Man unknowingly buys former plantation house where his ancestors were enslaved
An Air Force veteran wanted a new house for large family gatherings; he ended up getting an incredible link to his family's past.
Fred Miller, a 57-year-old Air Force veteran, was searching for a property in Virginia to host family gatherings when he came across a grand white house called Sharswood. Unbeknownst to him, this seemingly ordinary house concealed a dark history. Sharswood, built in 1850, once served as the seat of a 1,300-acre plantation in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, one of the largest in the state. The Thompson family had owned the property since 1917.
Fred Miller, unaware of Sharswood's past, made an offer of just above the $220,000 asking price when he was approached by the Thompsons. To his surprise, the offer was accepted, and he purchased the fully-furnished house and its 10 and a half acres of land. As he drove up to the property, Fred was awestruck by the sight, marveling at how this house had become his own. His cousin, Karen Dixon-Rexroth, an avid researcher, turned up startling information about the plantation's history, which stunned the entire family.
Written by urgent.news from CBS News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
