Institution

Built by Jesse B. Bowlin, this is one of the oldest houses in Lewisburg.&nbsp; The original log construction is concealed by vertical weatherboarding, and the wings built of handmade bricks were added in recent years.&nbsp; The interior has low ceilings, shipsawed and beaded beams, random-width oak floor boards, and a hand-carved mantel.&nbsp; The brick enclosed rear garden is a lovely feature. One of the many owners of the house, was Patrick McCleary (1837-1881) and Mary ("May") Lewis (Donnally) McCleary (1835-1902). Patrick was&nbsp;an expert tinner and coppersmith, who made kettles, pans and coffee pots. When Mary died, the Greenbrier Independent described her as, "No lady was better known to our people than Mrs. McCleary, for in her active life she was a prime mover in all benevolent enterprises..." Fearing the house was going to be razed and a gas station built on the lot, the house was purchased in 1935&nbsp;by Mr. Randolph Hock, proprietor of The General Lewis Inn across the street, and remained in the Hock family for many years until 2104, at which time it was purchased by Glen and Carol Jewel who undertook extensive renovations to the interior.

Interior of the house when it was occupied by the Houck family. Photo courtesy of Greenbrier Historical Society.

Built about 1784, this log house is said to have been the first house built on "Hard Scrabble Hill," the area of East Washington Street where horses and livestock had difficulty climbing the hill. The building has been used as a drover's office with counting gate, a schoolhouse, and a commissary during the Civil War. J. W. Benjamin, local historian, reported the house served as headquarters for the staff of "The Yankee," a newspaper published twice by Union soldiers from Ohio.

Patrick McCleary, a tin and coppersmith, added a unique pattern of weatherboards to the building when he owned it.

Jesse B. Bowlin House

The county seat of Greenbrier County and one of the oldest towns in the state of West Virginia, Lewisburg is home to dozens of historic homes and buildings. This short tour follows a few of the main streets downtown to offer a general overview of Lewisburg's history in about an hour and a half. The tour was created by Preservation Alliance of West Virginia Americorps member and Fayette County native Hailey Horn and expanded thanks to the work of Skip Deegans of the Lewisburg Historic Landmark Commission. If you would like an extended tour of over fifty sites, the Commission has created an extended tour in Clio. 

The community was originally called Fort Savannah, or Camp Union, before being incorporated as Lewisburg; named after Andrew Lewis, the man who surveyed the land and helped settle the land. With an unusually large number of old structures for such a small town, the old part of town is a National Register Historic District.

John North (1794-1857) served as a private in the War of 1812 and was appointed clerk of the Greenbrier District Court of Chancery in 1818, and married his wife Charlotte Blaine (1800-1883) of Lexington, VA the same year. North built his home in 1820, but sold to James Frazer later in 1836 and the structure became known as the Star Inn and Tavern.<blockquote>“Particularly catering to the jurists of the District Court of Chancery, which met in Lewisburg. Early writers visiting the springs speak of the frequent pilgramages enjoyed by guests at White Sulphur, who made all-day trips to Lewisburg to hear the lawyers wax eloquent in their court oratory and to follow with a splendid meal at the Star.”1</blockquote>When Lewisburg became the seat of the western division of the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia, the five judges appointed North as the divisional clerk. North soon became one of Lewisburg’s most influential citizens and is responsible for shaping the politics in Greenbrier County. The house remained the Star Tavern and Inn until the property was purchased by Colonel Joel McPherson who deeded the property to his daughter Adeline Harris. Harris’ husband remodeled the house and it became a private residence again. In 1905, Greenbrier College purchased the home to house the college president. The Greenbrier Historical Society initially began in 1859 but was disbanded during the Civil War. It did not reform until 1963. However, in 1938 the city of Lewisburg created the Greenbrier County Museum Committee. This committee was the founders of the museum. After the Greenbrier Historical Society was reformed in 1963, they took responsibility for the museum.In 1976, the museum was moved from the second floor of the city library to the North House. The North House Museum is open Monday through Saturday. On selected days, the society’s archives and library are open for research. The museum is home to documents that are related to the history of the Greenbrier Valley. Collections from the Revolutionary War through World War II can be found here. There are Civil War artifacts and documents, an 18th Century Conestoga wagon, the first rural free delivery postal buggy, and the pack saddle used to break Traveller, Robert E. Lee’s horse. Looking in the rooms, one can get an idea of what early Virginia furnishings looked like.

