Inglewood, built 1839

Purchased in 1818, Inglewood is on the National Registry of Historic Places. Construction of the main building started in 1839.

Inglewood Owners

1818 - 1857: Robert Gray

1857-1876: Andrew B. Irick

1876-1945: Gen. John E. Roller

1945-2023: Grattan Family

2023-present: Lee Family

On November 1, 1781 Robert Gray was born in Donegal County, Ireland. Son of Robert Gray Sr. and Rebecca Watson, Robert lived in Ireland until the age of four, when his parents relocated the family to America to retrieve his father’s fortune, that was lost due to family’s mismanagement of his patrimony. The family settled in Winchester, Virginia, where Robert Gray Sr. became a elder in the Presbyterian Church and a highly respected and affluent citizen. –

Robert Gray did his primary education in Winchester, then attended law school at Princeton University. Following graduation, Gray relocated to Harrisonburg, Virginia and opened his own law practice. In 1811, he was appointed Commonwealth’s Attorney for the County Court, and to the Superior Court in 1815. He held these offices for Rockingham, Shenandoah, Pendleton, and Hardy Counties, and during those years engaged in almost every important case tried in the court in these counties, both as prosecutor and advocate. Many urged Gray to run for political office, but Gray refused. Robert Gray became one of the wealthiest lawyers in Virginia. He invested the majority of his wealth in real estate, buying property and offering real estate loans.

In 1812 he married Isabella Lockhart Waterman, daughter of prominent Harrisonburg physician, Dr. Asher Waterman, for whom local Waterman Elementary was named.

In 1818 Robert Gray purchased the Inglewood land, which included 500 acres. There was a house constructed, that was later moved 1 mile deeper into the property before Inglewood was built in 1849. This 1818 house is the oldest house on the property, and still stands as a residential home today!

In 1839 construction started on Inglewood. The home was a wedding present for Robert Gray’s eldest son, Douglas Gray, to Isabella Pinkney, daughter of prominent Maryland lawyer, William Pinkney, who served as a diplomat to Thomas Jefferson (3rd U.S. President) and James Monroe (5th U.S. President).

Construction of the main house (now nicknamed “The Lee House”) finished in 1851. The Gray family lived at Inglewood until it was sold in 1857. Robert Gray died on December 7, 1859. No Gray descendants remained in Rockingham County.

In 1857 Irick purchased Inglewood from the Gray family. He had the shortest tenure of Inglewood owners, living at Inglewood until 1876.

In 1872, A.B. Irick served as the President and Board Member for Rawley Springs. Located 11 miles west of Harrisonburg, Rawley Springs was developed as a retreat destination, inspired by the famous Belgian Spa, Pouhon. The refreshing spring water is still enjoyed today by locals.

Irick died November 29, 1877 of consumption. His obituary read, “ A.B. IRICK, ex-president of the Bank of Rockingham and the First National Bank of Harrisonburg, died here yesterday evening after a long illness. Mr. Irick was well known throughout the Valley of Virginia as a man of sterling integrity and fine business qualifications.” He is buried in Woodbine Cemetery, located in Downtown Harrisonburg.

Andrew B. Irick, known as “A.B. Irick,” was born on June 11, 1819 in Virginia.

Not much is known about his childhood, but as an adult A.B. Irick was very involved in local and national politics. A member of the Democratic Party, he was a staunch supporter of Martin Van Buren (8th U.S. President). During the 1840 presidential election, he served as the representative for McGaheysville on the Democratic Vigilance Committee for the Harrisonburg Precinct. This committee offered support for Van Buren, actively speaking against the Whig Party and William Henry Harrison, who ultimately won the election to become the 9th U.S. President.

Throughout Virginia and Maryland, A.B. Irick was known for his business practices, particularly involving banking and real estate. Most interestingly, when it comes to Inglewood’s history, Irick knew and worked with the original Inglewood owner, Robert Gray, on the creation of The Bank of Rockingham. Robert Gray, along with nine other commissioners, established The Citizens Bank of Virginia in 1853. In 1854 it was renamed to The Bank of Rockingham, after which A.B. Irick was appointed President of the bank. The Bank was located in Downtown Harrisonburg in the Exchange Hotel Building, owned by A.B. Irick and located at the intersection of South Main and Liberty Streets. Irick also owned and renovated the locally known Thorton’s Brick House in 1845.

John Edwin Roller was born October 5, 1844 in Harrisonburg, VA, son of Peter Samuel Roller and Frances Allebach.

In the summer of 1861, at the age of 17, John E. Roller served with Company I of the First Virginia Cavalry during the Civil War (April 1861 - April 1865). After a summer of service, Roller entered Virginia Military Institute (VMI) as a second classman. After his graduation from VMI in July of 1863, he stayed at the university to teach mathematics for a few months. In October of 1863, Roller was appointed 2nd Lieutenant of Company G of the Confederate army. He served as an Engineer Officer until the end of the war in April 1865.

Throughout his time at VMI, during the war, and for years after, John E. Roller sent many letters to his family documenting his life. These letters are now consolidated into the “John E. Roller Papers,” located in hardcopy in the VMI Archives.

After the war, General Roller studied law at the University of Virginia (UVA). Following graduation from law school, Roller relocated to Harrisonburg. Known locally as “General Roller,” John became a prominent figure in the Valley, representing Rockingham County in the Virginia State Senate 1869-1873. He also founded the Augusta Military Academy.

In 1876, General Roller purchased Inglewood from A.B. Irick as a gift for his parents. Roller lived at Inglewood throughout his parents’ death, and until he died in 1918 at the age of 74. To accommodate his parents, General Roller added onto Inglewood, including The Gray House bedroom and staircase.

After his death, General Roller’s daughter, Lucy Cabot Roller, continued to live at Inglewood until 1944 when she sold the property to General Roller’s granddaughter, Margaret Grattan Weaver, and her husband James M. Weaver.

  • The Bell House, an old schoolhouse turned into a 3 bedroom house.

  • The "Red House"

  • 1800s creamery

  • Iron fence from the first Presbyterian church of Virginia.

  • Hand-carved Hessian mantels.