James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
820 Madison DriveMSC 1706
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
Telephone: (540) 568-3612
library-special@jmu.edu
URL: https://www.lib.jmu.edu/special/
David Black, Tiffany Cole
Administrative Information
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).
Access Restrictions
Collection open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Provenance
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.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], Hillcrest Drive [Harrisonburg, Virginia] Photographs, 1951-1984, SC 0321, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
Acquisition Information
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.
Processing Information
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.
Biographical/Historical Note
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.
Scope and Contents
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Black-and-white photographs
- Hillcrest Drive (Harrisonburg, Va.)
- Neighborhoods -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg -- History
- Neighborhoods -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg -- Photographs
- Photographs
- Witmer, Andrew (Andrew Daryl) (1976-)
Existence and Location of Originals
The original photographs were retained by donor.
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Benson, Raymond Templin, Colonel, 1894-1977
- Witmer, Andrew (Andrew Daryl) (1976-)
Container List
Side and rear of 1170 Moffett Terrace and front of 150 East Fairview Avenue, 1964 March 22
32971585;prevRouteTS=1658855087742 f7698ac8-f739-42f0-baae-18973b293de9_size1
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
32971639;prevRouteTS=1658855177392 7346002b-6c49-4c84-9e78-eb09cc679184_size1
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
33055564;prevRouteTS=1658855301217 adcd85fd-2085-4101-b53e-b96615406217_size1
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
33055565;prevRouteTS=1658855330405 b47655f5-3d63-47d7-af3b-1eb66dd661b3_size1
Text on photo: June, 1952 - handwritten.
Side and rear of 1241 Moffett Terrace, Fall 1952
33055581;prevRouteTS=1658855364438 9c2949cf-9a73-4cb8-ad07-3b0f08944d33_size1
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
33055583;prevRouteTS=1658855414576 c6687af2-a7ad-43a1-b5e6-ac73f4a7860c_size1
Text on photo: June 1952 - handwritten.
Rear of 1205 and 1215 Hillcrest Drive, 1953 November 10
33055584;prevRouteTS=1658855469181 2e0a17e8-a23b-4434-bd66-94e0cf585fcd_size1
Text on photo: 11/10/53 - handwritten.
Front of 1215 Hillcrest Drive under construction in the snow, 1951 December 18
33055585;prevRouteTS=1658855505728 a3038919-d798-4765-8cf6-1defbf1070c9_size1
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
33055586;prevRouteTS=1658855580595 9065b012-6c23-4440-8349-9386af5ac1b6_size1
Text on photo: Looking out from front door. Jan. 1954. - handwritten.
Front of 1215 Hillcrest Drive under construction, 1951 November 10
33055587;prevRouteTS=1658855655914 2fc3985f-62e3-47a4-b8ef-c00d1f33ca66_size1
Text on photo: Nov. 10, 1951 - handwritten.
Back yard of 1215 Hillcrest Drive, 1954 September 20
33055588;prevRouteTS=1658855689860 71e7a48b-bca8-4d28-8fe9-fb152690a504_size1
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
33055589;prevRouteTS=1658855755165 4c669d7f-2b62-415b-bd2b-00cdf1c0d57f_size1
Text on photo: Our Benson's Landing 1974 (Blt 1952) - handwritten.
Front of 1215 Hillcrest Drive with car in carport, 1955
33055590;prevRouteTS=1658855798222 47cecca1-140b-4432-83d6-b78a08d5c696_size1
Text on photo: '55 - handwritten.
Front of 1215 Hillcrest Drive under construction, 1952 April 1
33055591;prevRouteTS=1658855835443 c3b29bd5-ffa6-49e9-90de-15f06da6b881_size1
Text on photo: Taken April, 1952 1215 Hillcrest Dr - handwritten. Apr 1 1952 - stamped.
Back yard of 1215 Hillcrest Drive, circa 1952
33055592;prevRouteTS=1658855855955 071c67e0-b5d6-4fc3-8226-56c41571dc3d_size1
Taken from back porch of 1215 Hillcrest Drive with view of neighbor's garden.
Handwritten note addressed to Wine family, circa 1984
33055593;prevRouteTS=1658855889122 b3efba60-6a79-4d60-982d-fd8046755884_size1
Text on note: For Wines; Pictures of Building Stages of 1215 Hillcrest Dr. - handwritten.