Richwood Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Richwood Hall
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 Location in West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Charles Town, West Virginia |
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| Built | 1829 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001911 |
| Added to NRHP | June 19, 1973 |
Richwood Hall, also called Richwoods, is a historic house located near Charles Town, West Virginia. This special home has a long history, including ties to the famous George Washington and his family. It was built a long time ago and has seen many changes, even playing a small part in the American Civil War. Today, it is recognized as an important historical place.
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A Home with History
Richwood Hall stands on land that once belonged to George Washington. He received this land from a man named Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron. Later, George Washington gave the land to his brother, Samuel Washington.
The Washington Family's Connection
Samuel Washington's son, Lawrence Augustine Washington, was the first of the family to live on this property. He moved into or built a house here in 1797 with his wife, Mary Dorcas Wood. This original house is now a part of the larger Richwood Hall we see today. The Washington family lived at Richwoods until 1802.
Growing Over Time
After the Washingtons, the property was sold to Smith Slaughter. By 1829, the house had become much bigger. It's not fully clear if Smith Slaughter or the next owner, Joseph Shewater, made these changes. What we do know is that special building materials, like bricks and carved wood, were brought all the way from England to make the house grander.
Richwood Hall During the Civil War
The house was owned by John R. Flagg during the time of the American Civil War. This war was a very important and difficult period in American history.
A Battleground Moment
During the war, Richwood Hall became a small part of a larger conflict. Soldiers led by General Jubal A. Early used the grounds of Richwood Hall. From there, they fired at Union forces. These Union soldiers were under the command of General Sheridan and were located at a place called Locust Hill. This shows how even homes like Richwood Hall could be touched by the events of the war.
