Mavis Manor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mavis Manor |
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An Appalachian example of the Gilded Age in America
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne; Victorian house |
| Town or city | 122 Grayson-Raleigh-Wythe Historic Turnpike Flat Top, West Virginia |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 37°35′22″N 81°06′24″W / 37.58944°N 81.10667°W |
| Construction started | 1890s |
| Completed | c. 1897 |
| Cost | $5,000 |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | concrete foundation; Chestnut/Oak frame; |
| Size | In excess of 4,200 sq ft (390 m2). on 2 floors (excluding basement) plus tower; 12 rooms |
Mavis Manor is a beautiful old house in Flat Top, West Virginia. It's built in the Queen Anne and Victorian styles, which were popular a long time ago. This manor sits on 33 acres of land on Flat Top Mountain in Mercer County. The Marchese family, led by Sir Justyn J. Marchese, has carefully brought it back to its original glory.
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The Story of Mavis Manor
Mavis Manor was built around 1897 for the Lilly family. The estate is next to Huff Knob, which is one of the highest spots in southern West Virginia. Dr. L.L. Lilly used the manor as a special hospital. It was designed to let patients stay overnight if they needed to travel far for treatment.
Building a Grand Home
The idea for Mavis Manor came from Miss Sue Tickle. She was Dr. Lonnie Lilly's wife. She visited Bramwell, West Virginia and was inspired by the homes there. Miss Tickle had a shop where she made hats. There, she drew the plans for their new home.
The house was built mostly from strong chestnut and oak wood. This wood came from nearby Summers County and was cut into planks in Hinton, West Virginia. Then, horses pulled wagons full of wood along the Grayson-Raleigh-Wythe turnpike to the building site.
Inside the Manor
Mavis Manor had twelve rooms and two long hallways. It also featured ten closets and seven fireplaces to keep everyone warm. The right side of the house had a separate entrance for Dr. Lilly's patients. In his office, he had a clever trap door. This door led to shelves in the basement. He used it to keep his medical supplies cool before refrigerators existed. Building this large house cost $5,000, which was a lot of money back then!
Mavis Manor and the Civil War
The area around Mavis Manor played a part in the American Civil War. Soldiers set up camps on Flat Top Mountain.
Life at Camp Flat Top in 1862
On May 21, 1862, soldiers drilled and marched on Flat Top Mountain. Companies A, E, and K, led by Major Comly, went to Packs Ferry. Their job was to hold the ferry and build boats. They brought carpenters and cavalry soldiers with them.
A letter from June 3, 1862, describes the area. Flat Top Mountain was seen as the border between loyal and rebellious parts of Virginia. A soldier wrote that they felt safe there. He mentioned that the enemy was more afraid of them than they were of the enemy.
A Close Call with Lightning
The soldier also shared an exciting story about a lightning storm. One Saturday, during supper, a severe thunderstorm hit. Lightning struck nearby, shocking many soldiers and horses. Five trees were hit, and about a hundred men felt the shock. Amazingly, no one was seriously hurt! The soldier wrote, "nobody hurt."
He ended his letter with hope for the war's end. He also shared a loving message for his "Darling Lucy."
The Mavis Institute Co-Op
Today, the grounds of Mavis Manor are home to the Mavis Institute Co-Op. This is a non-profit educational farm that operates all year. It specializes in permaculture education. Permaculture is a way of farming that works with nature to create sustainable systems.
The institute teaches people through outreach programs. It is also a working 33-acre farm. Besides permaculture, classes are offered on many useful skills. These include beekeeping, gardening techniques, and animal care. The main goal is to help people create their own sustainable food supplies.
