The Story of Moriah

The Story of Moriah
Moriah’s story begins with the well-known former home that was named Mariah (after
the musical “...and they called the wind Mariah ...” ) because of the windy knoll in Free
Union on which it was constructed. An early design by the highly regarded architect Jay
Dalgliesh, this home was built by a creative woman of local renown. It was built with
no expense spared, yet was not ostentatious in any way. At the heart of the home was
an early 1800s hewn oak log cabin.
After the owner passed away, the home was sold. The new owner of this property
wanted to remove Mariah to make way for a new, larger home. Noah Bradley, the
Founder of Blue Mountain Builders, was called to see if he wanted to reclaim any of the
priceless materials used in this extraordinary custom home. Blue Mountain Builders
specializes in dismantling, reclaiming, and reconstructing historic structures and building
new structures handcrafted with reclaimed, antique materials.
Noah was acquainted with Mariah because it was built in the same fashion as his work using reclaimed antique materials. In fact, it was an early inspiration to his own work.
As he entered Mariah’s front door, he remembered what a remarkable and unique
property it was.
This was a home built with the beautiful woodwork of local
craftsmen like Blaise Gaston & Rick Wyatt, using materials from
sources like Mountain Lumber, and constructed by Shelter
Associates. Noah quickly decided that instead of simply salvaging
the valuable materials, the entire home was worth reclaiming.
Thus, the entire structure was not only salvaged, but carefully
deconstructed and moved to its current setting on the banks of the
Rivanna River in the historic village of Advance Mills, Virginia. The
new owners, Noah and Lynne Bradley, maintained the integrity of the original Mariah,
but transformed the home into a new, modern interpretation of the original. With the
structure’s renaissance came a new name, Moriah, to represent the transformation in
the structure and the mountain of faith that the new owners brought to this project.
With the skill and experience that Blue Mountain Builders brought to the project,
Moriah was re-imagined into a modern masterpiece of handcrafted design. There are
many recognizable profiles of the old Mariah but the interior layout was expanded and
improved to allow for more light and a more open floor plan.
The reclaimed Shenandoah Valley log cabin, original to Mariah, still serves as the heart
of the new Moriah. The huge hemlock beams, the wide plank heart pine and hemlock
floors, the wormy chestnut floors laid in herringbone pattern, and the beautiful
woodwork in the banisters and windows remain.
This handcrafted door with carved wood lock was salvaged from
Mariah (right) and installed in a new location at Moriah (left).
Reclaimed materials from other historic properties were incorporated to add their own
grace, character, and soul to this special home. The chimney and fireplaces are built
from the stone of an historic Pennsylvania bridge, each one carefully placed and fitted
together by master masons who see their work as craft, not just labor. You can run
your hands over the lovely patina on the well-used handrail to the second floor –
reclaimed from a Culpeper, Virginia, manor home which served as a hospital in the Civil
War and where Walt Whitman resided for awhile – the handrail upon which Walt
certainly placed his hand before you.
Then there are the modern improvements to the home. Mariah’s first floor guest
bedrooms under their square hip roof were re-envisioned to become Moriah’s first floor
master bedroom with an impressive vaulted pyramid ceiling and an added spa-like
master bath. Each of three 2nd floor bedrooms has its own private bath. The modern
chef’s kitchen, designed by Lynne Bradley, features high-quality appliances and
surfaces, with ample space for gourmet cooks, and an open floor plan that flows
organically into a casual dining space and onto the deck beyond. The large deck of
exotic Brazilian ipê hardwood is also an addition to the original design. It adds a
beautiful outdoor living space for enjoying the views of the rolling green pastoral acres
and the river beyond.
Longevity and Versatility
Moriah was reconstructed to 21st-century standards with sustainability and energy
efficiency in mind. In addition to the excellent insulation value of massive stones, large
timbers, and heavy construction, the home has many modern energy efficiency
features. There is nothing more “green” or sustainable than using these already
harvested quality materials.
Other green features include: the installation of hundreds of feet of piping for radiant
floor heating should a future owner like to use this feature; bamboo flooring in the
master bedroom suite; organic, non- allergenic spray foam insulation; and high efficiency
zoned heat pump heating and cooling systems.
Equally important to Moriah’s longevity is how the home is designed to easily
accommodate several different types of owners and lifestyles or uses without needing
extensive changes. The terrace level has a home gym, a full bath, and a former kitchen
that could easily be adapted into an in-law suite or a separate apartment. There is a
chase for an elevator to be installed to accommodate mobility needs. The space for a
two-car garage is ready to be converted with the addition of garage doors. This space
could also be used as a home office with its own exterior entrance. This home could
easily function as a high end Bed & Breakfast with either the master bedroom suite or
the terrace level serving as the owner’s private quarters.
The Next Chapter
What is Moriah’s next chapter? To own Moriah is to own a piece of Virginia history.
The craftsmen of Blue Mountain Builders breathed new life into Moriah while building
the home to the enduring standards of historic estates. This is a unique property that
simply cannot be replicated. The value of its parts far exceeds the list price.
The home’s reclaimed materials originate from properties that have already lived several
lifetimes and they have been recycled to thrive for many more. The next owner of
Moriah will be someone who appreciates not only the solid construction and superior
quality, character, and materials of the home, but someone who loves the story and
wants to be a part of the next chapter in its history. Moriah is “Live Where You Love”
come to life!