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Grant-Burrus Hotel Site/Rockford Park
circa 1796
In 1796, Reuben Grant obtained a permit to operate a
tavern and hotel, where Aaron Burr once stayed. Nearly a
 century
later, John G. Burrus purchased the site, built an
addition to it, and operated it as the Grant-Burrus
Hotel from 1890 to 1925.
The structure was destroyed by fire in 1974, and one
decade later, the Surry County government required the
wooden remains to be burned due to safety concerns. In
1988, the Woodrow Burrus family donated the site to the
Rockford Preservation Society. The historical
significance of the property is the foundation and
cellar fireplace of the original Reuben Grant Tavern.
That intact fireplace is where food was prepared for
visitors.
The Site
 The
site is approximately one acre. Structures include the
footprint of the Grant-Burrus Hotel and a period
outbuilding.
The four original chimneys of the hotel remained
standing until 2006. After reviewing options offered by
an official with the Archives & History Division of the
Department of Cultural Resources, the RPS decided to
take the chimneys down to a safe level and to create a
park platform out of the original footprint of the
building. The bricks from the old chimneys were
individually selected and cleaned for reuse on the wall
of the platform.
Site Work Completed
2005: New “Sensitive Historic Area” signs were
placed at the hotel site. There was a successful
volunteer day to clean up the site.
2006:
Began work on the park site by having the chimneys taken
down to a safe level.
2007:
Platform walls were built, concrete was poured and
custom, wrought-iron rails were ordered.
Rockford Park Development Plan
The Grant-Burrus Hotel site is under renovation as a new
historical park that will be open to the public during
 daytime
hours. Custom, wrought-iron railing has been ordered for
the platform, where there will be seating and a
historical display about the village of Rockford. The
railing facing the park’s large open area will be
collapsible so that for special events, the platform can
serve as a stage. Lighting will be installed around the
platform.
General parking for the area will be at the southern
entrance of the property off Old Rockford Road. However,
parking will be limited due to space constraints and a
commitment to maintaining green space that can be
utilized for picnics and general seating for special
events, festivals, concerts, educational presentations
and tours.
The Cost
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