The house that unlocked a family's history
cbsnews.com • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Fred Miller, an Air Force veteran, discovered that his newly purchased Gothic Revival-style house in Virginia was formerly Sharswood plantation, built in the 1850s by slave-owning relatives sharing his last name.
- With the help of family members and historian Karice Luck-Brimmer, the Millers uncovered that their ancestors had been enslaved on the property, deepening their connection to the site.
- The family located the likely slave cemetery just beyond their property line, a discovery that was emotionally impactful and highlighted the plantation’s painful history.
- Since the 2022 60 Minutes report, Fred Miller has returned to Virginia, founded the Sharswood foundation to preserve the slave quarters and cemetery, and opened the house for public tours.
- The story was featured in a 60 Minutes segment by correspondent Lesley Stahl, exploring the Millers’ journey to uncover and honor their family’s past.
