Col. James Graham House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Col. James Graham House
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Southwest front of the house, seen in 1974
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 Location in West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Lowell, West Virginia |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1770 |
| Architect | Graham, Col. James |
| Architectural style | Log Cabin |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001946 |
| Added to NRHP | March 16, 1976 |
The Col. James Graham House is a very old log cabin in Lowell, West Virginia. It was built in 1770 by Col. James Graham for his family. He was the first settler in the area. In 1777, the Graham family faced an attack by Native Americans at their home. This house is special because it's the oldest multi-story log cabin in West Virginia. Today, it's a museum where you can learn about its history. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Contents
History of the Graham House
Building a New Home
Col. James Graham and his family built this log cabin in 1770. They had moved to this area from another part of Virginia. The Grahams were the first people to settle permanently in what is now Summers County. This made their home the very first established house there.
The Graham House was quite large for its time. It measured about 25 feet by 28 feet on the outside. Most pioneer cabins were much smaller. The Graham family started a life of farming after their new home was finished.
A Difficult Time
In 1777, the Graham House was attacked by Native Americans. During this event, Col. Graham's son, John, was killed. A neighbor named McDonald and a young slave boy also died. Col. Graham's daughter, Elizabeth, was taken away. It took eight years, until 1785, for the family to get Elizabeth back.
Later Owners and the Museum
The Graham family owned this house until 1860. After that, several other families lived there. These included the family of Col. Wilson Lively. The last people to live in the house were Eileen and Bill Muhly, Jr., and their six children. They lived there from 1976 to 1986.
Today, the Graham House is owned by the Graham House Preservation Society. It is now a museum.
What the Graham House Looks Like
The Graham House stands out because it's much bigger than other log cabins from its time. The outside of the house is about 25 feet wide and 28 feet long. It has two main floors and an attic. The ceilings on the first floor are about 12 feet high.
The house was built using strong logs from poplar, walnut, and oak trees. Stones were also used to help support the structure. There are large stone chimneys at both ends of the house. When it was first built, the house probably had only one door and no windows. Later, another door and several windows were added.
The first floor of the house was originally one big room. At some point, it was divided into three smaller rooms. The second floor has three rooms. Over the years, new parts were added to the north side of the house. The newest addition was built in the 1970s and includes a kitchen and bathrooms.
Visiting the Museum
The Graham House is now a private museum. You can take tours of the house during the summer months, usually on weekends. The house is also used for different community events. These include dinners, festivals, and family reunions.
On the same property as the Graham House, you can find the Saunders One Room School House Museum. This school house is not the original building, but it shows visitors what a one-room school used to look like. There is also a barn on the property. Inside the barn, you can see many old pieces of farm equipment.
