Downtown Charles Town Historic District: 300 Block West Liberty Street

Contributing structures:

110 N Lawrence Street: “Turn-of-the-century, c. 1900. One story, three bay gable fronted house with a central entrance.”

118 N Lawrence Street: “Italianate, c. 1870s. Two story, three bay square stuccoed house. Central entrance with transom and sidelights. Bracketed frieze and cornice. Low pitched hipped roof.”

309 W Liberty Street (Rankin House): “Vernacular, Federal period influence, c. 1800-1810. Two story, four bay log house with stone foundations. Original siding replaced or covered with vinyl. Three bays are concentrated toward west side of the front. Fourth bay separated suggesting that it may be an early addition. Significant as an early period house in Charles Town.” 

Judith Rankin operated a tavern here as early as 1786 as well as a farm outside of town. Her husband, Benjamin Rankin, was one of the men who petitioned in 1786 for the establishment of Charles Town and he served as a trustee of the town until his death in 1787.

200 N Lawrence Street: “Greek Revival, c. 1850. Greek Revival influenced three bay brick house, with wide wooden lintels with plain corner blocks.”

306 W Liberty Street: “Vernacular, c. 1920. Frame, gable fronted two bay house, probably dating from c. 1920.”

310 W Liberty Street: “Vernacular, c. 1920. Overall form, steep roof pitch and small windows with heavy, wide frames suggest 18th century construction for this stuccoed log house.”

312 W Liberty Street: “Vernacular, “Cape Cod,” c. 1890s? One and a half story, three bay frame house with two gabled front dormers. Central entrance. Exterior renovated to appear like a mid 20th century Cape Cod house but actual structure may be much older.”

318 W Liberty Street: “Vernacular, c. 1870s-80s. Two story, three bay frame dwelling with wood siding. L-extension to rear. Entrance in west front bay.”

322 W Liberty Street: “Vernacular, c. 1790s. Two story, three bay stuccoed house, probably of log construction. Steeply pitched roof. Attached to building to its west. May be a first period house in Charles Town. 

324 W Liberty Street: “Vernacular, Federal period influence, c. 1790-1810. Two story, three bay stuccoed house attached to its neighbor at 322 W Liberty Street. Central entrance. Significant as being among Charles Town’s older houses. 

Two structures in the Historic District were demolished in 2012 in the construction of the CVS.

117 N West Street: “Vernacular, c. 1800-30. Two story, four bay log house following a door, window, door, window façade plan. Examples of early log architecture of Charles Town, dating from the town’s first main period of development.”

115 N West Street: “Vernacular, c. 1790-1820. Two story, three bay log or frame house with central entrance. Examples of early log architecture of Charles Town, dating from the town’s first main period of development.” 

“National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Downtown Charles Town Historic District.” Accessed December 10, 2020. http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/nr/pdf/jefferson/97000263.pdf.

“Walking Tour of Charles Washington’s Town: Walk in the Footsteps of History.” City of Charles Town and Jefferson County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Accessed December 10, 2020. https://s3.amazonaws.com/discoveritallwv.com/JCHS_CTTourBrochure.pdf.