Besides owning a great deal of land and a mercantile business, Mr. Ratcliffe owned a race track on the east side of town. Its approximate location was east of Route 237, north of The Little River Turnpike and west of Fairview Subdivision. His personal property was valued at $4445.34. In his will the slaves were divided among his wife and children. Some of the slaves were valued as high as $600 each, while others were valued at a dollar.
In 1836, when Mr. Ratcliffe died and the town had to be surveyed in order for his estate to be divided, John Halley, the surveyor writes: "In laying off I commenced at the northwest corner of Rizin Willcoxon's Tavern House, Robert Ratcliffe having represented that that house was considered when built as being exactly on the corner of the lot on which it stands, and the side and gable ends of said house ranged with the streets. I have therefore taken the ...... of said house as a guide". The tavern was valued at $4000.00 at that time.
Robert Ratcliffe had evidently used the northwest corner of the tavern when in 1805 he laid off the town when An Act of the Assembly established a "Town at Fairfax Court House on the Land of Richard Ratcliffe by the name of Providence".
FAIRFAX COURT HOUSE
Photo by Ollie Atkins
Meanwhile, a red brick building had been erected for the court house. It had a gabled roof, an arcaded loggia and a cupola. In the cupola hung a very fine bell which had been imported from England. This bell rang to remind the citizens of church time, court, town meetings, etc.
The inside of the court house was beautifully paneled with walnut wainscoating and behind the Justice's chair the wall was paneled from floor to ceiling. There was a gallery for slaves and rows of hand carved wooden pews for freemen.
On the outside was a place for tying horses in the yard and nearby stood a well with the traditional "old oaken bucket". The inscription on the bucket read, "He who drinks therefrom will return to drink again!"