Operated by the Greenbrier Historical Society, the North House Museum offers a variety of exhibits that share the history of life in the Greenbrier Valley for over more than two centuries. The museum is located in the historic home of John and Charlotte North which was built about 1820. In 1836 the home became James Frazer's Star Tavern and Inn. At the turn of the century, it was owned by the Greenbrier College for Women until its closure in 1972. Four years later, the historical society acquired the house. Over the past decades, this museum and library have amassed a collection of thousands of artifacts and rare books. The museum and society also host special community and educational events throughout the year. 

John North House 

When Dr. John McElhenny and his wife Rebecca moved to Lewisburg in 1808 to lead the Old Stone Presbyterian Church, they lived in a stone home across from the Greenbrier County Courthouse. During the couple’s first fall season in Lewisburg, they opened a school in their living room for young men. They taught them the classics so that they could later study their choice of law, medicine, or ministry. Even though students traveled from neighboring counties to learn from Mrs. McElhenny, there are reports of the local community not taking her seriously because of her fashion choices that she brought with her from Lexington, KY. Rebecca dispelled the doubts and continued to wear her fashionable rings; more importantly she opened up education to women in Greenbrier County. Due to the success of the living room school, Dr. John McElhenny decided to open a school across the street from the Old Stone Church in 1812.John Weir was the architect and the brick mason of “The Academy:” a two-story brick structure, with the stairs to the second floor originally placed on the exterior of the building. The Academy was incorporated by the General Assembly of Virginia in 1812, and Dr. McElhenny served as the principal until the 1820s and the board president until 1860. After the building was completed, the McElhenny’s lived in the structure while waiting for their home, built by the same architect, to be ready for occupancy. At the Academy, boys were bunked on the second floor while the girls were boarded with local community members. After the McElhenny’s house was completed, they opened their home to students who traveled from neighboring counties to attend school. The original structure was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1861.The Academy closed during the Civil War and was reopened by an alumnus, Dr. John Calvin Barr, in 1865. In 1874, the board of trustees decided to open a school for both boys and girls, and the building that was once the Academy became known as the Lewisburg Female Institute the next year. A dormitory was constructed and a covered passage was built between the two buildings, referred to as the “Bridge of Sighs” by the girls who attended the school. Dr. R. L. Telford was president of the Lewisburg Female Institute when a fire destroyed both buildings in 1901. After the fire, Greenbrier Presbytery adopted the school and rebuilt the structures that housed a residence hall with plumbing, an auditorium, classrooms, and laboratories. Carnegie Hall was part of this reconstruction, partially funded by a donation from Andrew Carnegie, who was a friend of board member James K. Laing. After the reconstruction was completed, the school’s name was again changed to Lewisburg Seminary and Conservatory of Music.In 1920, the dormitory was destroyed by fire during the Christmas Holiday break, and president John I. Armstrong found housing for the students throughout Lewisburg so that they could continue their education. During the same year, the Synod of West Virginia bought the school and erected the structure now known as Greenbrier Hall. Dr. French W. Thompson became board president in 1925, and helped transition the school from Lewisburg Seminary to Greenbrier College for Women. The school became a Junior College that offered two years of high school and two years of college. After the school’s closure in 1972, Greenbrier Hall was utilized as a state institution for mentally challenged children. It is now home to the Lewisburg campus of the New River Community and Technical College.

Greenbrier Hall was constructed in 1921 as part of Greenbrier College for Women. The college, first known as the Lewisburg Academy, was founded in 1812 by Presbyterian pastor Dr. John McElhenny. The school was closed during the Civil War, but reopened in 1875 as Lewisburg Female Institute. In 1911, the school was renamed the Lewisburg Seminary and Conservatory of Music. In 1923, the name was changed to Greenbrier College for Women. The college closed in 1972. 

The building is now home to the Lewisburg campus of the New River Community and Technical College. Greenbrier College buildings, such as Carnegie Hall and North House, continue to be used to serve the educational and cultural needs of the community.

