Captain Barger's home

This beautiful brick home was built to serve as the “town home” for someone who was fortunate enough to have a home in the country and the city. The owner, David H. Barger, originally from Blacksburg, VA, was known as “Captain Barger” for his leadership in the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. Captain Barger is the man credited for having “built Matoaka” West Virginia. He was president of the Bank of Matoaka, and there is a Barger Street in Matoaka. There are two interesting stories about the brick of this grand home. Most brick homes would have one layer of brick. Some might have two layers of brick, and if so, the second layer would probably be just on the front side of the residence. This grand home has three layers of brick on all sides. The story is told by neighbors that when the bricks arrived for the construction that each separate brick was wrapped in tissue paper.

When the house was built in 1916, it had every modern convenience, including a central vacuum system. In previous eras, this home was noted for its elaborate awnings. It has a magnificent open staircase with a stained glass window at the landing. Recent owners have installed an elevator to access all four levels of the home