Willow Wall

The 200-acre estate that now houses one of the oldest and most opulent homes in Hardy County, WV, was originally owned by Abraham Hite, husband of Rebecca VanMeter, and who was promoted by George Washington to Commander of the Hampshire County Militia in 1769. After experiencing a stay by George Washington, who catalogued the experience in his journal, the property was deeded to Captain Daniel R McNeill, a town trustee. The manor home known as Willow Wall, began in 1804, is a grand example of the Tidewater Georgian style plantation home. Due to its lavish and fanciful features, the home was not completed for another seven years, finally being finishing in 1811. Along with complicated and detailed wood-working elements such as fire places and crown moldings, the Paladian Windows mark the home as the possession of the town's wealthiest residents. Indeed, the McNeill's handwritten farm ledgers, extend from 1832 until 1928. The manor home held slave and servant quarters in the basement, which are still extant today. Each of the 20 square foot hard-wood floors are tongue-in-groove, requiring no nails and made from now largely extinct Heart Pine. In the August 1864 Battle of Moorefield, both Confederate and Union soldiers used the home as headquarters. Suffering through the chaos of the Civil War, the home is perfectly preserved today partially due to efforts of Ivan and Sharon Harris (now divorced), who purchased the home in 1987. Following their many efforts to completely restore the mansion and surrounding property, the home has returned to the market, for sale as recently as November 2013.