Old Charles Town Historic District (Tour)

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Hunters Hill was the home of Andrew Hunter, Charles Town lawyer and one of the prosecuting attorneys in the John Brown trial in 1859. During the Civil War, Hunters Hill was burned on July 17, 1864 by Union forces under the orders of Union General David Hunter, Andrew Hunter's first cousin. After the war Andrew Hunter rebuilt his home on the original foundations, the structure that exists today. In the 2000s the old mansion suffered from neglect and was threatened with demolition, but was saved in 2016 when a private family purchased Hunters Hill with the intention to restore it.

2. Old Charles Town Historic District: North Church Street, Hessey Street, East Liberty Street, East North Street, and North Seminary Street

Historic District contributing structures: 213 N Church Street, 215 N. Church Street, 219 N. Church Street, 309 Hessey Place, 321 Hessey Place, 9 Hessey Place, 540 E. Liberty Street, 542 E. Liberty Street, 100 Block E. North Street (Warehouse), 303 E. North Street (Webb-Blessing House), 319 E. North Street, 323 E. North Street, 325 E. North Street, 407 ½ E. North Street, 407 E. North Street (405?), 413 E. North Street, East of 413 E. North Street (415?), 418 E. North Street, 419 E. North Street, 420 E. North Street, 426 E. North Street, 500 E. North Street, 508 E. North Street, 510 E. North Street, 512 E. North Street, 524 E. North Street, and 214 N Seminary Street.

3. The Webb-Blessing House

The Webb-Blessing House is one of the oldest stone structures built and owned by free African Americans in Jefferson County. This structure in Charles Town consists of two homes that were combined together in the 19th Century. The Webb-Blessing House was purchased by the Jefferson County Black History Preservation Society in 2003, and the organization is in the process of renovating and restoring the home.

4. Old Charles Town Historic District: North Samuel Street and North Mildred Street

Historic District contributing structures: 400 N. Samuel Street, 401 N. Samuel Street, 408 N. Samuel Street, 409 N. Samuel Street, 211 N. Mildred Street, 221 N. Mildred Street. (Including 219, 217, and 216 N. Mildred Street), 302 N. Mildred Street, 312 N. Mildred Street (314?), 327 N. Mildred Street, 328 N. Mildred Street, 329 N. Mildred Street, 331 N. Mildred Street, 332 N. Mildred Street, 400 N. Mildred Street, 401 N. Mildred Street, 406 N. Mildred Street, 407 N. Mildred Street, 410 N. Mildred Street, and one building of Whitmore Lumber Company Complex. Several contributing structures no longer stand: 300 block of North Samuel Street (People's Supply Grain and Feed), 330 N. Samuel Street, and 332 N. Samuel Street.

5. Old Charles Town Historic District: First Avenue, South Preston Street, and Reymann Street

Historic District contributing structures: 112 E First Avenue, 311 E First Avenue, 317 E First Avenue, 318 E First Avenue, 323 E First Avenue, 324 E First Avenue, 333 E First Avenue, 334 E First Avenue, 341 E First Avenue, 344 E First Avenue, 418 E First Avenue, 422 E First Avenue, 307 S Preston Street, 304 S. Preston Street, 310 S. Preston Street, 321 S. Preston Street, 401 S. Preston Street, 408 S. Preston Street (now 504?), 410 S. Preston Street (now 500?), 411 S. Preston Street, 504 Reymann Street, and 510 Reymann Street. One historic structure is no longer standing: 211 E First Avenue.

6. Old Charles Town Historic District: North Charles Street, North George Street, Fairfax Boulevard, and North Lawrence Street

Historic District contributing structures: 213-215 N Charles Street, 208 N George Street, 213 N George Street, 501 N George Street, 105 Fairfax Boulevard, 211 N Lawrence Street, 214 N Lawrence Street, 215 N Lawrence Street, 216 N Lawrence Street, 217 and 219 N Lawrence Street, 218 N Lawrence Street, 300 N Lawrence Street, 306 N Lawrence Street (308?), 309 N Lawrence Street, 310 N Lawrence Street, 311 N Lawrence Street, 314 N Lawrence Street, 316 N Lawrence Street, 317 N Lawrence Street, 321 and 319 N Lawrence Street, 325 N Lawrence Street, 326 N Lawrence Street, 320 N Lawrence Street, and 332 N Lawrence Street. Several historic district contributing structures no longer stand: the Hyman Veiner Salvage Yard, 330 N George Street, 331 N George Street, 332 N George Street, and 208 N Lawrence Street.

