses are well garded, even they are empty. As I wrote yearlier, 'Belle Grow' makes me so sad and angry, because she must have bin the history from the south, if any. I also think about the Byron House as well, sad as it is, the mansion is almost gone, keep on the good work, I follow allmost every day, because I read with great pleasure about forgotten times. Regards Janne....
+Janne Petersen Yeah well people and times change. You can't save everything and everyone. Hope you learned something because next time it could be you're families house on youtube.
+Janne Petersen I agree that it is a shame that these old homes are left to rot. You can just imagine the halls filled with elegant men and women. When you refer to a historical significance, you have to also acknowledge that plantation life was comfortable for the people owning the land and not so much for the people toiling that soil. This is not so much a remark about slavery (although that is also the case), but of the decadence enjoyed by individuals who benefitted by a system that impoverished a whole class of people. There was a great migration and the fall out meant less income and less of the workers who serviced these people because they lacked options or education. Some of those old plantation homes should rightfully return to the soil.
All that work being done free labor hard back breaking labor probably was build and the owner of the house couldn't keep it when the slaved was freed all plantation labor stopped .such a beautiful place.at our ancestors of blood and sweat .
It's really important for people/banks to move these places on if they cannot restore or maintain them. At least the former occupants' personal things were dealt with. Not all people are so fortunate. We used to live next to a huge abandoned mansion in Cobbs Creek, Virginia that was owned by the Meade's. Unfortunately, they died childless and left the old place to a "loving" nephew, who "honored" the couple's memory by immediately calling in an auctioneer to get rid of their most valuable things, leaving the place so unlocked that raccoons and vines moved in and entwined themselves on drapes and furnishings, and allowing his aunt's personal hygiene products, cosmetics, and old love letters to be strewn about the house for years. He just let it sit open for quite a while before he cashed the property in with a buyer. All of these things were found when the local volunteer fire department eventually came to burn the place to the ground in a training exercise (and to solve the demolition problem of the new owner). People who walked through the home before the blaze could not believe how the Meade's heirs (among whom there was that nephew) had treated their personal things. Makes the childless think twice before willing money to a relative just on account of blood relations. If you ARE fortunate enough to be left property, do not let it rot away and more importantly, spare your relatives the dishonor and posthumous humiliation of having their unmentionables and personal items displayed for the general public.
Places like this cost a fortune just to keep them running on a day to day basis, so maybe he tried to raise the money so he could live there one day? Either way, it's a shame to let personal belongings float around. And it is a tragedy that they burned it down.
Jeremiah Byers No, sorry. The Meades I were talking about had a big mansion on the Piankatank River in Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. had no children and left everything to a nephew who really let the place got straight to Hell, never took proper care of their personal effects, and cashed out big time when he could. The house was burned (as I said above) as a fire-department training exercise and because it was far too gone from having its doors left wide open for two-three years. The rubble was used to fill in the two basements, and a man who had the contract for security cameras on navy ships bought the plot and built a huge monstrosity about 500' closer to the river than the original house was. Please do tell though, what you have learned about Fort Meade!
Betsy Collins How awful that he cared so little, for an aunt & uncle who obviously thought something of him, to will him their home! So much disrespect!
that is such a sad story, especially I will love to inherited a house like that i will even read those letters one by one, if it was money what he wanted he could call a bunch of antique collector and sale them to people that will appreciate those things and not to a jerk that left doors open.
Thank you so much for your work. I appreciate that you have added no commentary as that allows me the opportunity to feel like I am having the actual experience without someone else's input.
@@BrianSterowski I really like your video, and, can't wait to see more of your work. The fact that you didn't have commentary, was wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
Imagine drinking your coffee in the morning and all the fireplaces are burning and your taking in the view with that long driveway right in the center. Yes, I'm there now.
Imagine carrying in all the wood for the fire places, getting the fires started and making the coffee. If you did it yourself it would be lunch time before you sit down. This place is massive and would take a crew to keep it going.
+IMr LAPS it sure does, If I was wealthy I would love to take on this and restore it, I hope someone does in my lifetime, I would love to see it back to its grand self!
so glad to hear it's going to be saved. It breaks my heart when I hear about historic homes falling in disrepair or worse torn down. That is a national tragedy.
That is really cool!! I can't believe how many of the finishes are still there. & in pretty good shape. It's a shame no one loves it enough to fix it up. Also super cool no one has came in & stole all the pretty molding & fireplace mantels. Thanks for sharing! Love it! :)
+kimmie koolbeans Probably now after they see this video they will! Did they have permission to go in there? Hope so because if not that's breaking and entering and I don't care what excuse they come up with!
yes, thank goodness they are still there, but being realistically the only reason they are still there, is that their is not any value for those type of things in the stolen goods department, thieves only want cash, bikes, electronics and copper wire pulled out of the walls to pay for their drugs, sad but true.