Greenbrier Hall, Greenbrier College For Women

Dick Pointer, an enslaved man, saved countless lives on May 29th, 1778 when he barred the Fort Donnally door from a Native American attack and woke the sleeping inhabitants so they could protect their dwellings and lives. Seventeen years after Pointer’s actions saved Fort Donnally there was a petition for his freedom, but the Virginia General Assembly denied the request. In 1801, James Rodgers purchased Pointer and granted him his freedom. Pointer lived in a cabin, reportedly built by community members, a free man until his death in 1827. Pointer was buried with military honors in this &nbsp;cemetery.Enslaved under Col. Andrew Donnally, there is not much known about Dick Pointer before the events of 1778. *From Fort Donnally Clio entry:"In May 1778, a large group of Wyandot and Mingo Native Americans were sighted crossing the Ohio River just north of the mouth of the Kanawha. They were headed on a raiding party to Greenbrier County in order to steal cattle and attack settlements along the way. Two scouts named Philip Hammond and John Pryor were dispatched from Fort Randolph in Point Pleasant to warn Greenbrier settlements of the impending attack. When the war party had reached Greenbrier County, many of the local residents had heeded the warnings and taken refuge at Fort Donnally, a large two-story fortified double log house surrounded by a rectangular stockade which was garrisoned by local militiamen. On the morning of May 29, an estimated&nbsp;50 to 300 Natives Americans attacked Fort Donnally where 20 militiamen, under the command of Lt. Colonel Andrew Donnally and Lt. Jack Williams, along with 60 other men, women, and children had taken refuge. The militiamen withstood the initial attack and around three o’clock in the afternoon, reinforcements under the command of Colonel John Stuart arrived from Fort Savannah in nearby Lewisburg. Stuart left a detailed account of the battle.He stated, when the reinforcements initially arrived at the fort, four men had been killed; two had been killed outside the fort, and two were killed defending the initial attack. The natives had commenced the attack at first light and only Hammond and a slave named Dick Pointer were awake. Stuart writes that the natives had laid their firearms down and made their initial&nbsp;attack with tomahawks and war clubs in hope of surprising the sleeping settlers. Hammond and Pointer held the door while the Natives attempted to destroy it with their hatchets. When the attackers had the door partially opened Hammond killed one with his hatchet and Pointer fired a musket heavily loaded with buckshot at the doorway, halting the attack and alerting the rest of the fort to the attack. Once the other residents of the fort awoke, Stuart claims, “they fired out of the windows on the Indians so briskly, that…seventeen of the Enemy lay dead in the yard, one of whom was a boy about fifteen…”. Later that night, the Natives withdrew after suffering seventeen casualties. On their return to Ohio, they attacked several other small forts in the area with no success."&nbsp;Due to his large size and powerful nature, Pointer was able to save approximately 70 people, women and children mainly. All this despite as sources at the time claim, that Pointer sought permission to use the flintlock muskets at the fort. His actions made him a hero for the battle and the area. In 1801 he was granted his freedom by James Rodgers but was denied in 1795 his pension of land granted to defenders of Donnally, despite Pointer being supported by the local populace. In turn, the locals built Pointer a cabin, which he lived in until his death in 1827. He was buried in a local African-American cemetery off Church street with military honors.

This is one of the oldest African-American cemeteries in Lewisburg, and it is estimated there were over 100 burials, including Dick Pointer for whom the cemetery is named.

Dick Pointer Cemetery

Built in 1796, and added onto just 34 years later in 1830, Old Stone Presbyterian Church is believed to be one of the oldest church buildings in continuous use west of the Allegheny Mountains. It has many unique features including its open cupola belfry and its limestone construction. Its 22 inch thick walls are believed to have been constructed by both the men and women of the congregation. History says the women rode “horseback to the Greenbrier River to fetch bags of sand for the mortar” (*1).The stone inscription above the front door reads “This building was erected in the year 1796 at the expense of a few of the first inhabitants of this land to commemorate their affection &amp; esteem for the holy gospel of JESUS CHRIST. Reader if you are inclined to applaud their virtues, give God the glory” (*2).The Lewisburg Presbyterian Church congregation (to be later known as the Old Stone Presbyterian Church) was formed in 1783 by Reverend John McCue and later pastored by Reverend Benjamin Grigsby until 1808. Dr. John McElhenney then took over the church and remained the pastor for 63 years until he died in 1871.McElhenney and his wife also began education efforts in the community by creating the Lewisburg Academy which later became the Lewisburg Female Institute (as well as the Lewisburg Seminary, and the Greenbrier College for Women) and the Greenbrier Military Academy (Greenbrier Military School) (*3).The Old Stone Church building remained unharmed during the Civil War thanks to its use as an emergency hospital. Both Union and Confederate troops also used the Church for lodging.After the Battle of Lewisburg, on May 23, 1862, fallen Confederate troops were laid in the sanctuary of the Church after Union Col. George Crooks refused to allow services to take place. His actions were a way to seek revenge for a Confederate supporter shooting a Union solider who was returning to camp. The dead Confederate soldiers were later laid out in a trench along the south wall of the church. After the war, these troops were moved to a cross-shaped mass grave off the grounds of the Church (to later be named the Confederate Cemetery of Lewisburg).The Old Stone Presbyterian Church still holds weekly worship services and is open to the community. The church houses both daycare and preschool programs and is involved in community outreach through its food bank. Friends of the Old Stone Cemetery is a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring and preserving the cemetery adjacent to the church. The cemetery is a burial ground for many of Lewisburg's founding influential people.

