Harewood, in the vicinity of Charles Town, was built for George Washington's brother, Samuel Washington, whose family moved into it in September 1770. The house is an example of a center-hall residence with a stair hall running through the house's center, allowing for the separation of public and private spaces. Photo from the book "Uncommon Vernacular."
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- "Uncommon Vernacular: The Early Houses of Jefferson County, West Virginia, 1735-1835" is an uncommonly handsome book whose rangy subtitle sounds deceptively narrow. Yet this new book by John C. Allen Jr. turns out to encompass rich state, regional and national history.
Of course, West Virginia did not become a state until 1863, and the title is simply laying out the present-day geographical boundaries of Allen's historical focus.
In the large coffee table book, published in September by West Virginia University Press, he writes about the architectural innovations and building traditions that went into the rich stock of homes and mansion in this small county.
Exterior and interior details are illustrated with 700 exceptional black-and-white photographs by architectural photographer Walter Smalling Jr. The comprehensive examination of these homes and their plots is rounded out by more than 200 maps, floor plans and drawings by illustrator and licensed architect Andrew Lewis.
Allen works as a preservation coordinator and architectural historian near Shepherdstown and serves as chairman of the Historic Landmarks Commission of Jefferson County. The book profiles 250 separate buildings in the county, ranging from the plantation homes of George Washington's family to the log houses of simple farmers.
Along the way, he details the style that resulted from the blend of German, Scots-Irish, English and African cultures that influenced the building of these homes, by studying construction techniques, building materials, outbuildings and detailings inside and out and more.
Here, Allen discusses his goals for the book.
Q: Who do you see as your different audiences for this book?
A: One of the main purposes of this project was to promote preservation in Jefferson County and the larger area. To accomplish that goal, it was important that the book appeal to a wider audience than architectural scholars.
By using very high-quality photographs and illustrations to show the reader what makes these buildings exceptional, we were able to get the local people excited about their historic resources.
At the same time, university press publications are peer reviewed by scholars, so this volume had to be more than a beautiful book. Very few architectural studies like the one we did in Jefferson County have ever been attempted. The level of documentation in the book is unusual, especially the degree of interior information and images.
For those reasons and the fact that the study is a comprehensive look at the residential architecture of the period, it interests architectural historians. So, scholars have been eager to examine the study group of houses in the vivid detail that the book presents. I'm really pleased that we were able to appeal to both audiences.
Q: What is the significance of knowing in such exacting detail the history and particulars of these structures?
A: The primary objective of the study was to fully document each early house in the county. In order to really understand these buildings, I needed to be familiar with the house down to the smallest detail. By measuring, photographing and drawing each building, I become intimate with the structures. After documenting over 200 houses, I was able to see the patterns that had been hidden before.
On the macro level, we now know what materials, construction techniques and plan types were used. At a more fine resolution, we can see the differences in houses by decade and even the hand of a particular mason or joiner in examples across the county. That depth of understanding is only possible if you pay very close attention to the details.
Q: Why did you choose to focus on domestic structures and not public ones like churches and courthouses?
A: The early houses in Jefferson County are the physical embodiment of the local culture from settlement to the arrival of the railroads and canals. Churches and courthouses typically represent a single vision -- that of the architect and select members of a congregation.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- "Uncommon Vernacular: The Early Houses of Jefferson County, West Virginia, 1735-1835" is an uncommonly handsome book whose rangy subtitle sounds deceptively narrow. Yet this new book by John C. Allen Jr. turns out to encompass rich state, regional and national history.
Of course, West Virginia did not become a state until 1863, and the title is simply laying out the present-day geographical boundaries of Allen's historical focus.
In the large coffee table book, published in September by West Virginia University Press, he writes about the architectural innovations and building traditions that went into the rich stock of homes and mansion in this small county.
Exterior and interior details are illustrated with 700 exceptional black-and-white photographs by architectural photographer Walter Smalling Jr. The comprehensive examination of these homes and their plots is rounded out by more than 200 maps, floor plans and drawings by illustrator and licensed architect Andrew Lewis.
Allen works as a preservation coordinator and architectural historian near Shepherdstown and serves as chairman of the Historic Landmarks Commission of Jefferson County. The book profiles 250 separate buildings in the county, ranging from the plantation homes of George Washington's family to the log houses of simple farmers.
Along the way, he details the style that resulted from the blend of German, Scots-Irish, English and African cultures that influenced the building of these homes, by studying construction techniques, building materials, outbuildings and detailings inside and out and more.
Here, Allen discusses his goals for the book.
Q: Who do you see as your different audiences for this book?
A: One of the main purposes of this project was to promote preservation in Jefferson County and the larger area. To accomplish that goal, it was important that the book appeal to a wider audience than architectural scholars.
By using very high-quality photographs and illustrations to show the reader what makes these buildings exceptional, we were able to get the local people excited about their historic resources.
