"The John RICE House, 1776" Located on Dry River, one mile west of Rushville, five miles northeast of Bridgewater, is this very interesting frame house known as the John RICE House or "The Painted House." John RICE, son of William RICE, came into Shenandoah Valley and obtained a tract of land about six miles long and built a log cabin. Then he left for east Virginia, where he married Miss Mary FINNEY. He returned to the Valley in 1776 and built this new house. In Williamsburg he had seen frame houses which were painted, and he strived to repeat this idea in his own house. It is reputed to have been the first lathed, weatherboarded and plastered house to be built in this area. The siding boards are six inches wide and one-half inch thich and nailed in place with hand wrought iron nails. Because of its coat of paint the house attrated much attention, and people came from all over the county to see it. Consequently, it was known for amny years as "The Painted House." Sources: Personal interview, Miss Mary SUTER, April 1967; US Gov., Works Progress Administation, Historical American Building Survey, Rockingham County, 1935-1939, Virginia State Library, Richmond, VA. Photographic Files, unbound, uncatalogued. "Old [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) _ouses_ (mailto:[email protected]) in Rockingham County 1750-1850" by Isaac Long TERRELL **************Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars. (http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut00050000000007)