James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
820 Madison DriveDavid Black, Tiffany Cole
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A handwritten note accompanying the photographs suggests that Margaret Benson gave the photographs to Ray M. Wine when he purchased the house circa 1985. Given that the photographs are in the custody of the current owner of 1215 Hillcrest Drive, that same gesture was likely continued for each subsequent resident of the house.
[identification of item], Hillcrest Drive [Harrisonburg, Virginia] Photographs, 1951-1984, SC 0321, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
The photographs were loaned to Special Collections by Andrew Witmer, history professor at James Madison University and owner of the property at 1215 Hillcrest Drive, in September 2011 for digitization. The originals were returned to the donor upon completion of digitization.
The photographs were loaned to Special Collections in 2011 for digitization. Upon completion of digitization, the original photographs were returned to the donor.
The collection was minimally processed in 2012. The scanned file names were assigned the prefix P0005 and a description of "Sunny Slope." The file names were updated in 2022.
The house at 1215 Hillcrest Drive, located in Harrisonburg's Maplehurst neighborhood and adjacent to James Madison University, was built in 1952 with Colonel Raymond Temple Benson (1894-1977) and Margaret Thompson Benson (1892-1990) as the first residents. The house was sold to Ray M. Wine and Ann Wine between 1984 and 1985. They resided at the house until 2002. One other owner resided at the house prior to the donor.
The Hillcrest Drive [Harrisonburg, Virginia] Photographs, 1951-1984, comprise a series of digital images (15 photographs and one handwritten note) documenting the house at 1215 Hillcrest Drive and surrounding Maplehurst neighborhood. Neighboring streets documented in the photographs include Moffett Terrace and East Fairview Drive. Northwest views of Harrisonburg and towards Rockingham County and West Virginia are also visible.
The original photographs were retained by donor.
Side and rear of 1170 Moffett Terrace and front of 150 East Fairview Avenue, 1964 March 22
Text on photo: MAR 22 1964 - stamped. Photograph taken from the back yard of 1215 Hillcrest Drive. Water tower in the background.
Rear of 1205 and 1215 Hillcrest Drive in the snow, 1951 December 18
Text on photo: From NNW; 18 Dec '51 - handwritten. Photograph taken from the north-northwest. Approaching the corner of East Fairview Avenue and Hillcrest Drive in the snow.
Front of 1211 Moffett Terrace, November 1951
Text on photo: Looking NW from rear picture window of new house. The mountains are 25 mi away & are the W. Va state line. Nov '51. - handwritten.
Front of 1215 Hillcrest Drive, June 1952
Text on photo: June, 1952 - handwritten.
Side and rear of 1241 Moffett Terrace, Fall 1952
Text on photo: Fall '52 - handwritten. Taken from back yard of 1215 Hillcrest Drive. Water tower in the background.
Front of 1215 Hillcrest Drive with Raymond Benson and Margaret Benson standing on front stairs, June 1952
Text on photo: June 1952 - handwritten.
Rear of 1205 and 1215 Hillcrest Drive, 1953 November 10
Text on photo: 11/10/53 - handwritten.
Front of 1215 Hillcrest Drive under construction in the snow, 1951 December 18
Text on photo: 1215 Hillcrest Drive. Faces SE, 35' fr st. Tot 60' front. 150' deep. 18 Dec '51 - handwritten. Car parked in front of the house.
Front of 1200 Hillcrest Drive with horse-drawn sleigh in the snow, January 1954
Text on photo: Looking out from front door. Jan. 1954. - handwritten.
Front of 1215 Hillcrest Drive under construction, 1951 November 10
Text on photo: Nov. 10, 1951 - handwritten.
Back yard of 1215 Hillcrest Drive, 1954 September 20
Text on photo: Our back yard. 9/20/54; 1215 Hillcrest Dr. Harrisonburg, Va. - handwritten.
Front of 1215 Hillcrest Drive with trees in bloom, 1974
Text on photo: Our Benson's Landing 1974 (Blt 1952) - handwritten.
Front of 1215 Hillcrest Drive with car in carport, 1955
Text on photo: '55 - handwritten.
Front of 1215 Hillcrest Drive under construction, 1952 April 1
Text on photo: Taken April, 1952 1215 Hillcrest Dr - handwritten. Apr 1 1952 - stamped.
Back yard of 1215 Hillcrest Drive, circa 1952
Taken from back porch of 1215 Hillcrest Drive with view of neighbor's garden.
Handwritten note addressed to Wine family, circa 1984
Text on note: For Wines; Pictures of Building Stages of 1215 Hillcrest Dr. - handwritten.