7. Old Charles Town Historic District: North West Street and West North Street

Historic District contributing structures: 116-118 N. West Street, 200 N. West Street, 202 N. West Street, 204 N. West Street, 206 N. West Street, 208-210 N. West Street, 211 N. West Street, 217 N. West Street, 218 N. West Street, 201 W. North Street, 210 West North Street, 313 W. North Street, 320 W. North Street, 107 W. North Street, 111-113 W. North Street, and Asbury United Methodist Church campus. Historic District structures no longer standing: 112 N. West Street and 114 N. West Street.

8. Old Charles Town Historic District: Center Street, West Liberty Street, and Maple Avenue

Historic District contributing structures: 110 Center Street, 111 Center Street, 115 Center Street, 116 Center Street, 121 Center Street, 405 W. Liberty Street, 412 W. Liberty Street, 414 W. Liberty Street, 504 W. Liberty Street, 604-606 W. Liberty Street, 609 W. Liberty Street, 701 W. Liberty Street, 702 W. Liberty Street, 705 W. Liberty Street, 709 W. Liberty Street, 715 W. Liberty Street, 710 W. Liberty Street, 723 W. Liberty Street, 725 W. Liberty Street, 100 Maple Ave, 115 Maple Ave, 118 Maple Ave, 126 Maple Ave, 129 Maple Ave, and 130 Maple Ave. Also included in the Historic District is the stone wall lining the 500 block of W. Liberty Street. Contributing structures that are no longer standing: 416 W. Liberty Street.

9. Old Charles Town Historic District: Davenport Street, Eagle Avenue, and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd

Historic District contributing structures: 103 Davenport Street, 114 Davenport Street, 541 Eagle Avenue, 544 Eagle Avenue, 546 Eagle Avenue, 554 Eagle Avenue, 558 Eagle Avenue, 561 Eagle Avenue, 566 Eagle Avenue, 574 Eagle Avenue, 575 Eagle Avenue, 577 Eagle Avenue, 580 Eagle Avenue, 595 Eagle Avenue, 597 Eagle Avenue, 603 Eagle Avenue, 605 Eagle Avenue, 609 Eagle Avenue, 631 Eagle Avenue, 633 Eagle Avenue, 806 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Zion Baptist Church, 810 Martin Luther King Boulevard, 819 Martin Luther King Boulevard (School house), 820 Martin Luther King Boulevard, 829 Martin Luther King Boulevard, 831 Martin Luther King Boulevard, 832 Martin Luther King Boulevard, 834 Martin Luther King Boulevard, 836 Martin Luther King Boulevard, 839 Martin Luther King Boulevard, 841 Martin Luther King Boulevard, 845 Martin Luther King Boulevard, 901 Martin Luther King Boulevard, 903 Martin Luther King Boulevard, 911 Martin Luther King Boulevard, 912 Martin Luther King Boulevard, 1003 Martin Luther King Boulevard, and 1005 Martin Luther King Boulevard. Historic District structures no longer standing: 824 Martin Luther King Boulevard.

10. Old Charles Town Historic District: W Congress Street, Mt. Parvo Street, and W Washington Street

Historic District contributing structures: 500 Block of West Congress Street along Evitt’s Run (no number?), End of 500 Block of West Congress Street (515 W Congress Street), North side of 500 Block West Congress Street (512 W Congress Street), 509 West Congress Street, 114 Mt. Parvo Street, 115 Mt. Parvo Street, 118 Mt. Parvo Street, 119 Mt. Parvo Street, 406 W. Washington Street, 414 W. Washington Street, 416 W. Washington Street, 418 W. Washington Street, 420 W. Washington Street, 422 W. Washington Street, 503 W. Washington Street (Howell House), 518 W. Washington Street, 519 W. Washington Street, 520 W. Washington Street (518), 521 W. Washington Street, 522 W. Washington Street, 600 W. Washington Street, 606 W. Washington Street, 607 W. Washington Street, 609 W. Washington Street, 610 W. Washington Street, 611 W. Washington Street, 704 W. Washington Street, 718 W. Washington Street, 701 and 701 ½ W. Washington Street, 830 W. Washington Street, 832 W. Washington Street, 836. W. Washington Street, 840 W. Washington Street, 856 W. Washington Street, and 860 W. Washington Street. Historic District contributing object: Holl's Pump.