***** unfortunately that is how people in that area believe. I live in NC and have often travelled to VA. When I first moved to the area, I asked that question and was told people would rather see them rot then to sell "grandma's " house. Is this place in eastern VA?
Carol Dharkling Yes, that's true... but also, due to its location, just the land is probably worth a fortune... so they want to hold it as an investment. Problem is that most of these old mansions are impractical today. They cost a fortune to keep up, heat, cool, etc.. as well as taxes and insurance. So there's a lot more to saving one of these mansions than just repairing the structure and decorating. Someone would have to have VERY deep pockets to fix it up and live in it... what a shame. If I'm not mistaken, Leesburg was traditional hunt country... horses and hounds. I think the Kennedy brothers lived around there when they were senators.
Mycroftsbrother I know you're absolutely right. It does make me wonder if this illusion we call our world is better off with today's technology or that from long ago.......
Wow, that house has some amazing, old architectural details still intact. In particular, it is especially awesome to see sooo many bathrooms with their turn of the century tile work, sinks, tubs, and even toothbrush holder mounts STILL in place!! It is nearly always the kitchens and bathrooms that lose their period details first, so it is a shame to see a home with so many old details decaying away. The staircase is impressive too. Thank you for showing us such a unique and lovely, large old home! One last thought too...I live in a circa 1913 home and have many period details that I need to put BACK into my home. We don't have many architectural salvage yards in the Denver metro area, and it would be great to have access to more materials at a better price. I sure wish there was some way to obtain the architectural salvage items in these old homes left to decay into oblivion, and instead transfer them to lived in homes for further use. The quality of many old items is far superior and more unique/beautiful than most of the garbage we make today....and at a minimum it is also easier on the wallet and helps spare the environment when old materials are repurposed. So why is it not more common that these sorts of old resources are pooled, sold, and re-utilized?!
Thank you so much for sharing ! I'm so glad you took film instead of pics it made me feel I was there ! OMG what a beautiful old home ! I wish some one like Nichole Curtis would get it and restore it to it's former glory ! But can you imagine back in the day you've just come down all those stairs realizing you left something behind in your bedroom then you have to walk up all those stairs again lol ! Thank you so much for sharing this I love old houses !!
Boy. if only those walls could talk. I can just imagine the grandeur that this house once was...and can be again! Awesome to hear the mansion will be saved and restored! :D
A real Victorian home that was built only for Virginia. I cannot even fathom all that took place there from years gone by. A true landmark in time for all to enjoy and wonder. Thanks for sharing.
Good to hear a rich person got it and brought it back to life! So many of the old mansions are left to rot because of the incredible expense (millions!) required to restore them.
The sounds of just the birds chirping sent chills down my spine and I started crying like a baby. I feel like that’s the spirits talking through the birds. That may sound weird. But I’m a very spiritual person so you may not feel where I’m coming from
+Alexandria Greene You can't reason with a reverse racist.I let my girlfriend handle them,she is black and it seems to really confuse them when she gets out of my truck,with Confederate battle flag front plate.
Hey Nassem grow a pair - slavery was a big part of America back in the day- it's about time to get used to the idea. The house that stood here before this place was built, was built by slave labor and from all accounts it was absolutely beautiful! So, to me, if slaves built something that nice, then SOMETHING good came from it all.
@@BrianSterowski - Yes sir , I absolutely enjoyed it .. When I was a young lad , we lived in South Carolina , Georgia , Mississippi , and Alamba , { this all takes place in the 50s } as my father played professional AAA Baseball in the " "Grapefruit League" , and the "Sally League" before getting picked up by the Cincinnati Reds . We moved 13 times over the decade of the 50s . Although it was a bit annoying to be constantly moving and leaving friends behind , one good thing was seeing alot of historical sites simular to the one in your video . Many were abandoned and my brothers , sister & I would adventure through Mansions , old stone farmhouses , barns , etc .. This was before vandelism become popular with young idiots , so even though they were run down & decaying , they were intact and quite a magical place to roam through . Thank you again Brian for all the effort you put into your productions .. Sincerely , your friend Jeff P.S. - I ended up living in Oregon , and there is nothing like what the South has here .. God bless you Sir
If I had the money, I'd purchase this home and land....restore it back to its natural state, and let it be A historical landmark for my people who worked hard enough to own it, but never could step foot inside of it.
