Randal and Ben - Swannnanoa Palace - Afton, VA 9-4-10
It reportedly took over 300 artisans 8 years to build the structure, complete with Georgian marble, Tiffany windows, gold plumbing fixtures, and terraced gardens. When the property was built it had state-of-the-art fixtures for the time period. Electricity and plumbing was installed in the house. It was the first house that had electricity in Nelson County and to accomplish this it had its own power plant on the property. There also was an elevator and dumbwaiter to bring food up from the basement kitchen to the dining room on the first floor. Despite the lavish expenditure, it was only occupied for a few years following completion in 1912. Major Dooley died in 1924 at the age of 82. He left Swannonoa entirely to his wife, Sally May along with several million dollars. Sally May Dooley died in 1926 at the age of 79.

Randal and Ben - Swannnanoa Palace - Afton, VA 9-4-10
It reportedly took over 300 artisans 8 years to build the structure, complete with Georgian marble, Tiffany windows, gold plumbing fixtures, and terraced gardens. When the property was built it had state-of-the-art fixtures for the time period. Electricity and plumbing was installed in the house. It was the first house that had electricity in Nelson County and to accomplish this it had its own power plant on the property. There also was an elevator and dumbwaiter to bring food up from the basement kitchen to the dining room on the first floor. Despite the lavish expenditure, it was only occupied for a few years following completion in 1912. Major Dooley died in 1924 at the age of 82. He left Swannonoa entirely to his wife, Sally May along with several million dollars. Sally May Dooley died in 1926 at the age of 79.