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The Palace Lots were also known as the Saunders House or the Carter House. They were located on the west side of the Palace Green.

Chronology

1835--inherited by Robert Saunders; he lived in while President of William & Mary.

1868--purchased by College from William S. Peachy

1870--Report of President Benjamin S. Ewell to the Board of Visitors: "It is necessary that the Grammar School be removed from the College Grounds. The Palace lot containing from 4 to 5 acres, belongs to the College, and affords an admirable site for the school...while a capacious dwelling on the adjoining lot which belonged to the estate of the late Robert Saunders, but was recently sold under a deed of trust and purchased by the College is admirably suitable for the residence of the Master, and the Boarding House of the boys." (BOV, July 4, 1870, p.90)

1886--"On November 4, 1886 the Saunders House & Lot were sold to Miss Martha Wootten for Twelve Hundred Dolls..." (Bursar's report for year 1886/87)

..Palace Lots, about 4 acres, retained

1916-17--Theta Delta Chi fraternity house (Thomas G. Pullen, Jr. Scrapbook)

1919-20--Kappa Sigma fraternity house (1920 Colonial Echo, p. 117)

1929--remaining lots and improvements sold to Colonial Williamsburg, May 1929 (1982.60 under Property Sales/ Purchases Deed Transactions)

Material in the Special Collections Research Center

  • Board of Visitors Records, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, William & Mary.
  • Office of the Bursar Records, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, William & Mary.
  • Colonial Echo
  • Thomas G. Pullen, Jr. Scrapbook, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, William & Mary.

References

  • Board of Visitors Records, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, William & Mary.
  • Office of the Bursar Records, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, William & Mary.
  • Colonial Echo

 

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A note about the contents of this site

This website contains the best available information from known sources at the time it was written. Unfortunately, many of the early original records of William & Mary were destroyed by fires, military occupation, and the normal effects of time. The information in this website is not complete, and it changes as we continue to research and uncover new sources.