Cedar Lawn
Encyclopedia
Cedar Lawn, also known as Berry Hill and Poplar Hill, is one of several houses built near Charles Town, West Virginia
for members of the Washington
family. Cedar Lawn was built in 1825 for John Thornton Augustine Washington
, George Washington
's grand-nephew. The property was originally part of the Harewood
estate belonging to Samuel Washington
. The property that eventually became Cedar Lawn was left to Samuel's son, Thornton Washington
, who built "Berry Hill", named for his wife's family. Berry Hill was destroyed by fire, and John Thornton Augustine built Cedar Lawn when he inherited.
In the 1940's, the house was bought by R.J. Funkhouser, an industrialist who had a taste for Washington family estates, who also owned Blakeley
and Claymont Court
. The property remains in the Funkhouser family and is known as O'Sullivan Farms, after Funkhouser's principal venture, the O'Sullivan Corporation.
Charles Town, West Virginia
Charles Town is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,907 at the 2000 census. Due to its similar name, travelers have sometimes confused this city with the state's capital, Charleston.-History:...
for members of the Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
family. Cedar Lawn was built in 1825 for John Thornton Augustine Washington
John Thornton Augustine Washington
John Thornton Augustine Washington was a prominent Virginia landowner, farmer, and statesman and a member of the Washington family...
, George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's grand-nephew. The property was originally part of the Harewood
Harewood (West Virginia)
Harewood is one of several houses in the vicinity of Charles Town, West Virginia built for members of the Washington family. The house was designed by John Ariss for Samuel Washington in 1770. Washington moved from his farm on Chotank creek in Stafford County, Virginia to Harewood, accumulating ...
estate belonging to Samuel Washington
Samuel Washington
Samuel Washington was a brother of United States President George Washington. He was born on November 16, 1734 at Pope's Creek, Wakefield, Westmoreland County, Virginia....
. The property that eventually became Cedar Lawn was left to Samuel's son, Thornton Washington
Thornton Washington
Thornton Augustine Washington was a nephew of George Washington. He was born ca. 1760 in Stafford County, Virginia and died in 1787. He married Mildred Berry on 26 December 1779 and Frances Townshend on 2 April 1786.Children include:*by Mildred Berry...
, who built "Berry Hill", named for his wife's family. Berry Hill was destroyed by fire, and John Thornton Augustine built Cedar Lawn when he inherited.
In the 1940's, the house was bought by R.J. Funkhouser, an industrialist who had a taste for Washington family estates, who also owned Blakeley
Blakeley (West Virginia)
Blakeley, near Charles Town, West Virginia is also known as the Washington - Chew - Funkhouser House, and was built in 1820 by John Augustine Washington II, great-nephew of George Washington and son of John Augustine Washington. It is a contemporary of its neighbor, Claymont Court, built across...
and Claymont Court
Claymont Court
Claymont Court or simply Claymont is a Georgian style brick mansion, the grandest of several built near Charles Town, West Virginia for members of the Washington family. The current house was built in 1840 by Bushrod Corbin Washington, grand-nephew of George Washington, to replace a house that was...
. The property remains in the Funkhouser family and is known as O'Sullivan Farms, after Funkhouser's principal venture, the O'Sullivan Corporation.
External links
- Cedar Lawn, Summit Point Road, Charles Town vicinity, Jefferson County, WV: 2 photos, 1 data page, at Historic American Building Survey