Covington House (Vancouver, Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Covington House
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 Location in Vancouver Washington
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| Location | 4201 Main Street, Vancouver, Washington |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1846–1848 |
| Architect | Richard Covington |
| Architectural style | log house |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001268 |
| Added to NRHP | 5 May 1972 |
The Covington House is a very old log cabin in Vancouver, Washington. It was built by Richard and Charlotte "Anna" Covington between 1846 and 1848. This historic house was not just a home; it was also a school and a lively social center for early settlers in the area. It even housed the first piano in the Pacific Northwest! Today, it's a special landmark that shows us what life was like for pioneers long ago.
Contents
The Story of Covington House
A New Home and School
Richard and Charlotte Covington were from London, England. They traveled a long way by ship, sailing around Cape Horn at the tip of South America and stopping in Hawaii. Finally, they arrived at Fort Vancouver in the Oregon Territory. They had been hired to teach the children of the Hudson's Bay Company employees.
After teaching at the Fort for a couple of years, the Covingtons claimed 640 acres of land in 1848. This was part of a special program called the Donation Land Claim Act, which gave land to pioneers willing to settle and farm it. They built their log cabin home and a boarding school on this land. The area is now known as Orchards, Washington.
The Covingtons never had their own children, but they ran a large fruit farm called Kalsus Farm. The children who attended their boarding school slept in the cabin's loft. Traveling to the Fort was a long and dangerous journey for small children, so staying at the school was much safer.
A Center for Fun and Learning
The Covington's log cabin quickly became a popular spot for social gatherings in early Vancouver. Richard and Anna brought musical instruments with them, including a guitar, a violin, and the very first piano in the Pacific Northwest! They taught music to many local children.
Richard Covington was a very talented person. Besides building their home and developing a large orchard, he also served in many important roles. He was a justice of the peace, a county clerk, and a school superintendent. He was also a mapmaker, an artist, a musician, and a singer. For a short time, he even served as a ranger during a time of conflict with Native Americans.
A special marker in front of the cabin tells us more about its history. It says: "Erected 1848 by Richard and Anne Charlotte Covington on Fourth Plain. Boarding school was conducted herein in 1850. This building housed first piano in the Oregon Country and was center of social activity in entire region."
Famous Visitors
Even famous people visited the Covington House! Ulysses S. Grant, who later became a President of the United States, was a captain in the U.S. Army at Fort Vancouver from 1852 to 1853. He would often ride his horse seven or eight miles to visit the Covingtons. He enjoyed spending time there, as it reminded him of family life.
Moving On
Richard Covington was elected Clark County school superintendent in 1862 and 1863. In 1867, he received a job offer to work in the United States Patent Office in Washington, D.C. This job came from his friend, President Ulysses S. Grant.
So, the Covingtons sold their farm and moved to Washington, D.C. When they left, they gave their piano to a friend. Years later, the piano was given to Nan Maynard Rice, who then donated it to a local historical society in 1967. The Covingtons stayed in Washington, D.C. during President Grant's time in office. After that, they lived for a while in Victoria, British Columbia before retiring to Hawaii. It is believed that Anna eventually returned to England.
Saving the Historic House
The Covington House is the oldest privately built home and the oldest school building in Clark County, Washington. Around 1925, local business people "rediscovered" the cabin. At that time, it was being used to house farm animals and was in very bad condition. It had open windows and doors, and its roof shingles were falling apart.
Between 1926 and 1928, a big project began to save the cabin. Each log was carefully numbered and recorded. Then, the cabin was taken apart and moved to its current location at 4201 Main Street. This spot was once part of Leverich Park, facing the old Pacific Highway.
During this major restoration, many improvements were added. The cabin got electricity, heat, lights, and plumbing. A new wooden floor was installed, along with a unique fireplace made of large local river stones and a single piece of timber for the mantle. New windows, a kitchen, and two restrooms were also added. The roof was fully restored with wooden rain gutters. The new location was special because it was on the old Pacific Highway, near the "Vancouver Column" and the oldest Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker in Washington state.
Today, the city of Vancouver owns and takes care of the Covington House. The land it sits on belongs to the local school district. The Vancouver Woman's Society, which is part of GFWC, helps manage the house. Just like in the past, the cabin continues to be a special place for events and meetings for many local groups. Since it is a National Landmark, the public can visit it by making an appointment.
Historic Registry
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 5, 1972.
- Listed on the Clark County Heritage Register in 1985.