Gerard Parker via slavery but we coming and we gonna take back our world!!! This is our world melinated family and don’t you forget it. 😎 keep on shining and grinding. Karma is coming for these races that enslaved us. Trust and believe 😈
@Actus Reus absolutely....because they had indentured servants who worked on those plantations as well, and they were white.... So when I say, "our people" l'm referring to all of the descendants who's ancestors were in A role of servitude on either of these plantations. And that can be someone who's black or white.
What always pisses me off about these abandoned houses is the broken windows. Why do people feel the need to break windows on abandoned houses? It makes me want to punch them in the face hard. It doesn't make you the "cool kid" to break the windows. Broken windows are one of the main things that causes these structures to go downhill fast.
+lesdmark exactly! That's how the weather elements make it inside most places (like this one)...people just don't care and I'm sure it's kids that break the windows.
I wish there was a way for those who explore to reverse the damage others cause. kind of a thanks for letting us look round without issues here is a repaired window, or got rid of that nasty graffiti someone added. Now obviously the elements damaging something is entirely different.
+billy bob It's disrespectful, i would have actually loved to see this house fully restored and made to have tours through to see how old buildings like these looked in their glory. Heck it's so well lookin' i'd have spent my own pocket to make it liveable again.
I love how there are so many fireplaces in the home, and it's very well built. I just wonder why the current owners haven't bothered to keep the property up? Interesting! Thanks for sharing.
@@josephinamungaray6118 Someone fixed the house and is leaving bing in it??? From whence came this unrealistic delusion??? Living in it-fixing it???? Where are their beds. Some of the rooms have totally collapsed!!!! It would cost millions to repair and restore it to its former glory.
Amen to that. It's heartbreaking to see such history and beautiful homes/buildings/properties be abandoned and left to rot. So much wasted or lost potential.
It was used as Venue for weddings and the like sometime during the 80's I believe that is the date. You can see picks on Google of an event or 2. It's sad that those people left that crap in there.
Sorry, but this is not a plantation house. At least, not in the sense of pre-civil war plantations. This is an early 20th Century replica of an early 19th Century home. In architectural terms, it's called "Colonial Revival," a style popular in America from roughly 1890 to 1940---long after the age of plantations.
+Sebastien Sade I love colonial revival--its timeless though associated with a specific period--warm and classical at same time. thanks for architectural facts--
+Sebastien Sade I'm curious as to how you know that it's Colonial Revival and not late Georgian--not because I wish to argue with you, but because I sincerely wish to know how you made that determination. Was it the plumbing and heating systems or other clues? Thank you!
***** It bears a number of hallmarks of Colonial Revival, combining elements of three different styles---Federal (Adam), Georgian, and Greek Revival. The entrance in particular is telling, as it's a hybrid of both Adam and Georgian styles that neither original period utilized. The interior fireplace treatments and wainscoting are Edwardian through-and-through, easily discernable by their size and heights, as well as combining elements from different architectural styles. These are all trademarks of the Colonial Revival, which was not concerned with exact reproduction, but borrowed and combined anything that looked "colonial."
you are partially right. it is originally a true plantation but part of it was lost in a fire and a new portion built later. look up selma plantation Leesburg Virginia on Wikipedia.
Please someone buy this beauty & lovingly restore her glory. STUNNING! The view from the windows are AMAZING so you have to purchase all the land around it as well to keep modern development from encroaching.
This home by as been completely restored and is absolutely fabulous. They did an amazing job. The link to the photos are linked in one of these comments... this was a real labor of love
It is a beautiful historic home. Don’t pick and chose what history you want to rewrite or condemn. The only reason it still stands is because it was built so well. I hope it will be preserved and restored.
I hope someone buys this place and restores it.. It's a perfect example of early Georgian design in the late 1800's and not in bad shape considering.. If only people would stop breaking in and vandalizing it!
Would have liked to have seen the room at 4:03 and a full pan around in each room is always nice, but an enjoyable video nonetheless. Beautiful old place and glad to hear that it's going to be restored.
Of all the abandoned places videos I've watched, this was my favorite. Despite its neglect, a lot of it still looks pretty sturdy and probably salvageable! Wish I had the money to do it. (EDIT: I just read another comment that says it's been restored. That's awesome) Also, my first thought was, "Hey, it looks like the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland!"
when I saw this place and the view from the front door takes you back in time of o ce was and visioning the beauty. I would love love love to have the money to purchase this and as much land as possible. true beauty in how the south once was.
