| About Real Estate |
| Headline: |
Outstanding Georgian Mansion, Fully restored. |
| Location: |
United States, West Virginia, Martinsburg |
| Postal code: |
25401 |
| Address: |
405 Boyd Ave |
| Price: |
$687,000, Price negotiating is possible |
| Available from: |
11.15.2009
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| Property type: |
Georgian Colonial |
| Year built: |
1745 |
| Number of bedrooms: |
6 |
| Number of bathrooms: |
6 |
| Living space: |
6500 Sqft |
| Total floors: |
3 floors |
| Public Transportation: |
2 minutes |
| The following is available in the neighbourhood: |
Cycling, Fishing, Golf, Hiking, Shopping/Restaurants, Swimming, Tennis |
| Furniture: |
Furniture Available |
| Accomodations: |
Garden, High-Speed Internet, Patio, Water supply Well, Hot water and heating, Electricity, Telephone line, Satellite TV or Cable TV, Electronic Security, Security |
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| Additional comment: |
Aspen Hall Inn, circa 1750
WASHINGTON, DC METRO AREA. This completely restored native limestone Georgian period mansion is nestled on five creek side acres and is one of the most historic homes in the Northern Shenandoah Valley area. Its outstanding architecture has earned Aspen Hall the distinction of being "one of the finest Georgian period homes in the United States." Most of the original features of this elegant home remain and it has been lovingly maintained. During the French and Indian War George Washington attended a wedding here. The low price makes this rare historic gem a unique opportunity. Come see us!
80 miles to Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD. 25 miles to Hagerstown, MD; 20 miles to Winchester, VA. One mile to Interstate 81. Half-mile to Amtrak and MARC train station.
History of the Property:
During the late 1600's a large number of Quakers lived in the Delaware Valley. By the early 1700's, mainly due to immigration of Scots-Irish settlers, the demand for land had exceeded the supply. Many Quaker families migrated west and south on the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road. By the 1720's they had reached the Northern Shenandoah Valley. In the 1730's settlement was encouraged by land grants given by the Province of Virginia to John VanMetre and Jost Hite that stipulated that they must encourage people to move into this new frontier. At the same time, Lord Fairfax inherited a large Royal land grant in Virginia and employed a young George Washington to survey his holdings. These early settlers included Richard Beeson (arriving in Virginia in 1736) who later divided his land among his four children.
The portion given to his son Edward Beeson, Sr. included the land that is now the Aspen Hall property. Edward built a 20 x 20 foot stone home that was fortified to withstand attacks from Indians who felt threatened by this westward expansion of white settlers. Edward died soon after, leaving a widow and four small children. His wife's brother, John Mendenhall, came to live on the adjoining land in 1750. John built a gristmill and, as native attacks got worse during the French & Indian War, "... a Fortification and dwelling therein for defense against the Indian enemy."
In 1755, on their way to try to oust the French from the Ohio Valley, half of British General Braddock's army went through Mendenhall's and Beeson's properties on the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road. These farmers supplied grain and orchard fruit to the army by special dispensation from the Society of Friends.
During the early years of the War, George Washington was the commander of the Virginia Provincial Forces and was responsible for a network of forts throughout Virginia including the region that is now Berkeley County, West Virginia (then part of Frederick County, Virginia). He garrisoned troops at Mendenhall's Fort on several occasions. By 1759 the war had moved north, so Washington took early retirement from the army at 27 years of age. On May 14, 1761, while running for the Virginia House of Burgesses against Adam Stephen (who would later found Martinsburg), he attended a wedding at Mendenhall's Mill.
When Edward Beeson, Jr. came of age, he inherited his father's landholdings. In 1771 he began construction of the main, or Georgian, section of the home while living in a residence called the "Red House" located north of his Aspen Hall property not far from what is now the Old Courthouse Square Shopping Center. It was in the Red House that Beeson and a few other important local citizens first met as the "justices" of the recently formed Berkeley County, Virginia. This home came to be commonly referred to as the "courthouse." When Martinsburg was established in 1773, Beeson became one of the first "Gentlemen Trustees" of the city.
Two later additions increased the size of the mansion, one in 1790 and the other around 1900. These played a part in the operation of the increasingly complex enterprise that grew to include several mills, barns, warehouses and dwellings.
During the Civil War Battle of Martinsburg, just prior to Gettysburg, the 106th New York Infantry Regiment camped on the Aspen Hall Property which was then owned by Col. John Stewart. Their defensive embankments can still be seen. Later, Col. Stewart's daughter, Virginia, married the grandson of General Elisha Boyd of Boydville. The home was used as a hospital during this war.
The rich depth of the Aspen Hall property's history demonstrates its importance to the military, religious, agricultural, transportation, industrial, and political heritage of the Northern Shenandoah Valley area.
Charles S. Connolly
405 Boyd Ave
Martinsburg, WV 25401
304-260-1750, Telephone
304-260-1750, Fax |
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|
| About me |
| Name: |
Charles |
| Last Name: |
Connolly |
| Phone: |
304-260-1750 |
| Registration Date: |
01.15.1991 |
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