National Register of Historic Places Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

September 16, 1799: George Washington's Youngest Brother Dies in Charles Town

Charles Washington, the youngest full brother of George Washington, died in Charles Town on September 16, 1799, at age 61. Charles Washington first came to present Jefferson County in 1780 and began constructing his home, Happy Retreat, on land he’d inherited from his half-brother. In 1786, Charles Washington laid out plans for Charles Town on 80 acres. The town square, where the courthouse now stands, was deeded by Washington as a gift to the town. Charles Town was incorporated the following year, and Charles Washington is buried nearby in the family plot at Happy Retreat.

He was one of many Washingtons who owned land in present Jefferson County. George Washington acquired his first tract there in 1750, when he was 18 years old. George’s half-brother Samuel built a house known as Harewood in 1770. And Samuel’s grandson, John Augustine Washington, later built Cedar Lawn. All of these homes are still standing and are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

One other Washington family member entered Jefferson County history in 1859, when Lewis Washington was captured at his home and taken hostage by John Brown’s raiders.

April 17, 1757: Col. Washington Orders Closing Ft. Ashby

On April 17, 1757, George Washington ordered the Virginia militia to abandon Fort Ashby in present Mineral County. Captain Ashby of the Virginia militia had overseen the fort’s construction, and Fort Cocke—to the south, during the summer and fall of 1755.

Ashby and Cocke were the first of several forts ordered built by Washington to defend the Western Virginia frontier during the French and Indian War. The effort was in response to Indian raids that had occurred along Patterson Creek in 1755. At the time, the colony of Virginia was trying to encourage settlement on its western frontier and protect those who’d already settled there.

By 1757, Washington could no longer provide enough forces to protect Forts Ashby and Cocke, so he abandoned both sites. Afterward, Ashby was likely garrisoned by local militia until the threat of Indian attacks ended.

Today, an old log building—probably a barracks—is all that remains of Fort Ashby. This structure, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places, is the last original structure associated with a frontier fort in West Virginia.

Boulder with '1814' Engraving Given to Beckley

A boulder whose engraving may be two centuries old has been given to the city of Beckley.

Councilman Tom Sopher, also president of the Raleigh County Historical Society, says it predates the city’s founding and indicates the area’s early civilization.

The Beckley Register-Herald reports that the 500-pound (227-kilogram) rock has been in the yard of city residents who officially transferred custody to Beckley.

The engraving says: “S. Ferguson, F. County 1814.”

Sopher says it will be temporarily placed on the trail going toward the Beckley mill ruin, a National Register of Historic Places site in the gorge where Piney Creek flows.

Workers building the Piney Creek sewer plant found it nearly obscured in the creek in 1988. It was moved to the yard, then owned by a Sanitary Board worker.

Jeffersonian Springs Resort in W.Va. Sells for $560,000

$560,000 could have bought you the historic Sweet Springs Resort Thursday morning. The property, built in 1791, was auctioned off to a new owner, Ashby Berkley, along with equipment and facilities to bottle the famous Sweet Springs mineral water.

The purchase of Sweet Springs has a lot of meaning for people in Monroe County.

Pauline Baker was born in the community of Sweet Springs in 1910. She passed away just a few months after an interview when she recalled how guests from all over the world once came to visit the great Jeffersonian Hall. “I used to go up to the ballroom and watch them dance; it’s beautiful in there.”

The Sweet Springs resort Baker grew up next to closed in the 1930s and was sold to the state of West Virginia in 1941. The state renovated it as a home for the elderly in 1945. The facility closed in 1991, and the property has stood empty since. Some attempts to renovate the property have so far have failed or stalled.

Craig Mohler, editor of the Monroe Watchman, says about 200 people showed up to watch the auction on Thursday. There was a lot of excitement in the air as the historic hotel passed into new hands.

“There’s just a lot of sentiment about the place. People want to see something happen there. They don’t want to see it stand empty, and so there’s definitely a lot of community interest in it,” said Mohler.

And many people in Monroe County are hoping that the resort will re-open one day– in some form. Not only because it may bring more jobs, but also because it reminds them of their history, when visitors from all over the world used to come to southern West Virginia for their vacations.

W.Va. Sites Named to National Register of Historic Places

Several West Virginia historic sites including the Colonial cabin that was an off-the-grid oasis for a Manhattan magazine illustrator and his wife have been named to the National Register of Historic Places.

Officials announced this week that “Old Hemlock” was named to the national list.

The Dominion Post reports that the cabin was bought by George and Kay Evans in 1939. They spent the rest of their lives there.

Along the way, George Evans continued his work as an illustrator. He and his wife also co-authored a series of mystery novels set in West Virginia. The couple also bred hunting dogs that are still sought after by hunters.

Other sites recently named to the list are French’s Mill, Yellow Spring Mill and Hebron Church in Hampshire County.

Plan Approved to Renovate Historic W.Va. Mansion

The state is moving forward with a project to renovate a historic mansion on the West Virginia Capitol grounds.

Holly Grove Mansion has been vacant since the Bureau of Senior Services moved its offices to the Charleston Town Center Mall in October 2004.

The Capitol Building Commission on Wednesday approved an architectural firm’s plans to renovate the structure.

The project includes stabilizing the building, restoring the exterior and interior to their original appearance and making the first floor accessible.

Holly Grove was built in 1815 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.