At the same time, university press publications are peer reviewed by scholars, so this volume had to be more than a beautiful book. Very few architectural studies like the one we did in Jefferson County have ever been attempted. The level of documentation in the book is unusual, especially the degree of interior information and images.
For those reasons and the fact that the study is a comprehensive look at the residential architecture of the period, it interests architectural historians. So, scholars have been eager to examine the study group of houses in the vivid detail that the book presents. I'm really pleased that we were able to appeal to both audiences.
Q: What is the significance of knowing in such exacting detail the history and particulars of these structures?
A: The primary objective of the study was to fully document each early house in the county. In order to really understand these buildings, I needed to be familiar with the house down to the smallest detail. By measuring, photographing and drawing each building, I become intimate with the structures. After documenting over 200 houses, I was able to see the patterns that had been hidden before.
On the macro level, we now know what materials, construction techniques and plan types were used. At a more fine resolution, we can see the differences in houses by decade and even the hand of a particular mason or joiner in examples across the county. That depth of understanding is only possible if you pay very close attention to the details.
Q: Why did you choose to focus on domestic structures and not public ones like churches and courthouses?
A: The early houses in Jefferson County are the physical embodiment of the local culture from settlement to the arrival of the railroads and canals. Churches and courthouses typically represent a single vision -- that of the architect and select members of a congregation.
There are many more houses than public buildings, so I would say that there's more information to be gained in residential architecture. On a personal level, growing up in an old house had an enormous effect on me, and I am drawn to historic homes. I love to see the patina of age in a home that comes from years of constant use by families.
Q: Is part of your hope the book will encourage greater preservation awareness of our stock of historic structures in West Virginia? How extreme is the pressure on such properties given the rapid development in the Eastern Panhandle and in Jefferson County specifically?
A: Nothing would please me more than if this book were to inspire people in West Virginia to preserve and celebrate their historic buildings.
Jefferson County has a culture of preservation. Historic structures and places are revered and are sources of pride for the locals. The Civil War battlefields, homes of Revolutionary War generals, the Washington family houses, John Brown raid sites -- these are an integral part of the local identity and awareness.
Most of the historic resources here, however, are agricultural in nature, such as farmhouses, barns and outbuildings. What has been lost during the rapid development in recent decades is a portion of the agricultural context for these structures. As farms turn into subdivisions, many of the historic buildings remain, but these survivors seem out of place in this modern suburban landscape. Fortunately, the county retains much of its historic landscape.
Q: How do you gauge the current attitude toward historic preservation, regionally and statewide in West Virginia? What is needed more of, either in terms of laws, funding or program changes?
A: I can't really speak for the whole state, but I think that many people in Jefferson County recognize the benefits of historic preservation. They understand that the historic sites and structures are a part of their heritage and to lose them means losing a part of their identity.
Many also see the direct economic benefits of living in a place where the past is preserved. You need only to walk down the main street in Shepherdstown to see a historic town with a vibrant economy. People are drawn to places like Harpers Ferry, Charles Town and Shepherdstown because these communities still have their historic feel and they are unique.
Q: A reviewer on Amazon.com who praised the book described your dating of the build dates on these structures as "conservative." He wrote: "How architectural historians date structures is still very much personal, as there is no universally accepted standard. ... Many of the houses featured in this book were substantially built before the author's stated build dates, based on common evidence (such as letters, tax records, deeds, contracts, etc. ...). This is not a flaw, but it's important to establish the author's point of view." What was your rationale in adopting your dating system?
A: The survey work compiled for this book represents the first time the local houses have ever been studied in a systematic and comprehensive way. I use the evidence of the physical artifact (construction techniques and materials, millwork, ornamental detailing, etc.) and the documentary record (land records, tax records, plats, maps, wills, letters, newspapers, census information, etc.) to establish a construction date.
Many houses have been inaccurately dated by people with either faulty property information or no understanding of local buildings. The main culprit of misdating comes from older local histories, which often speculate about the age of buildings (many 100 years too early). Without an accurate date it is impossible to understand a building and its context.
For this study, every property with an early house was thoroughly researched. A chain of title from original grant to the present owner was compiled, tax records of the owners were examined, and all other written records were searched for pertinent information.
The research included our reading hundreds of surviving regional newspapers from the 18th and early 19th centuries. In these newspapers we were looking for information on builders, materials and local construction. In short, no stone was left unturned.
Still, many people like to believe that their house, or their ancestor's house, is older than it actually is. This is a pretty common phenomenon in a place where people take pride in their history. Since the book's publication, I have had three or four of people take issue with specific house dates, but none have been able to produce a credible source for their earlier dates.
Anyway, I take no offense because, to me, there's nothing wrong with being passionate about history.
Book signing
John C. Allen Jr. will sign copies of "Uncommon Vernacular" from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Taylor Books, 226 Capitol St. Call 304-342-1461.
Reach Douglas Imbrogno at doug...@cnpapers.com or 304-348-3017.