Built in 1796, Old Stone Presbyterian Church escaped destruction during the Civil War due to its use as an emergency hospital for both Union and Confederate troops.  After the Battle of Lewisburg on May 23, 1862, Old Stone's sanctuary housed fallen Confederate troops prior to their "burial" in an open trench near the south wall of the church. As one of the oldest churches in continuous use west of the Allegheny Mountains, Old Stone is unique in its history, construction, and importance to Civil War history. 

Old Stone Presbyterian Church

Originally known as the Lewisburg Academy, the school was founded around 1812 by Presbyterian pastor Dr. John McElhenny as a co-educational institution. For unclear reasons, the Lewisburg Academy separated into two schools, the Greenbrier Military School and the Lewisburg Female Institute, in the 1870s. The Lewisburg Female Institute (LFI) was a girls’ boarding school, and students could attend from grades 1-12. The focus of LFI changed in 1937; women could only attend for four years, two years of high school and two years of college. There was always a heavy emphasis on the arts, with the majority of students enrolled in at least music class in the early 20th century. Throughout its history, girls could take courses in a variety of subjects including math, English, history, science, Bible, music, home economics, and secretarial work. On December 16, 1901, a fire destroyed the original buildings of the LFI. Classes were held at City Hall and The Greenbrier for the remainder of the year.In the search for funding, the Rev. Dr. R. L. Telford, who was president of the Institute from 1892-1911, wrote to Mr. James Bertram, private secretary to Andrew Carnegie. Known for his philanthropic efforts, Carnegie initially donated $20,000 for the new building then contributed another $6,750 for the completion of the auditorium. Carnegie asked the local community to contribute $10,000. The total cost of construction would be a little over $1 million in today’s dollars.The Lewisburg Female Institute, also known as the Lewisburg Seminary and College of Music, Lewisburg Seminary, Greenbrier College for Women, and finally Greenbrier College, used Carnegie Hall as classroom space until 1972. The building housed a science lab, music rehearsal spaces, an auditorium with a pipe organ, and social spaces. During the 1940s and 1950s, Carnegie Hall was used for Community Concerts, free concerts for Greenbrier College students and the community, featuring a diverse array of performing artists, mostly musicians. Greenbrier College allowed men to attend for a year from 1971-1972. Only four male students lived on campus, and co-ed classes were only offered at the high school level. Due to low enrollment and financial reasons, Greenbrier College closed its doors in May 1972. After the closure, Carnegie Hall became part of the Greenbrier Center, a facility for individuals with special needs. Rumors in the Lewisburg community swirled in the early 1980s that the building was going to be condemned and torn down. Realizing the historical significance of the building, several residents of Lewisburg founded Carnegie Hall, Inc.&nbsp;in 1983. Initially, the public was offered free performances in the historic building in an effort to renew a sense of interest in culture and history in the region. The first official performance season began in 1990. The building was damaged by a fire on Christmas Eve 1996, and Carnegie Hall, Inc. undertook a massive renovation to restore the building--a project that took nearly a year to complete. Today, artists from all over the world perform in Carnegie Hall’s Hamilton Auditorium. Notable performers include Grammy Award-winning artists such as Taj Mahal, Wynton Marsalis, and West Virginia native Kathy Mattea. As a 501(c)(3) Carnegie Hall, Inc. also provides year-round arts education and programming for youth and adults in Southern West Virginia. Carnegie Hall’s Mission Statement says, &nbsp;“Carnegie Hall, Inc. is committed to cultivating an appreciation for creativity and excellence in the arts. In partnership with the community, Carnegie Hall presents a broad and diverse range of programs that engage, entertain, and educate people of all ages and backgrounds and works to preserve the historic significance of the Hall.” Carnegie Hall has three gallery spaces and is the permanent home of the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. Visitors can explore the building alone or take a guided tour. Afterward, visitors can visit the Greenbrier Historical Society museum, which is housed in the North House (former home of Greenbrier College presidents) just across Academic Park from Carnegie Hall, or admire the Old Stone Church, the church that brought the Dr. Rev. McElhenny to Lewisburg.

Named for Andrew Carnegie, the philanthropic steel tycoon, Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg, West Virginia, is one of only four Carnegie Halls in the world that is still in continuous use as a performance venue. The structure was built in 1902 with the generous contribution of $26,750 from Andrew Carnegie and the community’s contribution of $10,000. Carnegie Hall replaced one of two buildings at  the Lewisburg Female Institute that burned down in 1901. Carnegie Hall provided the Lewisburg Female Institute, later and most commonly known as Greenbrier College for Women, with classroom space, studios, a laboratory, and an auditorium. After Greenbrier College closed in 1972, the college campus was bought by the state of West Virginia to be used briefly as the Greenbrier Center, a facility for individuals with special needs. With risk of demolition in the early 1980s, local residents formed Carnegie Hall, Inc. in 1983 and saved the building, repurposing it to serve the community with a performance venue, gallery space, and arts education programming. Carnegie Hall is a part of the West Virginia Historic Theatre Trail. 

Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg, WV

While this house has served as a residence for most of its life, it became the site of a string of &nbsp;restaurants. In its course of becoming a commercial building, additions and appendages were built. It is now occupied by The Humble Tomato, a restaurant.

Materials, such as its hand-hewn log frame and its construction methods, indicate that this house was built in the late 1700s and is one of the earliest houses in Lewisburg. Luke Bowyer, a prominent lawyer in the late 1700s and early 1800s, lived here from 1808 to 1814. Later, it belonged to  William Foster, who served as Lewisburg's mayor from 1928-1930 and 1933-1942.  He is the longest serving mayor to date.

Bowyer-Grow-Foster House

Dr. Thomas Creigh (see Justice Homer A. Holt House) sold the lot on which building rests&nbsp;with a log house in 1804 to Albert G. Williams who erected a three-story house and store. it may have been built by master mason, John Weir.&nbsp; Williams sold the building in 1874 to Thomas A. Henning (1786-1875), a well-known local chair and spinning wheel&nbsp;maker, who occupied the second floor as his home&nbsp;while his merchant son, George W. Henning, utilized the ground floor.&nbsp; In the 1880s it was a drug store and residence.&nbsp;

This three-story painted brick building has been used for various mercantile businesses as well as a restaurant, hotel, gift shop and drug store. An attractive wrought-iron second-floor balcony has been removed. The building now houses a number of offices.

Williams-Neely Building

Prior to the fire of 1897 (see Greenbrier Valley Bank Building), the Greenbrier Clothing House set on this lot. The bank building and adjacent brick store building were designed by Major James M. Lee of the Lee Military Academy (predecessor of Greenbrier Military School), and at the time of construction described by the&nbsp;Greenbrier Independent as "a large, handsome, very&nbsp;symmetrical building that would be a credit to any city in the state."

Constructed in 1897 as Greenbrier Bank, this building operated under the Elks Club from 1951 and 1981 and is still called the "Elks Building." It features Romanesque Revival architecture, a symmetrical facade, round arches, semi-circular arches on the windows, red brick, rusticated stone around the windows and doors and decorative ironwork. The building is trimmed in native sandstone.

In recent years, the ground floor of this building has been occupied by retail shops.  On the second floor, there were offices and, briefly, the Uptop Sandwich Shop.  The third floor served as the meeting area for the Elks Club and the site of a mid-day card game that went on for a number of years. The second and third floor have been repurposed as apartments.

Site of Bank of Greenbrier

The fire of 1897 destroyed most of two blocks of Lewisburg's downtown commercial district. &nbsp;The fire began in the back of H. T. Bell's clothing store and spread rapidly. Lewisburg had no fire fighting equipment or organization. The Ronceverte fire engine was summoned but delayed due to a misunderstanding. The fire was fought by men and boys with buckets and wet blankets. Women of the town "worked like Trojans" carrying furniture, goods, etc. out of buildings and standing guard over them until their owners could claim and stow away their property. Two banks and several stores were destroyed, but there were no fatalities.&nbsp;

This building was constructed in 1897 to replace buildings destroyed in the fire of the same year.  It replaced the burned Bank of Lewisburg that later became the Greenbrier Valley Bank. For many years, Lewisburg had the only bank between Staunton, Virginia, and Charleston.  It was designed by James M. Lee of the Lee Military Academy and built under the supervision of Joseph F. Wright of Huntington.  The woodwork was done by William L. Wetzel of Lewisburg.  The building was initially trimmed with blue sandstone that was brought from Cleveland, Ohio. In addition to the bank, it was built to accommodate a retail store and post office on the ground floor and rental offices on the second floor.  Today, it houses Lewisburg's City Hall and two retail stores. Noteworthy is the bracketed cast meal cornice atop the facade with a centered pediment bearing the date 1897. 

