Reviving Beauty: Sempowski’s Restore Maple Roads Plantation

Maple Roads Plantation in Charlotte County celebrated its bicentennial on Saturday, September 28, 2013. The owners opened their doors to friends and neighbors, giving historical tours of the main house and grounds featuring horses, ponies and heritage sheep and serving up barbeque made on premises.

Max and Carol Sempowski have restored their two-story, 200-year-old Federal plantation in such a way that stepping through the front door literally transports one back to life in the early 19th century. Maple Roads was recently featured in Early American Life magazine that touted its architectural virtues such as the original flooring and wainscoting as well as the remarkable attention to detail displayed in the interior design.

Each room of the mansion offers beautiful antique furniture and décor from the boys’ and girls’ rooms upstairs to the formal living room on the first floor, which features a portrait of Captain John C. Richardson, the original owner. An identical portrait of Captain Richardson (one of our local founding fathers) also hangs in the Charlotte County courthouse. Another interesting second story room is called the Strangers’ room, where historically, many travellers on long journeys would spend the night after having had a meal in the kitchen below. The Strangers’ room was originally separate from the main house where Captain Richardson, his wife, four sons and five daughters resided.

The fact that both Max and Carol are very well educated historical preservationists is completely evident in every room inside as well as the grounds and family cemetery outside. Located between Charlotte Court House and Keysville, Maple Farms is an extraordinary plantation well worth the visit to Charlotte County.