Hazelfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hazelfield
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 Location in West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia |
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| Built | 1815 |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001938 |
| Added to NRHP | December 12, 1976 |
Hazelfield is a historic farm located near Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia. The main house on this property was built in 1815. It was originally constructed for Ann Stephen Dandridge Hunter. This old house is a great example of early American architecture.
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About the Hazelfield House
The Hazelfield house is built in the Federal style. This means it has a balanced and elegant design, popular in the early 1800s. The house is made of stone and covered with brown stucco. It has wooden gables, which are the triangular parts of the wall under the roof.
House Design and Features
The main part of the house is two and a half stories tall. It has a large attic with a special round window called a lunette. A smaller, one-and-a-half-story wing is attached to the north side. The front entrance has a porch with a triangular top, called a pediment. This porch is right in the middle of the east side of the house.
Inside, the house has a unique layout. A long hallway stretches across the front of the house on both main floors. Two rooms are located behind this hallway. The main staircase is found in the southeast corner of the hall. This type of layout was quite new for its time. It was later used in other important houses in Jefferson County.
Inside the House
The house sits on a strong stone basement. Its roof is made of painted metal. On the ground floor, you would find a parlor and a dining room in the main section. The smaller wing holds the kitchen and a pantry. All these rooms, except the pantry, have their own fireplaces.
History of Hazelfield
The Hazelfield property was once a very large estate, covering about 600 acres. It was given to Ann Stephen by her father, Adam Stephen. This gift happened in 1780 when Ann married Alexander Spotswood Dandridge. Alexander was the grandson of a Virginia governor.
Family Life at Hazelfield
After Alexander Dandridge passed away, Ann married Colonel Moses Hunter in 1787. They had three children together. In 1812, Ann's son David died during the War of 1812. After this sad event, Ann decided to move from Martinsburg to the Hazelfield property. She then had the main Hazelfield house built in 1815.
When Ann died in 1834, the property went to her grandson, David Hunter Tucker. His brother, Nathaniel Beverly Tucker, and his wife lived in the house during the 1840s.
Saving Hazelfield
In the early 1970s, the Hazelfield house was empty and not being used. A historian named William Howard Adams and his wife Janet bought the property. They worked to repair the house so they could use it during the summer. Adams thought the house's design might have been inspired by a house in Scotland called Milton House.
Hazelfield was recognized as an important historical site. It was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 12, 1976. This listing helps protect and preserve the house for future generations.