Greenbrier Valley Bank Building

Samuel Price (1805-1884) was elected Lt. Governor of Virginia in 1863, served as President of the West Virginia Constitutional Convention in 1872, and was appointed to the U. S. Senate in 1876. Price's home and a commemorative wayside marker are a short distance north on Court Street. The fire of 1897 burned all the on this block south of this building which caught on fire beneath the tin roof, but by hard work the building was saved. The&nbsp;Greenbrier Independent gave great credit to the African American residents of town for stopping the progress of the fire: "Their efforts were untiring and well directed and to them is largely due the credit for preventing the spread of the fire on Court Street and beyond." This office was later used by John A. Preston who was mentored by and a partner of Samuel Price. Preston&nbsp;was County Prosecutor when&nbsp;the famous Shue murder case came to trial. Shue's was convicted based on the testimony of a ghost. He also served as a state senator.

Samuel Price purchased a "small piece of a lot" for an office from Sarah Stuart in 1852.  His office was built circa 1855 and escaped the Lewisburg fire of 1897 that destroyed much of the business district. This building, made of double-brick construction, remained in the Price family until 1946.

Site of Lt. Gov. Samuel Price Law Office

The theatre opened in 1939 to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in&nbsp;The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle, Jack Oakie and Lucille Ball in the&nbsp;Affairs of Annabel,&nbsp;and on stage, Natchee and his Arizona cowboys. in 2013 the theatre purchased a digital projector. The Lewis has operated continuously since it was built, serving the local community and visitors. The building is open a half-hour before films and by appointment. In addition to showing films, the Lewis Theatre features the Trillium Performing Arts Collective as its company in residence.

The Lewis Theatre was designed in functional, post-deco style by R.L. Whitten, an architect from Charleston, WV, and was constructed for Sam and Alex Yarid in 1939 for presenting film and “small” vaudeville. This two-story structure was built primarily of hollow, glazed terra cotta block, popular from about 1900 into the 1930s. It had 540 seats downstairs, and 100 seats in the balcony. The street-level front was originally faced at with Black Vitrolite slabs, shown in historic photos along with the original marquee. 

Lewis Theatre

Greenbrier County was created by the Virginia General Assembly in October of 1777, along with Rockbridge and Rockingham Counties, but the law was not ratified until March 1st, 1778. Greenbrier was split off from Botetourt County. The first court held in Greenbrier County is unknown, however the earliest county clerk record dates back to November of 1780. The first county clerk’s office was built on the property that is now known as the Stuart Manor, because Col. John Stuart was the county clerk at the time. John Stuart was a leader in the movement to create Greenbrier County and is often referred to as the “Father of Greenbrier County.” In 1782, a one-story log structure was deemed the first official courthouse and was facing Washington Street, at the corner leading to the Old Stone Church. It is unknown whether the log structure was already present, or whether the county built or rented the structure. Patrick Henry defended a man acquitted of manslaughter in the first courthouse of Greenbrier County. The log structure was utilized as a courthouse for only a short period of time, and was turned into a private residence by William Smithee. After 70 years of being a private residence, the structure was razed in the 1920’s.Lewisburg is the third oldest town in the state of West Virginia, and was created by the Virginia Assembly in October of 1782. The area that is now known as Lewisburg was named for the person Andrew Lewis who surveyed it. The town was originally known as Savannah. Captain Thomas Edgar was the county surveyor, and laid out the town of Lewisburg in a square form with four half-acre lots in each block. The county set aside lots 7 and 8 for public buildings, such as the courthouse, prison, and a market house for cattle. The Lewis Spring inhabited lot 8, which is why this area was deemed for public structures. Scholars debate the number of and location of courthouses prior to the current Greenbrier County courthouse, but it seems all of the structures prior to 1800 were small log cabins. In 1800, Colonel John Stuart gifted Greenbrier County with a three-story brick courthouse. Lewisburg prospered and grew in the early 1800’s, and the Supreme Court of Virginia began holding sessions in the Greenbrier County courthouse. In 1837, a ten-thousand-dollar levy was passed, and the process to build a county courthouse on lots 7 and 8 began. The last and current Greenbrier County Courthouse was constructed of local materials by John Dunn in the same year. The reason the structure was built so close to the road, and doesn’t have lawn space, is because of its location near the Lewis Spring. The WPA constructed new wings on either side of this existing courthouse in 1939.

The Greenbrier County Courthouse was built in 1837 by a local brick mason named John. W Dunn. and has been improved throughout the years. The original courthouse stands at the center of two new wings, which were built in 1937 and 1963. The Greenbrier County Courthouse was one of the first courthouses built west of the Appalachian mountains, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Greenbrier County Courthouse 

Born in Ireland, Andrew Lewis (1720-1781) was a surveyor and military officer. He and his father, John, explored much of the Greenbrier Valley. He served as a captain in the French and Indian War and rose to the rank of major when he built frontier forts in nearby Bath County, Virginia, and in the Greenbrier Valley. As a colonel, Lewis defeated Shawnee Chief Cornstalk in the bloody Battle of Point Pleasant. Lewis and his family lived in Salem, Virginia, and he served in the Virginia legislature. The town of Lewisburg is named for him. lf you stand by the spring house, you can hear the spring flowing beneath it.

