The 322 acre tract including The Hollow has been purchased by Dr. David C. Collins, owner of Learning Tree Farms in nearby Delaplane, Virginia. Dr. Collins purchased the tract for $1,375,000 solely in order to protect and restore The Hollow. He intends to create an interpretive site and park on the site and sponsor archaeological digs to better understand how the young John Marshall’s family of up to 12 lived on the site.

"The legacy of Chief Justice John Marshall's life's work continues to be of vital importance in our country’s development." said Dr. David Collins. "Marshall is a true self-made American hero and a wonderful role model for our children. Bringing John Marshall’s boyhood home "back to life" is a way to connect children to the history of this great man, Virginia and the nation," Collins added.

The Hollow is part of a large tract that was owned by an investment partnership including Markham resident Warren K. Montouri. As a minority partner representing the sellers, Mr. Montouri assisted materially in the negotiations that led to the sale of the land to Dr. Collins. "I’m thrilled to see The Hollow move closer to historic preservation," said Warren Montouri from his cattle farm, "Gibraltar," near Markham.

Dr. Collins resides on property a few miles southeast of The Hollow that includes the original home site of Chief Justice Marshall’s third son John Marshall Jr. known as "Mont Blanc." Dr. Collins has been gradually reassembling a large part of the original 2375 acres that comprised the Chief Justice’s February 3, 1820 wedding gift to his third son, John, when he married Elizabeth Maria Alexander. Although the original house at Mont Blanc burned on October 1, 1894, the original farm office is still in good condition and the family cemetery has been restored by Dr. Collins. Dr. Collins has also sponsored archaeological digs on the Mont Blanc site for Fauquier County schoolchildren, which are led my professional archaeologists.

Virginia and National Historic Landmark Application Can Now Move Forward

Dr. Collins has requested that the application for nomination of The Hollow as a Virginia Historic Landmark be submitted as soon as possible. As reported in the past, the previous owners would not consent to the application as is required under Virginia law. The Friends of the Hollow will be assembling the application for submission to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources immediately.

The Friends of the Hollow are extremely pleased with the present situation, which represents the greatest step forward toward the realization of the goals of the organization. It appears that our interests in preservation and restoration of The Hollow are completely aligned with Dr. Collins’ intentions. Therefore, we will be providing support and assistance to his efforts.

Commonwealth of Virginia Funding

As we did last year, the Friends of the Hollow worked to obtain acquisition funding for The Hollow from the Commonweath of Virginia. Our primary sponsor, Delegate Anne G. Rhodes, proposed a budget amendment to allocate $300,000 in each of the next two fiscal years for restoration of The Hollow. Unfortunately, the amendment was deleted from the final budget.
 
 

The Friends of the Hollow, Inc. is a Virginia non-stock, non-profit charitable corporation formed in 1981 with the express purpose of preservation and restoration of the boyhood home of Chief Justice John Marshall known as The Hollow. Basic membership dues are $10.00 per year and sustaining membership is $25.00 per year. Additional donations are welcome. Dues and contributions are fully tax deductible. Please make checks payable to Friends of the Hollow, Inc. and mail to Friends of the Hollow, 4283 N. 38th Street, Arlington, VA 22207.

Friends of the Hollow News is published by the Friends of the Hollow, Inc., 4283 N. 38^th St., Arlington, VA 22207. Editor: T.M. deButts