On the left is a picture of the old Clopper house, The Woodlands, which was built in 1812. It burned down in the 1960s. The visitor's center at Seneca Creek State Park now sits next to where this house used to be. The Woodlands, a short self-guided trail located at the visitor's center, interprets the life and the estate of the Clopper Family.
| Name | Date | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Robert S. Fulghum | 11/23/09 | I spent several summers at The Woodlands in the 1940's. I have some pictures but Helen Caulfield Madine Gregory probably has most of them. Helen's Mother Helen Schmidt Caulfield was one of my aunts on the maternal side. I helped write the article on Wilse Frazier. Wilse taught me much during those summers I spent at The Woodlands. |
| anonymous | 5/9/10 | When we were kids and living in the area (1963,64) we came upon this old house deserted. In the rear there was a large assortment of labratory glassware beakers and different sized tubing. I could never figure out why it was there. |
| Deaner Lawless Jr. | 2/23/11 | I also remember the lab glass assortment. Also remember a harpsichord, civil war uniforms, a lot of books and late 1800's girl school exams. |
| Bob Newhouse | 4/10/11 | We used to explore many of these old homes that were falling down in the 60's. Remember John? Being young, brave, and only slightly stupid we'd cling to the wall at the edge to keep from falling through the floor. Most were burned down, or torn down to make way for development. Many were beautiful old country homes in their day. |
| Andrew Odom | 5/25/11 | Fascinating tales, folks. I moved to the area in '06 and now live about a mile away and have wondered what this house was like. Thank goodness for the forest on Clopper Road (and the state park) but sadly today's residents careless liter that whole road with garbage. I, too, explored an abandoned house or two in upstate New York as a child. (Kids have less fear than adults about such things!) I hope the historical items were somehow salvaged. |
| Lynn Ballinger Anstine | 11/24/13 | In 1963, my family's home was taken by eminent domain to become the park ranger's home. |
| Helen Caufield Madine Gregory | 4/7/14 | Hi Lynn ballenger. Contact me at gregfin1@cast.net. Helen |
| Lynn Ballinger Anstine | 3/17/15 | Helen Caulfield Madine Gregory--Helen, Tried to e-mail you (3/15/15) but e-mail you left didn't work. |
| Linda Layman | 4/30/20 | Forgot to mention I had taken pictures of the house just before the fire; gave them to MCHS, I believe. |
| Linda Layman | 4/30/20 | I ran into Helen Caulfield Madine at Seneca Park in the 1980s. They had moved to a very rural county in VA. She went to GHS with people I knew. |