Abell-Kilbourn House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Abell--Kilbourn House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1018 Winchester Ave., Martinsburg, West Virginia |
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| Built | 1895 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 94001290 |
| Added to NRHP | November 21, 1994 |
The Abell-Kilbourn House is a cool old building in Martinsburg, West Virginia. It's named after two important people. These were John N. Abell, a successful local businessman, and Charles W. Kilbourn, who owned a big factory. This house has a lot of interesting history!
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Discovering the Abell-Kilbourn House History
The Abell-Kilbourn House was built a long time ago. It has been home to several families. Each family added to its story.
Who Lived Here First?
John N. Abell bought the land for the house in 1895. He paid $1075 for it. The house was finished in the same year. Mr. Abell was a very important person in Martinsburg. He used to be the president of the Old National Bank. After he retired, he helped develop a new area. This area was even named "Abell's Addition" after him.
Mr. Abell lived in the house until he passed away in 1905. His wife, Nora, stayed there for five more years. She then sold the house in 1910.
The Kilbourn Family's Time
The house changed hands a few times after Mrs. Abell sold it. Then, in 1912, Charles W. Kilbourn bought the house. He paid $8500 for it. Charles Kilbourn was also a very important person. He owned the Interwoven Mill in Martinsburg. This mill was a huge factory. It was the largest manufacturing business in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.
Charles Kilbourn's father invented a special knitting machine. He started a company called Kilbourne Knitting Machine Company in 1899. After a fire, Charles moved the company to Martinsburg. The Kilbourn family lived in the house for many years. Charles Kilbourn passed away in 1937. The house was then sold in 1938.
Later Owners and Historic Status
George Martin bought the house in 1938. He owned it for a very long time, until 1987. The Abell-Kilbourn House is now recognized as a special historic place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. It is also part of the Boomtown Historic District.
What Does the House Look Like?
The Abell-Kilbourn House is a beautiful example of Colonial Revival style. This means it looks like older, classic American homes.
Outside the House
The house is made of wood. It has 2½ stories. It sits back from the street on a small hill. This gives it a grand look. The roof is sloped on all sides, which is called a hip roof. On the right side, there's a three-story tower. This tower holds the main staircase inside.
A wide porch wraps around the front and sides of the house. It has some cool, simple decorations. These are in a style called Eastlake. The windows in the attic have colorful glass.
Inside the House
The house has some unique features. In the pantry, there's a refrigerator built right into the wall. That was very modern for its time! Also, in a storage room upstairs, there are windows in the floor. These windows let light from the porch ceiling below shine into the room. The basement of the house even has a cistern. A cistern is a tank used to collect and store rainwater.
Other Buildings on the Property
Besides the main house, there are other buildings. These include a garage, a barn, and a separate house for servants. These buildings were all part of the Abell-Kilbourn property.
