Harewood is one of several

houses A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...

in the vicinity of

Charles Town, West Virginia Charles Town is a city in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States, and is also the county seat. The population was 5,259 at the 2010 census. It is named for its founder Charles Washington, youngest brother of President George Washington. ...

built for members of the

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...

family.

Description

The house was designed by

John Ariss Architect John Ariss (sometimes spelled Ayres) (1725–1799) was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia to a family long settled in the Old Dominion. Two of his works have been classified as National Historic Landmarks. A rare surviving, documente ...

for

Samuel Washington Samuel ''Šəmūʾēl'', Tiberian: ''Šămūʾēl''; ar, شموئيل or صموئيل '; el, Σαμουήλ ''Samouḗl''; la, Samūēl is a figure who, in the narratives of the Hebrew Bible, plays a key role in the transition from the bi ...

in 1770, using a center-hall, single-pile plan. The two-story limestone house has a raised basement and flanking stone wings. Exterior details are simple, with only a

modillion A modillion is an ornate bracket, more horizontal in shape and less imposing than a corbel. They are often seen underneath a cornice which it helps to support. Modillions are more elaborate than dentils (literally translated as small teeth). All ...

ed cornice at the eaves of the shallow hipped roof. The interior is detailed in the manner of the Tidewater-region houses that Washington and Arris were familiar with. Interior detailing is extensive with Doric pilasters in the main downstairs rooms.

History

Samuel Washington moved to Harewood from his farm on Chotank Creek in

Stafford County, Virginia Stafford County is located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is a suburb outside of Washington D.C. It is approximately south of D.C. It is part of the Northern Virginia region, and the D.C area. It is one of the fastest growing, and highest ...

to Harewood, accumulating by the time he died in 1781

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of th ...

visited the house several times.

James Madison James Madison Jr. (March 16, 1751June 28, 1836) was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father. He served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Madison is hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for hi ...

and Dolley Payne Todd were married at Harewood on September 15, 1794. Dolley's sister was Lucy Washington, wife of Samuel Washington's son,

George Steptoe Washington George Steptoe Washington (August 17, 1771 – January 10, 1809) was a Virginia planter and militia officer who died at the age of 37 of tuberculosis. He was a nephew of the first President of the United States George Washington, and one of the l ...

, who had inherited the estate. The property remains in the Washington family.

References

External links

* * Colonial architecture in West Virginia Farms on the National Register of Historic Places in West Virginia Georgian architecture in West Virginia Historic American Buildings Survey in West Virginia Houses in Jefferson County, West Virginia Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in West Virginia John Ariss buildings National Register of Historic Places in Jefferson County, West Virginia Plantation houses in West Virginia Stone houses in West Virginia Washington family residences Houses completed in 1770 {{JeffersonCountyWV-NRHP-stub

Description

History

See also

References

External links