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The Arjalon Price House is a bit of American colonial history that is associated with the James Madison Museum of Orange, Virginia. It is one of the few remaining pre-Revolutionary War structures that is built in the old colonial style, it is often referred to as a ‘cube house.’ It is called a ‘cube house’ because its dimensions are exactly 16′ by 16′ by 16′ – a perfect cube (minus the roof).
Originally built in 1733 by then-Governor Alexander Spotswood (for whom Spotsylvania County, Virginia is named), the house eventually found its way to one Arjalon Price in 1767 who kept it in the family for many generations. Although the house was eventually sold to others, this famous historic residence still bears the name of the Price family.
The Arjalon Price House is housed in a separate display area downstairs from the James Madison Museum (not to be confused with Montpelier, the home of James Madison) and is NOT air conditioned. As I went in the heat of July, it was pretty muggy down there! However, the heat and all reminders of it soon dissipate as you come into contact with this beautiful historic structure.
Being able to actually touch the wooden planks and examine all of the vintage farm equipment was an experience which none of these photographs can either capture or do justice. Both the museum and the cube house are an absolute must-see if you are in these neck of the woods. Use the map at the end of this article for directions.
The ARJALON PRICE HOUSE is housed within the James Madison Museum. For more information on my visit to the James Madison Museum, and some more amazing photos, check out my article: The James Madison Museum of Orange County, Virginia.
The James Madison Museum Of Orange County, VA
I visited the James Madison Museum and the Arjalon Price House on July 3rd, 2018. All photographs were taken with permission by the museum. You can visit the official James Madison Museum website and Facebook page below. The James Madison Museum is also closely associated with Montpelier, the home and inspirational grounds of our 4th US President, James Madison.
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Thank you for the nice write-up and the great photos. We were happy to have you visit. Some more precise information:
From Orange County Deed Book 1, Page 99, the lease agreement reads that Spotswood had leased 160 acres of land to Charles Spoe on June 2, 1734 for the lifetimes of Spoe and his two sons Charles and John. Spoe agreed to plant 300 fruit trees, pay Spotswood 780 pounds of tobacco, and to provide labor to any of Spotswood’s mill dams for a set number of days per year. There is a plat map dated July 15, 1735 upon which the house location is noted.
Orange County Deed Book 3, Page 347 records the sublease of the house and its 160 acres from Charles Spoe to Arjalon Price on August 8, 1739. On May 19, 1767 (Orange County Deed Book 14, Page 166) Price purchases the house and 198 acres from Johnathan Spotswood’s estate.
We have the complete history of the house at the museum. In 1777 Price’s sons sold the property to William Carty of Culpeper.
Thank you so much for the deed and title information on the Arjalon Price House. Do you have a written volume of the House’s history? That would be something I would be interested in purchasing. I am connected to Arjalon Price in my genealogy, although not a direct descendant. Arjalon Price’s mother was a Mary Garner (1663-1726), his father Richard Price. Mary Garner is my 8x great-grandmother from her marriage to John Lewis (abt. 1655-1696) my 8x great-grandfather.
We do not have a book or pamphlet, just the research information, which I will happily share. Please e-mail me at the museum and I will send what we have. jamesmadisonmuseuminfo@gmail.com
Thank you, I really appreciate your generosity.
I’m so glad I found this. I am a descendent of Lt. John Hill Price, Sr., who would have been one of the sons who sold the house in 1777??? He somehow made his way to the northern panhandle of West Virginia and is buried in Marshall County.
I am glad you found this article as well. It is nice to meet you and thank you for taking the time to post. I am a descendant of Arjalon Price’s mother Mary Garner who would be my 8x grandmother. I had to google Marshall County and it is indeed way up in the panhandle sandwiched between Ohio and Pennsylvania – amazing!