Most likely, this limestone spring house was built in the 18th century. It is thought that Capt. Andrew Lewis discovered the spring. The area we know as Lewisburg was called Savannah. Fort Savannah, a frontier fort, may have been built near here in the latter half of the 18th century. Ruth Woods Dayton, local historian, believed the spring may have been inside the log fort. Dr. John F. Montgomery, another local historian, thought the fort was on the other side of Jefferson Street. Regardless, the spring was a source of water for the fort and later for the settlement that developed around it. 

Andrew Lewis Park was dedicated in 1974 as part of the commemoration of the assembly of the troops in 1774 for the march to the Battle of Point Pleasant.

Lewis Spring/Andrew Lewis Park

Located at 200 North Jefferson Street, the Barracks is one
of the earliest buildings in Lewisburg, West Virginia. The Barracks was built
sometime between 1787 and 1807. It is a three-story stone and log structure.
The Barracks is located on the Seneca Trail Highway.&nbsp; It is one block from Historic Downtown
Lewisburg and the Midland Trail National Scenic Byway.

The Barracks functioned as an outpost of civilization during
the early 1800s. Because it is next to the General Lewis Spring, it was often
used as a stopping point for early settlers. Freight wagons, military units,
and stage coaches all made stops at the Barracks. During the War of 1812 it was
used as an enlistment house or a&nbsp;barracks, and from this it received his name.Through its lifetime, the building was used chiefly as a residence. It was almost razed in 1952. In&nbsp;1977 when the building was restored to its present appearance&nbsp;the exterior was covered with wood shiplap siding, &nbsp;and the interior was covered with plaster.&nbsp;

The Barracks is known for catching the eye of all those who
pass through the area. When traveling into Downtown Lewisburg, it is hard to
pass by the Barracks and not imagine the lifestyles of early Virginians. It
also makes observers wonder what such a landmark meant to the early pioneers
who traveled into the area.

This three-story stone and log structure was built on Lot 11 of the first town plot sometime near the city's incorporation in 1789, making the Barracks the oldest building in the city of Lewisburg. It is quite possible it was built about 1787 by William Morrow, a tailor. Located near the General Lewis Spring, the Barracks were a stopping point for travelers and military units. It was also a center of trade and transportation, as stage coaches and freight wagons stopped regularly at the Barracks. The structure is presently being restored by the Greenbrier Historical Society.

The Barracks, Lewisburg WV

Sally Patton (1817-1892)&nbsp;was the widow of Dr. William M. Patton and sister of General Alexander Reynolds of the Confederate Army. &nbsp;Her only son, Lt. W. A. M. Patton of the Confederate Army, died from a disease he caught during the Civil War. &nbsp;At her death, The Greenbrier Independent wrote, "She was a staunch southerner and an uncompromising rebel. During the war her house was a sort of general rendezvous for Confederate officers and soldiers who always got the best her table could afford." It had been reported she secreted ammunition in her home.

This structure sits on Lot 27 of the original town plat and embraces a portion of the site of Fort Savannah, a frontier log fort. In 1856, the lot was conveyed by Alexander Reynolds to his widowed sister, Sally Patton, and the house may have been built shortly after it was acquired. It was a residence until 1936 when it was converted into a funeral chapel.

Reynolds-Patton House

After the theatre closed in 1942, it has had varied commercial businesses on the ground floor and offices and apartments above. Most recently, it was site of the Irish Pub that closed in 2018.

Opened on December 23, 1913 by W. W. Foster, the Princess Theatre was the first moving picture theatre in Lewisburg and began by showing silent films. It was also reported to have been the site of a basement speakeasy during Prohibition. 

Princess Theatre Building

This building and the former adjacent building served as taverns for many years as The Bell Tavern, Old Bell Stand, Frazier's Tavern, Central Inn, Greenbrier House, and the Bivens Boarding House. On August 30, 1826, Henry Clay, Whig Party leader and U. S. Secretary of State, was warmly received by residents at a dinner in the tavern. This building once had a second floor balcony with a wrought iron railing that was described by local historian Ruth Wood Dayton as "delicate in design." When it was removed it was one of the last attractive balconies along Washington Street. The building is now occupied by Greenbrier Real Estate.

This two-story painted brick building was the "western part" of The Bell Tavern that was thought to have been built before 1823 and has since been demolished. This building may have been built by John Weir, noted architect and brick mason. In addition to having been part of the adjacent tavern, it was a store house and was occupied by a saddle shop in 1879.

