The Oaks

This beauty may very well be the first home built in this part of South Bluefield. The story is told that the “untouched wilderness,” from Oakhurst to Cumberland Road was just one big field, and for sale for $28,000 in the early 1900s. We don’t know of anyone who purchased the entire area. Likely, it was divided into smaller parcels.

Two brothers are a part of Bluefield’s history, Walter Sanders, who owned farmland that ran to the Virginia state line. The red brick Victorian farmhouse, The Sanders’ House, is part of his legacy. His brother, Judge Joseph M. Sanders was elected as Bluefield’s second mayor in 1891. He was one of the five men who signed the document to incorporate Bluefield as a city in 1889. This was his home.

This Robert Sheffey design may be the largest Four Square home in the state. If you include the original third floor ballroom, the nine bedroom house is 8,500 square feet. Because some of the interior woodwork was sourced from the property, this house has been known as “The Oaks.” Pocket doors may feature oak on one side and cherry on the other. It boasts the original slate roof from 1908.

An interesting story is told that Dr. Richard O. Rogers, well-known physician who was one of the founding doctors of Bluefield Sanitarium, wanted a larger home. His 1300 Whitethorn Street home of 2,250 square feet may be the smallest house that Alex Mahood designed. Dr. Rogers wanted a larger home, and Judge Sanders wanted a smaller home, so they purchased each other’s homes -- with a difference of about 6,000 square feet.