11. Old Charles Town Historic District: Augustine Ave and South Water Street

Historic District contributing structures: 104 Augustine Ave, 110 Augustine Ave, 114 Augustine Ave, 106 Water Street, 112 Water Street, 114 Water Street, 116 Water Street, 120 Water Street, 214 Water Street, 222 Water Street, and North of 222 Water Street (220?).

12. Fishermen's Hall (Galilean Temple)

With African Americans no longer enslaved in the turn of the century, many African Americans looked for organizations or places where they could prosper. Many of them joined churches and organizations where they could loudly express their thoughts and bond with their peers. The Galilean Temple was built in Charles Town on June 6, 1885. The Galilean Temple, now known as Fishermen's Hall, was built for African Americans; specifically the local tabernacle of the Grand United Order of the Galilean Fishermen. The Galilean Temple also encouraged Black enterprise in Jefferson County.

13. Old Charles Town Historic District: South West Street and Weirick Row

Historic District contributing structures: 207 S. West Street, 209 S. West Street, 211 S. West Street, 213 S. West Street, 218 S. West Street, South of 305 S. West Street (307?), Gallilean Fisherman's Hall, 316 S. West Street, 400 S. West Street, 414 S. West Street, 106 Weirick Row, 136 Weirick Row, and 122 Weiricks. One contributing structure has been demolished: 128 Weirick Row.

14. Star Lodge #1 / Old Stone House

The Star Lodge #1 / Old Stone House is one of the oldest buildings in Charles Town, being constructed during the in 1790s by John Locke. Purchased in 1927 by the Star Lodge Number 1, Queen of the Valley Lodge Number 1558, the Old Stone House became one of the oldest African American Freemason Lodges in the country. The Star Lodge Number 1 was eventually purchased by two African American organizations and is currently used for Charles Town's African-American Culture and Heritage Festival.

15. Old Charles Town Historic District: West Academy Street, West Avis Street, and South Lawrence Street

Historic District contributing structures: 309 W. Academy Street, 313 W. Academy Street, 317 W. Academy Street, 323 W. Academy Street, 308 W. Avis Street, 206 S Lawrence Street, 212 S Lawrence Street, the Star Lodge, 400 S. Lawrence Street, 410 S. Lawrence Street, and 416 S. Lawrence Street.

16. St. Philip's Episcopal Church

St. Philip's Episcopal Church congregation first organized during the late-1860s, seeking to construct an Episcopal church for the Charles Town community. By 1887, the church was completed. Shortly thereafter, St. Philip's provided three different schools that served the congregation and community: St. Philip's Parochial Industrial School, St. Philip’s Academy, and St. Philip’s Sewing School. Unfortunately, the school struggled during the Great Depression and closed as a result. St. Philip’s also served as an emergency hospital for African Americans during the 1918 Influenza epidemic, during which hundreds of Blacks and whites died from the highly contagious virus disease.

17. Old Charles Town Historic District: Ann Street, South Charles Street, and South Lawrence Street

Historic District contributing structures: 214 Ann Street, 400 S. Charles Street, 404 S. Charles Street, 414 S. Charles Street, and 416 S. Charles Street. Two historic district structures no longer stand: 210 Ann Street, 212 Ann Street, 411 S. Lawrence Street (405?), St. Philip's Episcopal Church, 413 S. Lawrence Street, 417 S. Lawrence Street, 421 S. Lawrence Street, 427 S. Lawrence Street, and 431 S. Lawrence Street.

This Tour is a Virtual Museum or Site Tour.

Old Charles Town Historic District

Created by Kathleen Thompson on February 8th 2021, 3:06:08 pm.

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Description

The Old Charles Town Historic District surrounds the commercial downtown center of Charles Town on three sides. The nomination to the National Register of Historic Places was based on the historic resources survey of Old Charles Town done in 1999 and surrounds the Downtown Charles Town Historic District placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. The period of significance for the Historic District is 1745 to 1945 which includes significant history and architecture from the Colonial period through World War II.

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Old Charles Town Historic District

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