Bell Tavern

For a while this building was known as the Patrick Henry Court House because Patrick Henry had spoken there. In 1920 a small group of women who had been involved with the Red Cross during WWI organized the Greenbrier County Woman's Association to continue public service. The Association purchased the building and provided offices and an apartment for a public health nurse and headquarters for the county Red Cross. An operating room and ward with eleven beds was developed for children who needed tonsillectomies. In addition, it was the site of a WPA sewing project and WPA library. It has housed a pre-school program and meeting place for the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. The Greenbrier County Parent Teacher Association was organized in this building.&nbsp; &nbsp;Once again, it is home to a mercantile business, Brick House Antiques.

This Federal style building may have been built by master mason, John Weir, as a store house. John Withrow (1816-1886), owned the building from 1852-1865 and ran his mercantile business in it. He lived upstairs with his wife, Louisa Anne Withrow (1819-1878). Louisa taught at the Lewisburg Academy. In her obituary, she was described as "...a decided Presbyterian, yet, she was catholic in her views, and liberal and non-sectarian in her sentiments."

Community House

The U. S. Treasury Department's Section of Painting and Sculpture, known as the "Section" was created in 1934 to provide jobs for artists.&nbsp; More than 1,000 contracts were awarded before the project ended in 1943. At the time, the artistic community was inspired by the Mexican muralists Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueriros. Murals were painted and installed throughout the United States, largely in post offices and courthouses.&nbsp; Many of the murals have disappeared or fallen into disrepair. Other murals by Robert Franklin Gates may be found in post offices in Bethesda and Oakland, Maryland.

This historic post office was constructed in 1937 and contains a mural entitled "Old Time Camp Meeting" that depicts a social and religious event of local importance. The mural was painted in 1940 by Robert Franklin Gates as part of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal Program. Gates (1906-1982) studied at the Detroit School of Arts and Crafts and the Art Students League. He became head of the art department at American University in Washington, D. C.

U.S. Post Office, Lewisburg, WV

The original brick house was built in 1834 and was occupied by
John Withrow before becoming a hotel, and was later inherited by his daughter Lettie
Ford. John Withrow was a slave owner, and the log&nbsp;slave quarters still exist behind
the original 1834 portion of inn. One of Withrow’s slaves, “Uncle
Reuben” was hanged on June 28, 1861, for reportedly conspiring a slave revolt
that never happened. The “rise” Uncle Reuben was allegedly planning was scheduled
for April 9th, 1861, and would include the massacre of white people in
Lewisburg after the departure of Confederate soldiers. The same cabin that was
once the slave quarters also was the Confederate line in the Battle of
Lewisburg in 1862.&nbsp;&nbsp;The eastern side of the General Lewis Inn was once an early
brick residence. In 1928, the property was sold by Lettie Ford to a &nbsp;hotel
corporation. After the transfer of ownership, the old brick house residence was
utilized as the end wing of the hotel, a new central portion was built, as well
as a corresponding brick wing on the other end. The
eastern part of the building, including the dining room, kitchen, and the suite of rooms on the first and second floors were originally part of the brick house.&nbsp;Walter Martens, who
also designed the Governor's mansion in Charleston, WV, designed the rest of
the house including the western wing, as well as the main portion of the Inn. &nbsp;Inside in the dining room and lobby are hand carved mantels and the registration from the resort hotel in Sweet Springs.&nbsp;Until August 2014, the General Lewis Inn was owned and
operated by the Hock family that&nbsp;owned the inn&nbsp;for three&nbsp;generations. Aaron and Sparrow Huffman are now&nbsp;the current owners of the
24-room Inn, Many people have claimed that&nbsp;the General Lewis Inn is haunted. The current new owners have not experienced any activity as such, but many of the older employees can tell you some stories. A quick search on the internet will reveal quite a few ghastly tales, including a little girl who reportedly will frequently join you for a cup of tea or a Confederate soldier who can be heard walking along the upstairs hallway.

The General Lewis Hotel now the General Lewis Inn,  was established in the 1920s by the Hock family. The property was originally a private residence owned by John Withrow and then his daughter, Lettie Ford. The original brick home is still incorporated in the architecture of the hotel, and the other structures on the property were liquidated and used as materials for the Inn. . Other amenities on the property include a reflection pool and a pergola that were added recently. Also noteworthy, is the Yellow Buckeye tree in front of the inn.  At over 100 feet tall, it is the largest recorded Yellow Buckeye in West Virginia. Today the Inn is owned by the Aaron and Sparrow Huffman.

Short Walking Tour of Lewisburg

Jesse B. Bowlin House

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources