A residence at 1456 Bishop Creek Road, which was destroyed in a massive fire Oct. 3, is reported to be a historic property that was built by Col. William Curd in the early 1700’s and is rumored to have been used as a hospital during the Civil War.

According to Barbara Kragh, owner of the property, Curd owned a large amount of property in the area.

“The town of Curdsville was named after him by revolutionary hero Peter Francisco,” Kragh said, “in gratitude for being rescued from servitude and given 40 acres of land which became the town of Curdsville.”

She said the house was built as a one-story house with bricks that came from England as a ship ballast.

“Later the property was called the ‘Cook Garnett place,’ then ‘Woodlawn,’” Kragh said, “now presently called the ‘Homeplace’ and Bishop Creek Ranch and owned by the Kragh family.”

She said the house that was originally reported to be abandoned for the most part, according to Dillwyn Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Jason Wharam, was far from it.

“In fact several guests (were to) stay there the weekend following the fire to attend a local family reunion. Only one permanent resident was a caretaker,” Kragh said. “This house was used as a hunting lodge for family friends since 1975.”

She said the cause of the fire remains unknown, and the plans for the future of the building remain uncertain.

According to Wharam, firefighters responded at 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 3 and stayed on scene until 11:30 p.m. He said at least 40 firefighters were on scene from five separate fire companies, including the Dillwyn Volunteer Fire Department, Toga Volunteer Fire Department, Arvonia Volunteer Fire Department, Randolph District Volunteer Fire Department and Prospect Volunteer Fire Department. Wharam said the house was built in 1744.